[ddnww]

So we are about to begin a mild restoration of my stepdads 73 Ford f100. He purchased it brand new in 72. 43 years later it finally needs an engine rebuild, what a great engine and tranny these were. It has a 390 big block which we will be rebuilding from the bottom up. We will also rebuild the transmission, completely redo the paint and body, go through all the suspension, replace the complete brake system, redo the interior, rechrome or polish the moldings etc.

We are writing up a game plan and rough estimated build price and I will be meeting with my friend for the engine rebuild, the body guy, and transmission guy this week. Then we will see how things fit in the budget and go from there. Will be pulling the engine out soon.

I will keep this updated as we go along. Not a full frame off restoration, but will look pretty brand new when we are done down to newly painted engine and trans.

[LittleCaesar]

Very nice. Must have zero rust. Are you going to retro in some AC?

[ddnww]

Originally Posted by LittleCaesar

Very nice. Must have zero rust. Are you going to retro in some AC?

Thanks. It has at most some very minimal surface rust. That's one perk of living in 100 degree dry desert weather. We will be updating the AC to r134a and update the compressor etc.

[Bigshankhank]

Very cool, I was trying to find a 73 (its my birth year!) Ferd pickup earlier this year before I took my new job and got a vehicle allowance. Sadly in Texas old pickups are all the rage with Austin hipsters and rusted out hulks straight out of the 5th Ward with a rattle can paintjob and a straight-6 were $4-6 grand.

Good luck with it!

[Jernik]

My dad had a 69 F100 with the 360. I'm not sure if the AC was factory or aftermarket, but it was installed when new. That thing would freeze you out of the truck! The heat worked really well too. I wish they still had the wing vent windows on trucks these days, and I remember there was a vent in the drivers side panel that you could open up to let fresh air in on your feet/legs.

It was set up for towing a camper. It had the gas tank behind the seat, plus 2 (yes, 2!) saddle tanks. I don't know how much fuel it would hold as we never used the saddle tanks, but there were 3 gas caps on the drivers side. One by the door, one in front of the rear wheel, and one behind the rear wheel.

One thought... check the body mounts. They might not be in very good shape.

Cool project!

[Unner]

I love restorations, and family restorations with original owners are even cooler! I helped my dad restore his 69' Torino GT when I was growing up, he's not the orignal owner, but the second. There's something about old cars that new cars just can't recreate. I'll be following this!

[ddnww]

Originally Posted by Bigshankhank

Very cool, I was trying to find a 73 (its my birth year!) Ferd pickup earlier this year before I took my new job and got a vehicle allowance. Sadly in Texas old pickups are all the rage with Austin hipsters and rusted out hulks straight out of the 5th Ward with a rattle can paintjob and a straight-6 were $4-6 grand.

Good luck with it!

thanks, hope you find a good deal.

Originally Posted by Jernik

My dad had a 69 F100 with the 360. I'm not sure if the AC was factory or aftermarket, but it was installed when new. That thing would freeze you out of the truck! The heat worked really well too. I wish they still had the wing vent windows on trucks these days, and I remember there was a vent in the drivers side panel that you could open up to let fresh air in on your feet/legs.

It was set up for towing a camper. It had the gas tank behind the seat, plus 2 (yes, 2!) saddle tanks. I don't know how much fuel it would hold as we never used the saddle tanks, but there were 3 gas caps on the drivers side. One by the door, one in front of the rear wheel, and one behind the rear wheel.

One thought... check the body mounts. They might not be in very good shape.

Cool project!

thanks man, yeah I love the wing vents too. This truck doesn't have the floor vents, but my dads old Silverado did. I used to love opening them up. This does have the second gas tank, with the valve to switch tanks behind the drivers side of the bench seat if I remember correctly. It came in handy a couple times when I snuck the truck out during high school. Although we're not replacing everything, we will check through everything and replace as needed.. thanks again.

Originally Posted by Unner

I love restorations, and family restorations with original owners are even cooler! I helped my dad restore his 69' Torino GT when I was growing up, he's not the orignal owner, but the second. There's something about old cars that new cars just can't recreate. I'll be following this!

I agree, I just don't see new cars and trucks having the same appeal to restore in the future. I can't wait to see him start her up once we're all finished, and I can't imagine what it will feel like considering this was his first truck he bought as a young man and how much he loves it.

[gm350reratliff]

Very cool truck! Hope your resto goes smooth and comes out better than you expected.

I also have an old truck waiting for a resto. 1969 F100, 302, 4 speed. My grandpa bought it brand new in '69 then my dad drove it for many years after my grandpa passed. My dad gave my this truck in '95 and I drove it for a few years but like @Jernik posted, the cab mounts have completely rusted away. It just sits in the garage waiting for it's turn. Here is a pic of mine.

[ddnww]

Originally Posted by gm350reratliff

Very cool truck! Hope your resto goes smooth and comes out better than you expected.

I also have an old truck waiting for a resto. 1969 F100, 302, 4 speed. My grandpa bought it brand new in '69 then my dad drove it for many years after my grandpa passed. My dad gave my this truck in '95 and I drove it for a few years but like @Jernik posted, the cab mounts have completely rusted away. It just sits in the garage waiting for it's turn. Here is a pic of mine.

thanks, that is very cool too. That pickup is in pretty nice shape as it is. We haven't gone through the truck yet, so don't know what shape everything is in. But my friend who is helping me(or should I say I'm helping him) does full frame offs and can rebuild an FE motor with his eyes closed, so I know he wont let nothing slip past us.

[470SNC]

Very nice, love these old classic restorations especially ones with sentimental meaning, looking forward to the build!

[ddnww]

Some more pics before we get started

[marshal]

convert that baby to 4x4!

[gm350reratliff]

This^^

I've been thinking of doing that to my 69 as well, when I ever get around to it.

[ddnww]

Originally Posted by marshal

convert that baby to 4x4!

Originally Posted by gm350reratliff

This^^

I've been thinking of doing that to my 69 as well, when I ever get around to it.

Ya I had a few ideas for him as well, like just clearing over the paint as is, putting some major power under the hood, and dropping it low with some of those new retro looking cragar style wheels, but he wants to take it back to all original minus the cragar ss wheels.

[ddnww]

HERES THE ESTIMATED ENGINE AND TRANS BUILD, FORGOT TO PUT IN A FEW BOLT ON ITEMS LIKE ALT, STARTER, NEW BATTERY ETC. BUT JUST TRYING TO GET THE BUILD COSTS SITUATED SO I KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO SPEND ON OTHER AREAS.
BUDGET IS 15-20K, MOST LIKELY WILL BE AT 20K.

TRYING TO DECIDE ON A PAINTER STILL, I HAVE A GREAT PAINTER IN MIND, BUT HES EXPENSIVE, BUT HE ONLY DOES IT THE RIGHT WAY, FRAME OFF, ACID DIP, PERFECT MATCHING GAPS, PERFECT BODY, WITH LIFETIME WARRANTY. HIS ESTIMATE WAS AROUND 10K.

SORRY FOR CRAPPY PIC AND the caps lock