Bought new by the owner's grandfather, this old F-100 is too meaningful to ever let go. So he gave it a new lease on life!
1. Grandpa's Truck
Like many hard-working folks back in his time, L.E. Sims had racked up countless miles on his old 1956 F-100 by the time 1965 rolled around. So he rode on over to local Ford dealership and traded it in on a shiny new truck. But this time, that truck would never be replaced. Nor would it leave the family. Sims' grandson, Jimmy Butler, grew up with fond memories of riding around in the old Ford, which was left to his mother after L.E. passed away back in the '80s. But after the Butlers took possession, the old Ford sat dormant for 20 years before the youngest member of the family finally got his hands on Grandpa's truck.
>>Join the conversation about 1965 F-100 Heirloom right here in Ford-trucks.com.
2. Old Truck, New Vision
Obviously, Butler had plenty of time to dream about what he wanted to do with the F-100. In short, he wanted to modernize the old truck and make it somewhat of a restomod. So he dialed up Will Posey’s Big Oak Garage in Gadsen, Alabama to assist. It took only seven months to transform the truck into what you see now, which is a truck worthy of a Hot Rod feature. But the best part of the whole story is that it was completed just in time for Butler to take his mother for a ride, only one month before she too passed away.
>>Join the conversation about 1965 F-100 Heirloom right here in Ford-trucks.com.
3. Low, Definitely Not Slow
Butler, like many folks these days, likes his trucks low. So the old I-Beam and leaf suspension are long gone, replaced by a new-school Roadster Shop IFS and a RideTech triangulated four-link. That enables the F-100 to sit tucked down right on top of a new set of ForgeLine ZX3P wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport tires. With 13-inch Wilwood brakes in both the front and rear, it'll stop just as good as it turns, too. The rest of the exterior, however, remains just as it was when it was restored by students at the Cherokee County Vocational School back in 1985.
>>Join the conversation about 1965 F-100 Heirloom right here in Ford-trucks.com.
4. LS Is a Four Letter Word
We're not fans of Chevy swaps in Fords, but an LS is what Butler envisioned for his powerplant of choice. If nothing else, the 5.3-liter LS and 4L60E tranny probably came dirt cheap. MThe blasphemous build breathes a little easier thanks to American Racing headers and a 2.5-inch stainless steel exhaust.
>>Join the conversation about 1965 F-100 Heirloom right here in Ford-trucks.com.
5. Fresh Threads
Unlike the outside, which was still in pretty remarkable shape, the inside needed a little updating. So Butler added some nice modern amenities in the form of Vintage Air A/C, Kenwood tunes, and Classic Instruments gauges. A fresh piece of vinyl covers the old bench seat, and that's about all this truck needs. At this point, it's ready to live on for another couple generations, and we sure hope it does!
>>Join the conversation about 1965 F-100 Heirloom right here in Ford-trucks.com.
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our how-to section in the forum.
