66 F100 Rebuild

BjJb · 07-27-2008, 12:13 PM

I just got home last night after a 4 hour, 100 mile trip with my dad's old 66 F100. He gave it to me after my wife asked him for it...cost me $10 American, for a notarized bill of sale. It's in, probably, 65% condition, dunno what the "official" term for that is but that's my assessment. It's been car ported its whole life.

Before we made the trip, I replaced all the wheel cylinders, the master cylinder, all the wheel cylinder flex hoses, radiator and two tires just to feel good about starting the trip.

Anyway, the truck was in Parrish, Alabama (west and just a little north of B'ham and just south of Jasper) and I had to get it to Gurley, AL, just west of Huntsville and east of Scottsboro.

My dad had replaced the original 3 speed tranny with a Ford automatic...pretty good little mod, looks good and worked good the last time he'd driven it, about 10years ago. Had to stop 3 times to let it cool down in order to get home.

Anyway, here's the plan; my wife's got a real bug to return it to 1966 shape and configuration. In respect to mechanic/repair competency, scale from 0-10, I have about a solid 6.5 to 7, honest reflection, and my wife is a klutz, bumping 0-1 on a good day BUT she will make sure that I get the job finished to her specs..."behind a tired man you'll always find a dissatisfied wife" and all that.

SO, what I need is somebody who's done this or similar before to gimme a quick outline of where to start, what to look for, how to tool up, etc. The Full Monty, the Whole Nine Yards, Soup to Nuts, whatever.

I'll start with posting a bunch of pix online as soon as I get the required camera stuff (still using silver and paper technology) and anyone who's interested can opine, direct, wag their finger or just bitch can have their shot and, as the thing progresses, I'll post the progress, give kudos where deserved and maintain a tactful silence where so needed.

So, anyone who cares gimme a good luck wish and anyone with experience drop me a line concerning what they know, suspect or have dreamed about.

Knowing that there'll be many hands in the soup, I offer many thanks in advance,

Billyjoe Jimbob (BjJb)

p.s. I know that the site admin weenies will also want to direct/advise me in advance about how to keep this thread open, going and interesting, assuming that they think it's a good idea in the first place.

Looking forward to your direction and advice, tambien.

bertha66 · 07-31-2008, 09:53 AM

Good luck with the work, with the wife helping, yougot it made. My wife loves working on our old cars and trucks. Myself, I would start with getting the all the brakes working, but it sounds like you have a good start on them. Then the running gear, are you going back to the 3sp? If the truck had not run for 10 years, did you clean out the gas tank? change the oil in the engine, trans. and rear end? Are you doing a gound up restoration or a running fun truck?

moremeat · Yesterday, 07:13 AM

Howdy! I am (finally) starting on my 1973 F100 shorty. I am out looking for a 390 to replace the very tired and leaking 360. I'll probably keep the manual trans unless I get a good deal on a motor/auto tranny package.

I would like to tighten up the front suspension. Does anyone have a recommendation on a place to get all of the rubber bushings, etc.? Any advice for tackling the suspension?

I'm on a low budget for now...so the motor has to come first. Any advice/info is appreciated.

BlueBomber · 08-13-2008, 12:20 PM

looking forward to pics. look for rust. if its been sitting, its got some rust. find it, and stop it. it will make your time spent on the truck much more enjoyable

dan76 · 10-03-2008, 08:56 PM

Progress? I have a similar project awaiting in the wings with a 71 F100.

TRVRGLMR · 01-07-2009, 08:01 PM

i JUST BOUGHT A 66 F100 W/ A REBUILT 352 REDONE WITH EDELBROCK...THE ENGINE IS THE BEST PART ABOUT IT. i LOVE IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS PRIMER GREY....LITTLE BUST OF RUST BUT THAT'S ALRIGHT. i GET QUESTIONS ABOUT IT EVERYTIME I STOP SOMEWHERE. GOOD LUCK WITH YOURS....I'M STARTING W/ THE RUST AND THEN I WANT TO GO TO DISC BRAKES

oren · 11-01-2009, 08:27 PM

i have an all stock 63 F100. runs ok... my next mod is to install a modern master brake cylinder AND swap out front drums for disc brakes... other than that... have the wife hand you the tools, find new parts as needed. enjoy

ps - if it's over heating... thermostat? clogged radiator/ cooling system? drain and flush... then new thermostat...

pps - buy a can of 'liquid wrench' (penetrating oil, not wd-40) and be patient on the rusty bolts

bertha66 · 11-02-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oren

i have an all stock 63 F100. runs ok... my next mod is to install a modern master brake cylinder AND swap out front drums for disc brakes... other than that... have the wife hand you the tools, find new parts as needed. enjoy

ps - if it's over heating... thermostat? clogged radiator/ cooling system? drain and flush... then new thermostat...

pps - buy a can of 'liquid wrench' (penetrating oil, not wd-40) and be patient on the rusty bolts

Are you replacinig the front end with the brake up grade? Or putting disc on the strait axle? I had a disc brake kit put on my 47 Merc, the shop that put it on did not tell me where they got it, but it was a kit for a strait axle.

95Ptrucks · 11-20-2009, 06:53 AM

Awesome! Enjoy the truck and the rebuild....