the never ending battle...
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 66
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the never ending battle...
im 16years old and trying to restore my first truck with help from my father. its a 69f100 swb 2wd. the truck looked like it had a decent body when we started. dont judge a book by its cover. every single body part on the truck is bad except 1 fender that im going to jump on just to be perfect. so far ive replaced the roof, both cab corners, both doors,welded several other patches in the cab, the hood, both inner fenders, tailgate, rad support, front bumper, the truck needs the bed corner caps(have a pair of NOS 69 rear bed corner caps on the wall), and it needs a grill. Im going for a muscle car look with a 390 and toploader 4speed with alot of original ideas, i have an old pair of 12" wide aluminum slots with 6" back spaing im putting on the truck with a early bronco rear swap because its narrower on the stock f100 springs. we forgot if they work under the truck and lost the paper with the measurements for when the bed was on the truck. any ideas if the tires will fit without cutting up my bedfloor or am i going to be spending alot of time doing bodywork on the inside of my bed?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Man I hate it for you. I got a reminder yesterday morning with the Speed channel on. These guys pump out these tv shows all about restorations but never tell you how much money is tied up, in shop equipment, labor, skill, tools, etc. You think you can do the same but have none of those things, but plow ahead anyways.
When football teams can't finish the drive they punt, and it might be a good time for you to punt. Sounds like you are in way over your head, without a plan on how to reach the goal line. You don't have tv money behind you to keep going. Driving on feeling more and more pain is not going to make the victory any sweeter.
You could be better off finding another truck and getting rid of what you have now.
Don't take this personal, because it aint, I have my own truck problems.
John
When football teams can't finish the drive they punt, and it might be a good time for you to punt. Sounds like you are in way over your head, without a plan on how to reach the goal line. You don't have tv money behind you to keep going. Driving on feeling more and more pain is not going to make the victory any sweeter.
You could be better off finding another truck and getting rid of what you have now.
Don't take this personal, because it aint, I have my own truck problems.
John
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Pittsburgh,Pa.
My brother had a 55 Chevy 2 door sedan given to him when he was 14. Someone had tried to build a streetrod and made a huge mess. Prior to my brother owning it the car had been used as a chicken coop. 15 years, many parts cars and a pile of cash later he finally got to drive it. It's sweet but he'd have been way ahead finding a better car to start.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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we had several 67-72 ford parts trucks in the past several years and have been buying other parts especially NOS stuff when ever it comes around cheap.we only have about $400 in the truck so far(not including the cost of the truck). it now has a rust free cab, perfect doors requiring no work, good inner fenders, perfect rad support, and a decent hood. when lacking good parts and having a tight budget, deals can be found, you just have to work harder and ask alot of old farmers "whats in your barn?"
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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Agreed!!
As for the wheels, I would look for different wheels. Otherwise get creative with the measuring tape, some quick measurements can find out the answer to your question.
It sounds like you and your dad are having fun with this project, and that is what this hobby is about!!
Wait, your 16, 
As for the wheels, I would look for different wheels. Otherwise get creative with the measuring tape, some quick measurements can find out the answer to your question.
It sounds like you and your dad are having fun with this project, and that is what this hobby is about!!
Wait, your 16,
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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yes it is very different, because after many hours of work and swapping parts we have a good truck. although it took doors, cabcorners, inner fenders, rad support, a roof, and alot of other stuff; its coming together and wont be filled with 45gallons of putty.
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Senior User
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From: Marquette, MI.
Don't give up! it sounds like You've done most of the hard work already. I seem to think an early Bronco rear end is not much narrower than a 69 F-100 rear. As far as the rims go, do You have all the parts in one place? What I mean is measure You rear axle wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange then minus 1 foot for wheel backspace, and then measure the distance between Your wheel wells. That will tell You if the rims will fit, but tires are another story, the side wall usually has a bulge to it and can flex while cornering. I think You're just going to have to work through it.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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Yes, every part WAS bad. the bronco rear is 3" narrower than the stock f100 rear. after some creative measuring the we figure the rims are exactly at the edge of the wheelwell. the wheelwell hangs down 1-2" past the underside of bed floor. with bending the excess wheel well over and not lowering the rear of truck it should fit. but if all else fails i wll get a pair of 1" wheelspacers to save my sidewalls. as for the bodywork 85% of the welding and grinding is done. hopefully by the end of this month the interior, doorjams, and firewall will be painted.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 494
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From: Mountville PA
Your 16, enjoy this time working on your truck and get fixed up before you have a house and family to worry about. Theres somebody on here in there signature it says theres a fine line between a hobby and a disease, and that says it all ,but who cares like what you like to do its nice to see younger people get into these older trucks that will make sure there popularity will never die out, before you know it you'll be the group of people keeping this website going and you have one BIG thing going for you I'm only 33 now but when I was working on my truck at 16 I didn't have this website to help there is a lot of trial and error that could have been prevented.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
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my dads been building ford trucks since he was 15. his first truck was a 56f100 with a 390 and toploader. hes built alot of trucks. i want to try to gain as much knowledge as i can from him becuz hes spent his life around fords and so have i. and i like to get sumthing in return for spending alot of time doing sumthing. its alot more rewarding when you pull into the highschool parking lot and say i built that. when everybody else sat on thier couch and played xbox360.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 34
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this won't change much as you get older, though i'm only 21 i have wife, 2 kids, and expecting, life don't get any easier, just more rewarding, PERSISTENCE PAYS, and that will never change.