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Who here agonizes over the stock/non-stock debate with their truck? I go through this with every repair or upgrade plan (well, except for the electronic ignition). The smart part of me says that any thing which is a modern invention that improves mileage/performance/reliability is probably worth an update. Most of my "don't change it" decisions come from the If it aint broke school. At a certain point one can't easily go back to original so I find it to be a fine balance.
Take brakes: I have read every thing under the sun on this and have decided to stick with drum brakes. I happen to be blessed with stock power brakes. My F100 is a camper model and if drums were enough to stop the beast, the camper, and all the crap inside for 49 years...IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA...than drums are OK with me. I don't anticipate any 0 to 100 back to zero moments. Yet...
Taillights: I was going to go with LED taillights....well, I DID...but they actually looked dimmer! And since I'm installing a 130 amp alternator anyways...who cares? Back to the originals.
Headlights: Different story. LED headlights are the BOMB. Some I've seen incorporate a cool high-beam area and these lights blow incandescent lights away. They do look a bit "off" though. I still haven't installed them yet because they DO look a bit too modern....
Low suspension: Form follows function here. My truck is a hauling machine. I also don't own a bank so any thoughts of Crown Vic front ends, changing driveshaft lengths, repositioning the engine...while within my skill set...are out of the question. A lower stance WOULD make it easier to put crap in the back though.....
Paint/Exterior: This is where it starts to get weird. I LOVE that new dark blue color on the new GMC trucks. But "it's not an original Ford color." Ford F-150's come in a color called Blue Jean... There's two-tone, chrome, painted front grills, chromed rear bumpers, and on and on. This one has me stumped. My truck is now primer gray..as in REAL primer. My wife and the neighbors think my truck looks like a cool rat-rod with the matte grey...while I've always been partial to the two-tome cream/blue scheme. What is a guy to do? Other than get two more trucks, each a different color combo.
Interior: Dash pad or no dash pad? Tartan plaid seat material or OEM cloth (mine is a Custom Cab). Classic or modern stereo? I love my John Deere floor mats and I think carpet is OUT of the question (see Hauling Machine comment above). I also need a gun rack...and a dome light. I love those gauges from the 50's and 60's too.
Bed: Wood bed floor? I love wood. I make wooden carts and wagons for fun on the side. I find wood to also be very durable, especially when throwing metal things into the back. The problem is that if you go the show truck route you will NEVER throw anything back there again! Affixing a wood bed to the back also necessitates drilling a bunch of holes into the bed floor and I'm not sure I am prepared to do that yet either.
Engine: I love 289's and 302's. But the FE is basically a baby Cobra Jet engine waiting to happen. I'm all about upgrades here. EFI, HEI, water pumps, oil pans, APR studs, oil coolers, electric fans. I could be happy with a bone stocker on the outside but I want cool running, economical power, hot spark, and lubrication. The good news is that most of this stuff can be disguised as stock parts. Maybe not the electric fan... I am against boring my engine out to 9 million cubic inches though. I want to be able to drive down the street. 427 is about my limit.... My neighbor has a Camaro that he drag races all the time. All he does is talk horse power...but I can drive my truck to the bar and have a beer with my friends and he has to trailer his car everywhere. I also get 14 MPG.
This post wasn't meant to go on so long...but I am curious about others' take on the whole upgrade game we always play.
As long as you like a color it will be good. I agree with many of your theorys. I'm not much on lowering things. As a matter of fact I like big tall trucks. Ignition and alternator upgrades are good. It's your truck and I bet most people would be clueless is it was a GM color or a Ford color. To each his own.
If you're on the fence about modifications, then don't do them. I lowered my '70 because it's not a working truck and I've got two other trucks to fill that role.
In terms of upgrades, keep functionality intact and aim for those things which enhance reliability, safety, driveability, and personal comfort.
With that said:
Upgrade the headlights with a relay harness and better headlamp units.
Noise/vibration insulation with Boom Mat, Dynamat, or equivalent.
A front swaybar... a bolt-in affair if an OE system. It handles MUCH better.
Updated head unit and speakers
Comfy buckets and a center console with cup holders!
New carpet and floor mats
No AC? How about a lil trucker fan for that old skool feel?
Power windows!!!.. easier and convenient to lower the passenger side while driving. Personally, I like manual door locks because it harkens back to OE.
Pertronix ignition module
A set of gauges - oil pressure, water temp, volts.
A new or more comfy steering wheel.. 15-inch if with PS.
It all depends on how you plan to use it, if its a daily driver go with what is dependable.
If you are building a museum piece stay away from Mods. Either way, stay FORD !
