Hey there to all FTE members. My name is Arturo or ("Z") and I am new to FTE. I am a GOP Cali boy and USAF Vet. First let me thank you all out there on FTE, the demeanor I have captured from reading different threads is second to none. I can tell there is some real awesome people here...

Well what brought me to FTE is my New Old F100. Trolling craigslist I found my diamond in the rough last week. I was able to pick up a 55 F100 through an estate sale for 2k. I believe it was a great deal.

There is a challenge. Being an estate sale, the owner has passed and I was not able to obtain much information about the truck. Through research on this site I was able to figure out the truck was a V6 built in Richmond.

I am not as savvy with trucks as I am with mustangs (proud owner 04 Cobra.)

So there are a lot of questions I have unanswered. Hoping you all could help.

Here is what I do know.
-Body has held up well for being outside 20 plus years with last owner
-Turn signals, Horn, Headlights, Brake lights, Dash lights and switches all work.
-Gauges all work
-Motor was changed from V6 to V8
-Motor starts and runs good
-Doors opens and close good
-Windows have free movement all the way up and down.
-Hood Opens and closes well
-Brakes have good pressure but look original
-Hood Vent thingy opens closes well
-An extra Gm tranny came with the truck in the bed
-A steering Column came in the bed of truck


What I do not know and need help with

-Not sure what motor is in there? Guessing a Chevy Since the tranny said GM kinda like 283 / base 327 valve covers
-Not sure what tranny I have? looks like a Muncie light duty (GM 3 speed)
-Do not have a clue how the gears go (driving me crazy)? most likely H set up with gears way out of adjustment
-Not sure what kind of rear end is on the truck? looks like the stock dana to me / the diff
-Not sure if the truck was converted to 12 volt? There is a 12 volt GM on ewire alternator on it
-Not sure if the brakes are original?
-What kind of steering column I have in there?
-What is the cut out in the floor that shows a bolt for? Master Cylinder
-What year trucks are compatible with my 55? (i.e. My 04 Cobra is identical to an 03)

The biggest challenge is the tranny problem. I do now where the gears are, have not been able to find neutral and I get reverse in different positions. Anything you experienced vintage ford enthusiasts see in the pictures that is different or odd I should keep in mind is good.

Thanks in advance

Any answers would be helpful
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=Flatbed.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/Flatbed.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=Truck3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/Truck3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=InteriorHole.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/InteriorHole.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=Engine.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/Engine.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=engine3.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/engine3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=tranny2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/tranny2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=Tranny.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/Tranny.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=Frame.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/Frame.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=engine2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/engine2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
extras
<a href="http://s283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/?action=view&current=xtras.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk302/svtxcno/F100/xtras.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

Thats a mighty good find! I can't even see a dent on that!


Not much I'm able to say for certain on your questions, if it helps any the gears are all weird on my truck, I do have an F-600 so I don't know if my set up is different, I know the trans is. My shifters looks like:


2-4-1
3-5-R

It's quite a travel from 1 to 2, lol

I'm sure many people on here could tell you more than you wanted to know before the days end, lol.

Man, that really is a great looking truck, you got a great deal. And welcome to the "my truck was originally mint green but it was painted so its red now" club, lol

 

Ok well, lots of questions and I have a few answers for you.

First, it is a GM Engine and it is a 12 volt system. There is a 12 volt GM on ewire alternator on it.

The picture of the while porcelien square withthe three studs that say "12 Vot" is a Vol-ta-drop 12 to 6 volt reducer that is probably installed to run the remaining 6 volt appliances (wipers, heater, etc) It is terribly over tapped judging from the wiring.

The installed transmission in the first picture looks like a Muncie light duty (GM 3 speed) Not 100% on that. The one on the floor is a 3 speed Muncie or Saginaw with a Borg Warner Overdrive unit on the back. As short as the transmission is (and with the 4 bolt side pattern) I'd guess it's a Muncie light duty with the R10H1 BW Overdrive. I'm not sure about the rear end. It looks like a stock rear to me, but I'm iffy on rear end recco! But since the overdrive transmission is in the bed, I'm guessing the PO planned to install it to overcome the poor rear end gearing and a max of 50 mph downhill withthe current set up.

