Daily Slideshow: 1968 F-100 FE For the Win
FoMoCo makes great engines, always has, so why would you put anything else in a 1968 Ford F-100 than a 390 ci FE engine?
Doing the Work
When it comes to the heart of a car or truck—the engine—the Ford vs. GM debate will rage ever on. However, no one can say that Ford makes the inferior product, and the Blue Oval has never been stingy when it comes to advanced engineering. It has been argued that GM makes a more universal powerplant, one that drops into more platforms intact, while a Ford engine may utilize different brackets, pulleys, and other odd bits to fit just right in different models. But Ford enthusiasts aren't afraid of a little work, and part of the fun of a build is getting all the details right, isn't it? Of course, not everyone has the time or patience, or a nice enough vintage base to start with, to stick with the old stuff, and a new crate motor from Ford can be awfully tempting—though some stray into the dark (GM) side, which might be going a bit too far.
All this is to say that when an individual has the drive to start with an old-school ride, do the research and the legwork to track down all the needed parts to do a build, it's by no means an easy feat. That's no less true when it comes to a build that updates the driving experience—which brings us to Jeff Werner’s 1968 F-100.
FE For The Win
Werner went looking for a project, and he found one at a Mecum Auction. The 1968 F-100 was perfect for his plans since it was only partially-completed, but was in decent shape, and he loved the strong lines of the body style. The '68's 390 ci V8 was strong, but not meaty enough for what Werner had in mind, so he stayed inside the FE family but upgraded to another 390 from a 1972 F-250 for its beefier three-web construction.
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The Weight
Werner went to Keith Craft Performance Engines for the bulk of the FE magic he had in mind. The '72 block was bored out with a stroker crank replacing the original unit, yielding a 445 ci displacement. Not as inexpensive as a hopped-up Chevy rat motor, but authentically Ford, and definitely cheaper than a Ford 427-based build. The 445 received Diamond pistons, a double roller timing chain, and a COMP FE roller cam. Mike Yelvi did the all-important porting and port-matching work, starting with the original iron 390 heads, and NOS 427 Ford adjustable rockers arms were substituted for the original non-adjustable 390 units. Other additions include a high-volume Melling oil pump, CVF Racing pulleys, twin electric fans to keep things cool, a Holley Avenger 770 carburetor atop a modified Edelbrock Performer intake, and Hedman headers flowing into Flowmaster mufflers.
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Shoring Up
Fanning out from the Holley carb are dual Spectre intakes, and since these photos were taken Werner has given the FE and extra shot in the arm with a 200-shot Cold Fusion nitro kit. The truck's C4 was removed in favor of a Phoenix Transmissions-modified C6 featuring the works: a Raybestos Pro Band clutch, an internal radiator, a 2,300 rpm stall speed converter, and a heavy-duty shift kit.
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The Other Heart of a Truck
Starting from the stock frame, Werner swapped in DJM Suspension's I-beam suspension system featuring a 3-inch drop up front, and in the rear, the stock axle was used, albeit in a flipped configuration, and fastened to springs with a single leaf removed from each. Brake-wise, Master Power discs were installed, in conjunction with a CVR vacuum power booster. In order to access a larger number of available wheel options, the pickup's original 5-1/2-inch bolt pattern hubs were changed over to 5-inch versions. Werner went with Boss wheels (20-inch front and 22-inch rear) wrapped in Hankook Tires (245/35ZR20 front and 265/35ZR22 rear). They certainly fill the wells, but they mean that the F-100's days of rumbling down country roads are behind it.
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Inside Again
The living quarters were made more livable, the cab benefitting from a comfy and flexible 60/40 seat conversion and ample A/C from Classic Auto Air. The factory steering column was retained but now sports a Grant steering wheel, and new carpet, a new headliner, and new dash and trim pieces were sourced from LMC Truck. The effect is a subtle update on an interior that seems to look a little more classic with each passing year.
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The Third Heart of a Truck
Nowadays a bed isn't a given in a modded truck, but this classic deserved one, and it's hard to find a wood more beautiful than mahogany. The Bed Wood and Parts African mahogany platform was chosen for Werner's F-100 conceal a center-mounted tank from LMC Truck. It looks great next to the R-M Diamont metallic Canyon Red and Pewter paint scheme sprayed by Texas outfit Hollywood Finishes. Th body itself is de-mirrored, de-badged, and de-marker lighted and features an LMC Truck front bumper with built-in fog lamps, and an LMC Truck rear roll pan.
Editorial opinion time, we'd like to see this truck on black wheels, and maybe with sidewall showing. Opinion number two: no better-looking pickups have ever rolled off an assembly line than the 1967-1977 F-series trucks, and no one should be surprised when prices take a sharp hike Northward. Discuss. And get 'em while they're hot!
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