Who here agonizes over the stock/non-stock debate with their truck? I go through this with every repair or upgrade plan (well, except for the electronic ignition). The smart part of me says that any thing which is a modern invention that improves mileage/performance/reliability is probably worth an update. Most of my "don't change it" decisions come from the If it aint broke school. At a certain point one can't easily go back to original so I find it to be a fine balance.
Take brakes: I have read every thing under the sun on this and have decided to stick with drum brakes. I happen to be blessed with stock power brakes. My F100 is a camper model and if drums were enough to stop the beast, the camper, and all the crap inside for 49 years...IN THE MOUNTAINS OF ARIZONA...than drums are OK with me. I don't anticipate any 0 to 100 back to zero moments. Yet...
My '69 has stock brakes and it has served me well for 30 yrs
Taillights: I was going to go with LED taillights....well, I DID...but they actually looked dimmer! And since I'm installing a 130 amp alternator anyways...who cares? Back to the originals.
Did you just put LED bulbs in? Yes, they are too small of a light source and they will seem very dim through the red lens.
Headlights: Different story. LED headlights are the BOMB. Some I've seen incorporate a cool high-beam area and these lights blow incandescent lights away. They do look a bit "off" though. I still haven't installed them yet because they DO look a bit too modern....
I use good old halogen sealed beams. Again, they work just fine for me.
Low suspension: Form follows function here. My truck is a hauling machine. I also don't own a bank so any thoughts of Crown Vic front ends, changing driveshaft lengths, repositioning the engine...while within my skill set...are out of the question. A lower stance WOULD make it easier to put crap in the back though.....
Don't care for lowered trucks, but that is my opinion. I like mine old school and sitting up proud.
Paint/Exterior: This is where it starts to get weird. I LOVE that new dark blue color on the new GMC trucks. But "it's not an original Ford color." Ford F-150's come in a color called Blue Jean... There's two-tone, chrome, painted front grills, chromed rear bumpers, and on and on. This one has me stumped. My truck is now primer gray..as in REAL primer. My wife and the neighbors think my truck looks like a cool rat-rod with the matte grey...while I've always been partial to the two-tome cream/blue scheme. What is a guy to do? Other than get two more trucks, each a different color combo.
Most people have NO clue as to the origin of the color you put on your vehicle. Today, every manufacturer has at least some variation of everyone else's color.
Interior: Dash pad or no dash pad? Tartan plaid seat material or OEM cloth (mine is a Custom Cab). Classic or modern stereo? I love my John Deere floor mats and I think carpet is OUT of the question (see Hauling Machine comment above). I also need a gun rack...and a dome light. I love those gauges from the 50's and 60's too.
I recovered my stock pad with vinyl 30 yrs ago. I did the door panels to match. I like it.
Bed: Wood bed floor? I love wood. I make wooden carts and wagons for fun on the side. I find wood to also be very durable, especially when throwing metal things into the back. The problem is that if you go the show truck route you will NEVER throw anything back there again! Affixing a wood bed to the back also necessitates drilling a bunch of holes into the bed floor and I'm not sure I am prepared to do that yet either.
To each their own. You just need to decide for yourself.
Engine: I love 289's and 302's. But the FE is basically a baby Cobra Jet engine waiting to happen. I'm all about upgrades here. EFI, HEI, water pumps, oil pans, APR studs, oil coolers, electric fans. I could be happy with a bone stocker on the outside but I want cool running, economical power, hot spark, and lubrication. The good news is that most of this stuff can be disguised as stock parts. Maybe not the electric fan... I am against boring my engine out to 9 million cubic inches though. I want to be able to drive down the street. 427 is about my limit.... My neighbor has a Camaro that he drag races all the time. All he does is talk horse power...but I can drive my truck to the bar and have a beer with my friends and he has to trailer his car everywhere. I also get 14 MPG.
Cubic inches are your choice. No one will ever know what it is. Every Chevy guy in the day had a 283.........no matter if it was 400 ci(because from the outside you can't tell). The biggest stroke you can get reasonable is 4.25, so depending on what block you have will determine bore and final cubic inches. My 428 is 462ci with 4.25 crank. I'd do it every day, it is cheap power.
This post wasn't meant to go on so long...but I am curious about others' take on the whole upgrade game we always play.
Build it as you want. It is only you that you have to please.