The extra steering column is a stock 55 Set up - maybe purchased for the steering box. It also has the stock 3 spd on the column shifter on it. Your transmission in the truck has a floor shifter. It should be a basic "H" - to the left and up is first, left and back is second. Right and up is third, and right and back is reverse. Chances are the shifter is way out of adjustment.

Welcome to FTE by the way

 

Thanks Stephen, I feel like it was a good find but it does have a fair amounts of dings/dents but not as much as I would expect.

Julie, thank you for your insight.
So I do have a 12volt conversion but the white box is a reducer for 12volt. I had it all backwards. I thought the white box was the conversion kit.

With your guess the rear end is stock. You mention that the gears are not all that great and my current set up would be a 50mph cruise. That I can live with for now. if I can get the shifter adjusted.

Does that mean it would be recommended to first take the truck to get the shifter adjusted so I can at least drive it around? Then take the truck to get the new tranny installed at some point? Or if the gears able to be adjusted should I just wait for a different transmission set up that will be better than the one on the ground but not too much more expensive?

I know there is a lot of work to do but right now. The only thing holding me back from driving it, is the gear/tranny challenge.

And just curious, if the steering column on the floor is original is that some thing I need to hang on to for anything? If it is the original steering column it probably will not work with anything the truck currently has I guess? not sure at all.

Thanks again

 

uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!! chevy orange !!!!!!!!!! naw good deal on it irregardless . wasn't no v-6 back then just straight sixes . sweet looking . welcome to the asylum .were all pretty harmless for the most part .......... HEE HEEE HEEEEE lots of good peeps here , and lots of help and info . some can get kinda cross { OH NO I NEVER do LOL !!!!!!!! }occasionally but overall pretty good place to be . looks to be a pretty early chev too . oil fill tube in the front of the intake looks kinda like 283 / base 327 valve covers , the alternator brackets and short water pump on it . should be able to peddle it and find a good blue oval replacement . i used to play with da chitty's not anymore , but if i can buy it cheap enough i will abuse them unceremoniously !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! keep the tranny . good peice and can be used behind a ford . yep looks like the stock dana to me / the diff .

 

55 f350, great stuff. I feel you on the color. Luckily I was able to get passed that and feel the rest of the truck. Till I got home and seen a GM on the tranny.lol Oh well still not mad and in fact can't wait to get er moving on the road. Good point they were inline 6's back in the day. "You used to play with the da chitty's" lol

So if I hear you correctly I can use the tranny on the floor for a Blue Oval motor? If that is the case then I can leave it all in the garage till I get the truck moving and can figure out what set up I am going to.

BTW do you know what the hole in the ground is for? I changed some pictures to accommodate my questions.

Thanks again boss

 

the hole in the floor is for filling the stock brake master cylinder, and I'm not sure if your using it or not but that pic is of the stock brake master.

nice score. If you don;t want to swap tranny's in the future and need more speed a pre 72 ford truck 9" rear is a fairly easy swap, with the right factory parts.

 

Very nice project you have there.
The cut out in the floor is to fill the master cylinder. The "bolt" you see is the cap for the master cylinder.
brian...

 

Arturo, Welcome to FTE..,
Lot's of good folks here to answer your questions..I think the search function will give you plenty of reading to do. I spent a couple of years at Travis in the early 70's playing with the C5..alot of good times in Vacaville and surrounds. Welcome!

 

Thank you very much for the info, one more question down and hundreds more to go.

So I realize when I was driving the truck up and down the street I smelled a brake burning smell. I jacked up the truck and had no free movement from the front wheels. I have never worked on drums before and DAMN it was rough to get off the drum... but after a lot of hammering I finally did

The brakes were very dirty but all the components looked in tact. I sprayed the crap out of them with brake cleaner, wire clothed the drum and put it back together. I get free movement but it wont spin forever if I turn it. Maybe a couple revolutions.