With stock gearing, a 3.0 makes sense. One of the sweetest engines made IMO.

 

Bob,

I had to read your posting a few times to make sure it wasn't some kind of absurd April Fool's Joke (ok...maybe a bit late). I kept thinking to myself --Bob is asking about putting an engine with valve covers in an old truck????? Something just isn't right about that.....not Bob. Ah but then there's the familial ties and the young buck finally showing some interest in the ol' man's hobby. That's powerful motivation for an old man I guess. Just beware, you my friend are about to venture out onto what others have described as a slippery slope.
It all starts innocently enough, a young man setting aside his video games and showing an interest in an old truck, a father with old trucks in his blood and numerous spare parts, then conversations filled with a lot of "what ifs" and "maybe we coulds" then the next thing you know you are installing 4 link suspensions and theres so much chrome in yoru shop that you need to wear sunglasses to keep from being blinded......

Welcome to the darkside Bob!! Come on folks lets give Bob a big round of applause andmake him feel welcome. The cookies are over here Bob, make yourself at home.


OK, all kidding aside. My advice, keep it simple. If this project gets too involved then the newly interested young buck may lose interest. The lure of a late model fuel injected engine and 4spd auto are mighty enticing but may prove a bit too much for a first time project. My suggestion is to either go with the old original flat six or to upgrade to a late model (but still carbureted) small block Ford (302 or 351W) with a C4 tranny.
My youngest son (almost 15) has shown an interest in my hobby. He has claimed my old Dodge D100 truck. I've been slowly talking him out of it as it would be a pretty involved project (he wants to convert it to 4wd) I have since aquired a 1967 Jeepster Commando that I think would make a better project for him. The Commando won't take too much work to make it road worthy and will still be a good learning platform.

Enjoy the cookies
Bobby

 

Bob,
I don't have any technical advice for you for this project. I think that panel trucks are cool. I owned and drove a 55 F100 Panel to High School. I commuted between Waukesha and West Allis, including freeway driving. A Panel of that vintage was not a chick magnet in 1978. And it made parents of potential dates nervous as well. Panel Trucks as you know are not the easiest to drive. Mine got me into trouble with one fender bender and two near collisions, one of them on the freeway. After 3 months of that and winter coming on, I parked it and got a '67 rustang, not the best winter car but a lot easier and less scary to drive then the panel. My panel was all stock(Y-block,3spd) except for the Dodge Charger lime green paint and green **** carpeted interior. I was not the most level headed kid, but not out of control either. I was a typical motor head. With all that being said I would not recommend a panel for a young driver.

 

I can only offer seat advice. Go to a wrecking yard and get front bucket seats from a Dodge Caravan. Some are power and some are manual. Also, if you find a van with matching bucket seats in the middle row, get one of them. The right middle bucket seat flips forward to allow passengers to get in to the rear bench seat. I have this set up in the 51 Panel.

 

Good for you Bob, I can't think of a better way to bond with your teenage son. As for suggestions, as others have said a late model carbed 302 with C4 or AOD is probably easiest. Won't have much power but enough to go vroom with potential for growing it later or swapping for a 351W down the road.

I don't know a 9 inch is a necessity unless you have some power and a clutch. Tilt front ends are a mod he can do later if he decides he likes them. Most important is to get him running and driving safe so IMO front discs and power brake booster are a must.

Keep us advised on progress.

 

Absolutely a must! That panel can hold alot of trash before it needs to be emptied otherwise, lol.

 

WOW! I am impressed with a number of things about this thread.

First, is that you want to give that boy a cool panel truck. What a cool idea. I wish my Dad had thought like you. The learning and working together, as well as the cruise nights and shows is a wonderful plan.

Second, the advice and ideas of our FTE bretheren (and lady!) is really good. This thread has been a great read. Just what we are all about.

As to suggestions, I would have to consider a few important things:
1. An inexpensive build would be more to the stock side. Everything bolts up.
2. A 16 year-old (no matter how responsible) just would never get a hot rod as the first car from me. That would rule out the V8 - any size.
3. His interest and involvement would direct the next incarnation, such as power stuff and big hp. Meanwhile, he would demonstrate his level of responsibility.

Since you already have most of the stock stuff in hand, and no major modifications would be required to use it, I'd go with the flat six and stock rear end. I'd prefer the stick to an auto, because once he learns to shift it, he probably couldn't loan it to any of his buddies. Knowing how to use and work gears will serve him well for his whole life. An overdrive tranny would be swell for highway, but the stock low gears would be fine too.

I would put it in primer first and save the big bucks of a nice paint job, rims, sound system, etc. for after the usual dents and dings a new driver gets. Besides, when he earns enough to get it painted, he'll be more careful with it.

Whatever you decide to do, I'd still like to be your kid.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled program.......

 

Bob,
Since you are on that slippery slope to the darkside, I hope you will help your son to install a decent grille in that panel... maybe something with teeth.

 

Hey I will take another !!! I am hooked since last Saturday. Please may I have another????

podney

 

Again, thanks to everyone.

I was leaning to putting a modern engine in but since I'm being accused of going to Dark Side I just can't do it. It's kind of like George Baily in It's a Wonderful Life when Mr. Potter offers him a great job and he almost accepts until he comes to the realization that he's going toward the devil. I just can't do it!

Just kidding, you guys have given us a lot to think about. As for giving the kid a hot rod as his first car, the truck is just a shell right now and it's going to be long time, at least a year or so if we decide to go modified before it would be road ready. By the time it's ready for the road I'm hoping he'll have enough driving experience under his belt to be able to handle it.

I do have enough spare parts, except for glass to get the truck up and running so we might good that way for now. We could build it with the spare six and have it running by summer.

He just turned 16 this month and doesn't have a job, yet, and I'm not going to pay for this build, or at least not the majority. I believe if he wants something he should have to work for it. Sadly, most of the kids' parents at school don't agree, I think the average age of the cars in the school's parking lot is three years old. Some of the kids were given brand new cars for their birthday. One girl in my older son's class has to take the car her dad decides not to take to work, a Porche or BMW, both convertibles.

BTW, today the boy passed his written test and has his learner's permit. I had him drive from the testing station to my shop, then to the store and then home, about 20 miles and he did extremely well. Also, he's going to do most of his driving in my daily driver, a full size, four door Dodge 4X4 with cap so he should be able to get the idea of what driving a panel truck is like.

I'll keep you guys updated as we go along with this truck.