For years I wanted to build a hot rod car or truck, while in Iraq I found a guy who had a 67 F-100 he would sell me when I got home for $300, It was the start of my plan, next I found a 460 and a C6 transmisson combo another guy had laying around ( I really want a 4-speed top loader)
The problem is, to be honest I know nothing about what I am about to do, never rebuilt an engine, never redid suspension to hold more weight or anything. I get back to NC the end of this month, I have been reading as much as possible, Still I would like to talk to someone who's done a simmilar job. Can anyone help a first timmer?
Thanks Paul

 

Paul, First thank you for serving our country, best to you.

Lay out a little more info for us on how you plan on using your truck. There are three body styles of classics past the fat fender effies.
You have the slicks 61-66 body style, with huge not seen changes in 65 that are stiil around today.
Second are the bumpsides, 67-72, with larger rear brakes on the half ton in 68.
Third is the dentside 73-79 4 inches added to the cab and chassis, with rear axle track widened to match front in 73.
Then you have the long bed short bed in all. Some guys love the short beds others like the long bed for hauling.

Will you haul anything or tow anything with your truck? Will you drive it every day or keep it covered in a garage.

If you go all out, are you willing to spend 2-4 years & $20-30,000.00 on something that you will never recover the money from?

The 460 is a monster engine, but I can kill you just as dead with my .380 conceal carry as a shoulder rocket launcher without making near the mess for someone else to clean up. Gas prices surely will head back towards $4.00 a gallon again, big engines are in the 10-15 mpg range new moders with OD can reach 20+.


Give us some feedback, and we can help get you an a path, but you need a plan and be able to work your plan, so that you don't end up with a never finished project.

I'll be in J-ville at the end of May for my son's wedding.


John

 

Hey thanks for the reply, is your son a marine also?

The truck is a 67 2wd, 240cid 3 on the tree conventional cab with short wheel base
I got this info from the VIN #.

What I like is sleepers on drag strips, but with this project I was thinking of trying to make a hot rod.

I bought a 460 with a C-6 transmission the other day, from a guy online, to get me started. I would rather use a 4 speed top loader is I can find one to match up. I have the time and $ to do things in proportion, also I have a few friends with a body shop.

This will be my first time doing anything like this, so everything I am wanting to do is things I have read and spoke to people about, nothing I have ever done myself, so please excuse me if I use any wrong terms and such.

What do you think?
BTW LOVE YOUR QUOTE!

 

Saw the truck in your album, you have a lot of work ahead of you. LOL

Think outside of the box, try something different, maybe with a mod engine, like your stang has in it.

You could be like a recent post here where a guy built a truck for his daughter and she grew up, found a new love and he sez the truck hasta go. I can tell you as a father with grown kids, let them find their own toys, because that will likely be very different from yours. If it's cars you can always lend a hand and help.

PS The son is marrying a gal from Jville.



John

 

Ahh yes the kids taking their own route in life, that is fine if she decides it's not her thing later, then so be and I will take the truck and sell it or just keep it in my collection. for now though I still plan for her to grown up knowing more about cars than I do.

As far as the engine goes, I want REAL power out of whatever engine I do put in it, maximum big block power, and torque, I am not worried about the gas milage, or things like that, what engine do you think I should look for and use, keeping in mmind I do want a 4-speed when finished.

How old is your boy?

I am set to be home between the 19th and 24th as of now.
How far are you from Jville?

 

I can't advise on a good build for you 460. It is monster cubes to start with so monster ponies can come from it. The 460 is the next size up 429 so look for pieces there for your puzzle. The 351M & 351/400 use the same bell bolt pattern. Be sure to grab the 3 piece engine perch/mount system from a 79 back with 460, that is must have.

I would like for you to grab one thing and hold tight to it, save the engine build to one of the last things or you can be like me with a fresh built engine, still on the stand 6 years later and never fired. I'm not saying don't gather your parts, just save the build till last. You can't run the truck til it's finished anyways.

Creedmoor is due north of Raleigh, Google maps sez 145 miles to Jville. My son is 34.

I gotta love your "I am not worried about the gas milage, or things like that," I didn't use to be either. The FE in my truck was designed when gas was $.20 a gallon, I have pumped $.22 a gallon gas. I nor the folks at Ford ever thought anyone could shove $60.00 of reg, gas up the gas tank hole of my ol trucks 18 gallon tank, but I did it last year. That freeking hurt, bigtime.

Enjoy you project, plan, plan, plan. Check you chute extra times before you jump.





John

 

Hello,

I am in a similar boat of wanting to put some restoration into my old 1970 F100. I just fixed the power steering and added a dual flowmaster delta 50 system.
I want tips on restoring the floor, firewall area,seats and those darn windows that barely work. Has anyone used lizard skin for a floor job instead of rubber mats and carpet?

Thanks