Howdy folks,

Name's Les, from Northern California, part time in the Bay Area and part time up in the mountains in the Quincy area.

Joined FTE at this point due to my new project just begun a few months ago. I'm embarking on a frame off restoration of my dad's 1974 F100 regular cab swb half ton. My dad bought this truck in 1978 while I was in high school. I was working in a gas station on weekends when he and mom pulled up in it. I was floored! It was burgandy with a FE 360, C6, headers, and mags. At that age, I thought it was way cool! Sure could smoke those bias ply tires! About 10 years ago, I bought him a little 4x4, and he gladly handed over the title to "Big Thunder".

It's been sitting for the past 7 years, during which, I sold the motor and tranny, and used the seat for another truck. A few years ago, I bought a complete 1975 Lincoln Mark IV for $200 to use as a donor car for the 460, C6, and possibly the rear disc brake setup (5 on 5). I'm wondering how to convert the front wheel lug pattern over to 5 on 5...maybe as easy as a rotor swap?

The 460 D1 block machine work has already been completed, bored .030 over. It will end up being a 501 using a stroker kit consisting of a nodular iron crank, H-beam rods, forged Probe 8.5 to 1 pistons, and an Engle Racing HL72-74 hydraulic cam. This will also support a blower just in case I get the urge down the road. I found some 460 motor mounts on Ebay that are supposed to work with my original FE towers. The original D3 heads are being ported and polished for max flow, and will be topped with roller rockers. The induction for now will be an Offy dual plan intake, and a Holley 750 cfm carb with vacuum secondaries and electric choke. Headers, of course, with turbo mufflers and rear exit pipes. The C6 will be setup to support about 650 hp and 650 ft lbs torque, and shifted with a Hurst Promatic floor shifter, a little taller for trucks.

The frame is getting sandblasted and powdercoated. Planning on using DJM drop beams and rear shackle kit to lower 3 to 4 inches. All bushing and rubber mounts being replaced by polyurethane. New springs up front and maybe new leaf springs in back.

I'm having my welder/fabricator brother build me a new dash panel to house all round Autometer gauges. All the weather stripping will be replaced. Gladly, all the glass is in good shape. New carpet and heat/noise deadener. Not sure about seating yet, but I understand any F series pickup seat until 1996 will work without modification. I'm hoping to find a 60/40 or possibly buckets. All new wiring harness throughout.

For paint, I'm looking at a dark burgundy red, nothing too fancy, just enough to catch the eye. Still searching for the right rim/tire package.

My budget is set at 20 grand, so I'm being very careful about what I buy, and doing all the work myself, excluding the engine machine work and paint job. I'm giving it 2 years, but it seams to be progressing much faster than I thought. Maybe ready for Reno in August.

Pointers and advice anyone would like to toss my way will be gladly accepted and appreciated.

Happy trails,
Les

 

Hi and welcome Les.
Congrats on your super project, it`ll be an awesome build to say the least.
It`s a good plan to join in to FTE, some here has done just about everything there is to do on Ford trucks and can easily steer you in the right direction.
A 74 F100 is one of my favorites and the 460 stroker will give it lots of go.
Drop into the 1973 - 1979 F-100 And Larger F-Series Trucks forum for info.
Be sure to visit and post your intro in the local CA chapter soon.
See you in the forums and happy trails to you too!

 

Thanks, I've already found lots of useful info through this forum. Nice to have the experience of so many to put to good use.
Les