didn't realise you could get a 63 unibody,
what's best?
unibody or separate cab/body

 

Best for what?

Looks and cool factor, the uni.

You going to work with a 1963 truck? Is this an upgrade to your fleet of '36s?

(not that there's anything wrong with that, I see a '56, and a '48 Ford working around here, along with the early '50s GMs. They are, after all, still trucks and can haul as much today as they could new, for the most part)

I'd decide based on condition and price. A nice cab/bed job would be a better bet than a thrashed uni.

 

best for what, dunno what i really meant by that,
i gather both are on a full chassis,

i just bought a 63 cab/bed, only because that was the only american truck i could find for sale around here,

just looking forward to using it every day,

neil

 

First and formost, welcome to FTE. I am partial to Ford pickups from 61-66. You will find the body, and sheet metal are interchangeable to certain extent. Purchased my first 65 F100 some 35 plus years and kept the truck in its original condition until a few years ago when I decided to add couple upgrades like power steering and disc. brakes. Found the upgrades for unibody are little more involved than for the 65-66 where the parts needed for upgrade are interchangeable with Ford pickups from 72-79. Anyhow, just thought would mention, if intend keeping in its original state then don't see as an issue, just enjoy. Yu may want to browse some of the forums, particularly the 61-66, and the tech/articles forum. I found the FTE members extremely helpful and FTE a warehouse of information. Again, welcome!!!.

dave

 

Hummn Trick question?

See Signature.......

Garbz

Have always had a uni or two or three in the stable

 

Why did Ford discontinue the Uni?

When carrying medium to heavy loads, that caused frame flex, so the doors tended to pop open.

The uni is fine as a daily driver, but I wouldn't recommend carrying anything heavy in the bed.

The non uni frames flex too, but the cab is separate from the bed...the doors won't pop open.

1963 Uni production figures: F100 = 40,535 // F250 = 5,456

 

Hey Bill, how many non-uni's were built in 63, any idea? It seems that short bed 63's are fairly extinct. I have one and finding bed parts (same 57-63) is almost impossible!!

I have one that now has a 351W/C6 with a 3.50ls rearend. Body is still in progress. The bed floor is shot, although the sides are in pretty good shape. I finally found a tailgate on EPAY awhile back that is ok, not perfect, but fixable. My radio still works
It has 1 speed wipers and a 2 speed blower motor. It is a customcab and has 2 tone (blue/white) interior with the zipper pocket in the drivers door. It also has what's left of the sun visors and the pegboard looking headliner with dome light.

 

1963: 76,728 F100 2WD Styleside F100's were made, and 2,809 4WD Stylesides.

But...The production figures don't say how many were short or long beds.

The same beds were used on: 1961/65 F100/250 4WD's and 1966 F250 4WD's (1966 F100 4WD Stylesides used the 1964/66 bed & 1961/66 F350's used the long wheelbased early Styleside beds only).

C1TZ-9911215-B .. Bed Floor 1957/60 w/118" w/b / 1961/66 w/118, 120 & 122" w/b.

 

Thanks. Mine is a shortbed styleside with the round tail lights. In 64 they were long vertically. Mine was used from 57-63 I believe. 64-66 has a different body line over and behind the wheelwell.I can find those all day long, but ones like in my picture are extinct. https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...d=7787&width=2

 

mine has different door handles to yours,
they are bigger with custom cab on them,

 

The outside door handles are all the same 1961/66 F100/1100 Uni or not: C3TZ-8122404-B right / C3TZ-8122404-B left.

1963/64 only: Custom Cabs used an additional chrome bezel around the door handles...with one restriction.

The bezel said Custom Cab on it in script. The letters were painted black: C3TZ-8120966-A right / C3TZ-8120967-A left.
One restriction: According to the parts catalog...when the these bezels are present, side mouldings weren't used.

With side mouldings are present, there's a separate Custom Cab nameplate on the doors: C1TZ-8125622-A right/left.

Custom Cab or Regular Cab: The side mouldings were an option. They were not standard equipment on Custom Cabs.

 

yep,
that solves it,
mine has no side mouldings,