I'm pretty conservative. first off old trucks belong the original color or at least something that's close to what was available in the color chart. Don't paint stuff the wrong color either, like a black or body colored grill and front bumper. The truck sets just right the way it came, for me. I do like an 2wd F100 a couple inches lower but would not personally go to the trouble. Forget lowering an F250 or F350, they are trucks. Too many people (IMO) want something that looks like an old truck but drives like a late model Mustang. Just go buy a Mustang, I say. Or they have a 4x4 and suffer some short man syndrome and think it needs to be jacked up 2 feet with huge tires just to look cool driving down the road. Don't get me wrong, I have a mudder I love but it is not a pavement pounder and drive my 59 F250 4x4 daily even though the hubs seldom get locked in. I have converted several bunps to power steering with original parts, no issue there. And I have used parts from dentsides to do disc front brakes on bumps, all stock Ford parts, installed aftermarket limited slip rear ends, all stuff to make an older truck more usable. Almost every old truck I get, gets a volt meter. Ford's stock gauges are just plain junk and there is no problem getting better ones to keep an eye on what's going on. I wouldn't hesitate for a minute to convert a highboy to a married transfer case and high pinion front end. The whole divorced T case hanging down, driveline angles and front drive shaft so close to the ground is a crappy set up for any off roading.These are just one cranky old man's opinion and it would be pretty boring if we were all the same.
I'm of the resto-mod opinion. I've swapped F250 axles w/disc front from a '73 into my '72 F100. I wanted bigger brakes and bearings. When I got it, it was a roller. It has had a slant six/A904 out of a '75 Dodge Dart, it now has a 351M/FMX out of 76 T-Bird. It is soon to have the cab and bed moved onto a '76 F150 4x4 frame. The engine is a rebuilt 390 with a C-6. The only thing that will remain original in the end is the body itself. I like a sleeper. I like old iron but it doesn't have to be stock - just look stock, and be easy to find parts for. So upgrades - yes. Strictly stock no, I'm not building a concours show car, I'm building a truck I can enjoy.
I think Hio said it best (IMO): "In terms of upgrades, keep functionality intact and aim for those things which enhance reliability, safety, driveability, and personal comfort."
Lots of great suggestions. Have fun and build your fun truck. I, like most, pondered some of these things to. So many directions you can take these trucks and that's what makes them so bad ***.
I love this by Willowbilly3,
Too many people (IMO) want something that looks like an old truck but drives like a late model Mustang. Just go buy a Mustang, I say.
I too am not opposed to changing things. Sometimes yes, and sometimes no. I have a 94 Cougar that has a 93 Thunderbird Super Coupe front end on it I installed. Everything from the firewall forward. Also Super Coupe suspension and wheels. But my 68 F250 will remain stock. Part of the reason I bought it is the Old School cool factor. Back when things were simple.
OP, I think the reason you posted this thread is because there is something or some things you want to do to your Bump. But not sure if you should or not. Actually, by wanting to post this thread you told yourself the answer. DO IT.
I've no problem with mods or changes mechanically when it's necessary. But it hurts to watch shows like Gas Monkey Garage and they go buy a nice original condition vehicle and start cutting it up.
I like the classic lines and body style of an old Bumpside with more modern amenities --fuel injected V-8 engine, overdrive 4-spd automatic transmission, power steering, A/C, disc brakes, power brake booster, tilt wheel column, cruise control, intermittent wipers, 31-spline Traction-Loc differential/axles, front and rear swaybars, etc.
Some of these things I've already implemented on my truck. The others will come in time. With the exception of adding a fuel injected engine, that will require cutting a small oval hole in the sheet metal of the firewall for the processor-to engine harness to pass through, this is all bolt-on stuff.
If a person wanted to return the truck back to it's original configuration of a carbureted inline six, C4, manual steering, manual 4-wheel drums, 2-speed wipers, no A/C, it's a matter of unbolting this stuff and putting all the original stuff back on (I still have all the original parts that came off). The small oval hole for the EFI harness could easily be filled with a patch panel, welded in, welds smoothed, primed/painted over and you would never be able to tell it was there.
Why anyone would want to go back to manual drum brakes, manual steering, non-overdrive, etc., is beyond me but, if that's what floats someone's boat, there's nothing I would have done that can't be undone.
I'm not trying to build a museum piece or a work truck. I'm trying to build an old truck with classic, good looking body lines that has better driveability, reliability and comfort as a nice street cruiser.
I drove a 72 light duty F250 2wd in Alaska as a daily for 16 years. Truck was a 300-6, 4 speed with 3.73 rear and optional disc front brakes. The only things I did to it was power steering and a limited slip rear end. That truck drove good, did everything I asked of it and served me well for over 130,000 miles of ownership. Even city winter commuting. Probably averaged 14-15 mpg. I've had similar newer pickups with efi and overdrive that didn't do anything better or deliver better mileage.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
