Hey guys, I just bought a 65 F-100 and its in pretty good condition, BUT it has two drawbacks: 1) the brakes take FOREVER to stop the truck and as a person used to disc brakes, I am have to STOMP the pedal, and 2) The shifter... if you don't use the proper amount of pressure, the shifter will freeze and I have to reset it manually

 

Welcome to FTE

The brakes were anemic when these trucks were new, and are woefully inadequate and undersized for today's traffic.

The front shoes are 11" x 2" the rears are 11" x 1 3/4"

The best thing to do is install power front disc brakes from a 1973/79 F100/150 2WD. There are several articles in the FAQ section (listed above in the header) to do this.

FTE members jowilker, banjopicker, garbz2 are the ones to ask...if you have questions regarding this swap.

All post in this forum.
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You didn't say, but I'd be willing to bet you have a 3 speed manual transmission (3 on the tree).

At the bottom of the steering column under the hood are the two Manual Control Selector Levers where the shift rods from the transmission attach.

In each one of these levers is an insulator and rubber bushing.

What happens: The rubber bushings harden up, then crack apart (sometimes fall out). This causes the shift lever to bind up...usually between 1st and 2nd gear.

1) C5TZ7343A .. Bushing & Insulator Kit / One kit does both levers.

Ford just obsoleted this kit two weeks ago, but there are plenty still around at Ford dealers and obsolete parts vendors.

The last MSRP was $30.73.

TISON MOTOR CO. in Estill SC has 3 = 803-625-2551.

PARTS INTERNATIONAL in Farmers Branch TX has 34 = 888-727-0418.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 17 = 800-543-4959.

 

Good reply Bill, J2H the brake swap is a high skill level job, make sure you are able to do it before starting, should you decide to try it.

I can offer a tip until you get the replacement parts for your shifter. Gently pull the shift lever towards the steering wheel when coming out of 1st. to almost R. Let it drop fully towards the dash and again a gentle pull back when lifting to 2nd. That should work without hanging until you replace the bushings.



John

 

What about me? You mad at me Bill?
http://www.mongrelmotorsports.homest...f100discs.html

 

No, of course not. I was unaware you also knew about this swap.

 

Hey, J2H, you are not far from me! I live in Ridgeland.
Maybe we can get together! I can show you the power disc brakes I did on my '66, as well as the power steering, 460/C-6 swap as well.
Glad to have you on board!

 

It's a 3spd on the column and it does bind between 1st and 2nd without proper pressure. The two rods or joints that i have to pull up on to unfreeze are rightby the firewall in the eng compartment. As for the brakes, can a repair center do those?

 

Replace the manual control selector lever bushings with the Ford kit I referenced above, and you'll have no more binding shift lever problems.

 

Banjo, yeah we're going to have to, lol I'm new to the old truck scene!

 

My truck is named "Sweet Southern Comfort" inspired by the Buddy Jewel song, and here is her description mechanically (she still needs to be beautified on the outside, but like all ladies, it really is the inside that counts!):
‘86 460 bored 60 over with stock '86 heads - no porting
'77 F-250 460 engine perches and mounts
'69 straight up cam gears, Cloyes double roller with RV type cam
Edelbrock Performer (not RPM) intake and 1470 750 CFM carb on a 1" phenolic spacer
'76 Duraspark II ignition
Stock aftermarket manifolds with a 2 1/2 inch dual exhaust, Flowmasters, copper gaskets
'93 serpentine belt brackets and pulleys
'78 power steering pump, hoses with ’93 PS pulley
'76 power steering box
’76 power steering pitman arm
’92 power steering cooler, mounted in the frame
'70 steering column
'66 radiator (re-cored)
'66 alternator with '93 serpentine pulley and fan
'86 water pump
'86 fan clutch with '77 7-blade fan
'83 C-6 from an '83 F-350 fifth wheeler, with '77 C-6 linkage (internal shift rod and kickdown)
2.75 rear end
'83 stock rear sump oil pan, with stock oil pump, pickup tube and dipstick (includes main bearing bolt with stud to hold pickup in place)
Includes '93 A/C compressor, but A/C is not installed. (Needed for the serpentine belts.)
’76 F-150 3-inch rear brakes
’76 F-150 front disk brakes with power brake booster and dual chamber master cylinder.

The only modifications I had to make were:
Fabricate an accelerator cable bracket by combining an FE one with a 385 one.
Shorten the front driveshaft to adapt to the C-6 (with a conversion joint)
Change the C-6 internal shift linkage from a ’68 – ’79 C-6
Add a bracket for the brake light switch, and connect the original brake wiring back to it

 

I'm in for it I guess, lol... I got no skillz

I just want to feel safe driving it and not have to reset the levers OR smash into someone due to the brakes, after that I can do other stuff (or try to find someone who can).

 

Post pictures in your gallery, so we can see it!
What engine, transmission and all that too!

 

I havent paid it off fully yet, so its still 2 hrs away, I got some photos tho

EDIT: Album is online

 

Looks like an excellent truck to use for upgrades and restoration!
Although that is definitely an FE like the original 352 it should have come with, I would suspect it is not the original engine, based upon the valve covers - but of course, those can be changed out easily enough. It might even be a 390, we'll need to check the stroke to make sure.
Start looking for a '73 - '76 F-100 or F-150, any condition, as long as it has a 360 or 390, power steering and power brakes. Bonus if it has air conditioning, automatic transmission and tilt steering column! Extra-extra bonus if it is rusted out or wrecked, but still has all the engine and frame parts, so you can get it even cheaper. You can use it as a donor truck and harvest the power steering, power disc brakes, and such from it. The 352/360/390 engines are almost identical on the outside, so any of the parts such as the pulleys and brackets for power steering and air-conditioning will bolt up to your 352 - or you could transplant the 390.
You at Shaw AFB? Check out what I used to know in the Army as MWR - Morale, Welfare and Recreation. I know most AF bases have something similar. There should be an auto repair shop on base, very cheap if not free for you to use, complete with tools you can check out. The civilians that run the place are always very helpful as well - start getting to know them too.
So -
Start reading up on your truck, and what good things to do it. You can learn everything you need to know about your fine new Slick from us.
Start planning what you would like to do with it, and we can help you estimate costs so you can plan it out.
Oh yes, one more thing.
Thanks for serving our country. May G-d bless you richly and preserve you and your fiancee together.

 

Thank you, I am actually at Charleston AFB right now, trying to get to Patrick as an Aerial Gunner (door gunner) on the HH-60 in the Reserves, as I only have 7mos active duty left. My fiancee was mad about the truck, and I don't think I can get another one for parts right now with my budget :-( She and I have been on a rocky road for a while since she's gone to Italy with the AF.