1973 F100 project
 

Step one, wash/wax/detail. Become one with the truck...
360, auto, A/C, 88K miles

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/nosjunke/f101.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/nosjunke/f100.jpg

Things on the horizon;
oil pan gasket
oil change
transmission flush
transmission gasket
plugs, wires, cap, rotor
clean up wires in engine bay
rewire radio (It has one, just doesn't work)
new windshield wipers

No matter how easy, I'll try to take a few pics

Matt

You've got a nice looking truck there!!

Is that a swb truck its hard to tell from the angle of the pic? Nice looking dentside it looks to be in great shape.

Thanks! It's a SWB truck....

So my first "project" for the weekend was to pressure wash the engine and undercarriage so I can see what's going on under there. I see a little seepage from the back on the engine, it's red. So I check the PS fluid...It's empty...lol So after I clean the engine hopefully I'll be able to see where it's coming from. I wish there was a kit that would replace the pump, lines and steering box.

So I head home early from work to get started...I pull the pressure washer out, check it's oil, check the plug, and gas. All good, but empty gas. I haven't used it since last year.

Fast forward 3 hours and I've had to disassemble the power washer to figure out why it won't start after I put gas in it. I cleaned everything with a tooth brush (a lot of varnish on everything). I put it all back together filled it back up with gas and tried to start it again. Nothing...Well for some reason I MUST be stupid! The gas is also from last year. When pouring it out it had a yellowish tint to it...Time for dinner now, so I guess I'll get back to it later..

Yay me!

STILL trying to get the pressure washer to start...I think I've given up and am going to take it to a repair shop. Let them fight with it.

I did take the inspection cover off the trans and a lot of fluid pooling at the bottom under the convertor sooooo.....I guess it's time to rip out the trans and investigate further.

So since I couldn't get the pressure washer to work, I decided to start on the interior... Quite easy demo on this one I must say, and not in bad shape at all underneath.

Picture of seat that I pulled out of the truck. Notice the 6x9 boxes on the other side of the seat. Those were behind the seat run off deck power...That's all about to change...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32/nosjunke/seat.jpg

Interior with everything removed. Now I have to vacuum and scrub down the cab, then I'll scuff and coat. I'll finish up with a bit of sound deadening material.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...e/interior.jpg

Here is what's left from demo. Not much..
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...ldinterior.jpg

Check back later please as I take post up of the progress. I was unable to find some custom kick panels to house some speakers as my only other option is to cut the doors to stick a 4" in the dash, so I will have to make my own. It's been a while, but I used to make all sorts of audio related fiberglass things. I also decided to go from the plastic flooring to carpet.

After the second coat of POR-15 dried I laid down some sound deadening material. On the way to Lowes to get some wood and fiberglass to make the kick panels.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...ddeadening.jpg


Still haven't pressure washed the underside of the truck and yanked the trans yet as Sears called and said I need a new carb for the pressure washer. Oh well, a few more weeks and I'll get around to it. Should have the stereo and interior done by then.

I got side-tracked with finishing the interior as I bought the donor vehicle! It's a 94 Lincoln MK VIII. 4.6L DOHC. I'm going to start to make a list of things I need to take from it to put on the truck, then it's game on with the swappy...This lincoln is pretty nice, it's a shame I'm gonna tear it apart..lol
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...nke/mkviii.jpg

Picture of the interior
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32.../mkviiiint.jpg

Cool donor! Those 4.6L DOHC's are sweet engines.:-jammin

Have you given any thought to possibly swap in a 2003+ Crown Vic front suspension? They are a great swap for your age truck and your Lincoln 4.6L would bolt right to the Crown Vic's front suspension crossmember. As far as suspension swaps go they are pretty simple. That would give you good handling, big disc brakes and rack & pinion steering.

Then swap in your Lincoln IRS and you'll have an even more awesome ride!!:-X22

Yeah, I considered doing all that, but I don't think I want the added cost since I am not doing any of the work. I had considered following in the footsteps on another one of our own and use the IFS from the Lincoln, but again, I don't want to pay for the welding and fab. Just not in the budget.

But here is another updated pic. Progress...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...ickpanel-1.jpg

The drivers side is going to need a little modification to get the emergency brake to work. Maybe have to move it over and inch or two.

I completely understand working with a budget. Even doing the work myself, mine is still taking years & years & years ( because of budget issues ) .:-X04 If you do decide to go with a different ifs look into the 2003 + Crown vics. Much simpler then trying to get the Mark VIII suspension to work in the truck.The Mark VIII requires strut towers. The Crown vic is all contained in it's own crossmember.


Your kick panel looks good. :-X22 What size speakers are you running in them? Good luck on the driverside. That E-brake assembly is going to make it a pain!

Thanks for the words of encouragement...lol I have a set of 6.5" kicker seperates. I just did the fiberglass resin and letting that harden. I think I'll bend the E-Brake up a little and move it over and inch and I should be good. I did unbolt it and it's an SOB just to try and move it, but I'll use a bolt and lock nut to hold it steady in the event my daughter needs to use it.

No pics to update but I at least got the amplifier wires run (RCAs, remote turn-on, battery). I won't run the speaker wires until I know the exact location of the amp and external crossovers (they are big).

Extended weekend over, time for bed and work in the morning...

Finally.....The stereo is complete...OMG, I can't believe 5 speakers sound this good.

I put a layer on sound deadening on the back panel, then fiberglassed the 1/4" MDF to it since I didn't want to put any screws holes in the cab. Once it was dry, I added carpet, pulled out the wires, and that was it.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...hedinstall.jpg

Finished kickpanel
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y32...kinstalled.jpg

Great work!:-X22