68 f100 Custom Cab shorty

[convincor]

Figured I'd get this thread started before I get to far along and making starting this thread a day long project.
This truck came from OK about 2 years ago and went pretty much untouch until recently.
When I go it, it had a 460/C6 in it. Whom ever put the truck together was a total hack.
Not to mention that they had beat the $#!t out of this thing for some time. I've never seen leaf springs and bushing so worn...
But anyway, IMO 460's don't belong in bumps.So back when I aquire the truck the 460 came out, I got busy with other things like work and a 72 F250 CS that Ryan helped me get from CA. That need engine work so I took care of that then work got real slow so I ended up selling the CS. Wish I could have kept it...but..
The 68 got burried in the garage until a couple months ago when some time and ambition to start another project came along... I had bought a 71 f100 for parts that was a local truck so rust had taken it's toll.
The 71 was still titled from the original owner. He ordered the truck in 71 to tow his AirStream trailer.
It was a f100 explorer, 390/auto, P/S, P/B. Was showing 86k on the odometer. Looks as if the truck was mostly used in the summer months as the rust was more above the bodyline than below. The roof seams, the cowl, the hood all rotten...
But it ran and drove so i bought it for $600 for the drive train.
That truck sat here for about a year before I final got out there and tore it down. Then again things sat for another year.
So starting back on the 68, I had set the 390/auto in place. Got it fired again. Did a compression test and was happy to see good compression in all cylinders, but oil leaks everywhere..
Starting out I was going to just throw the truck back together, get it on the road and work on it over time...That was the plan...
The engine came back out and is currantly down to the short block. Cylinders look real good. Still hone marks visible..
One head had been off at one time . I believe due to two manifold bolt holes that were fubard. They now have heli-coils.
Otherwise I'm going to disassemble the heads, lap the valves put it all back together with a new timing chain, oil pump and gaskets. I've got other blocks that will get used for the stroker motor down the road.
Trans had been done. fluid smelt like new. Filter is perfectly clean. Just going to replace seals and thats done.
So here's the truck when still in OK.

Under hood. Notice the inner fenders chopped up. Not because they rotted. Think it was to lighten the truck

Hi-Tech coolant recovery

Here's the 71 parts truck.

[convincor]

so here we are a couple weeks back. Engine/trans in place and someone wants to go for a ride.
More pics to come

[convincor]

Seems I skipped a few shots but..
I was plannning to prep and paint the front section of the frame, Get the dics brakes in and get the engine back in and put the nose together. But a friend convinced me that at the point I'm at it would only be a couple more day's work to just do the whole frame....
The rear I had already gone thru. The rear that was in the truck was junk. Again abused from PO.
So I pulled the center from the 71. Didn't want to use the 71 housing due to some heavy pitting that the OK rear didn't have.
The 71 rear is a 3.50 gear, and just happened to be 31 spline. Well I had picked up a Currie 31 spline traction lock for a great deal a while back. Got the rebuild kit and put that together. Sand blasted all that, springs and all and put it back in the truck.
So for a few hours work, I unbolted the cab (front suspension came out a couple day's earlier) unbolts the bed and rear bumper and seperated the body/bed from the frame.
Jacked the front up, put jackstands under the cab and set the frame back down and slid it out from under the cab.


Turned the frame around and used the engine hoist to lift the bed off. Which then go put on a trailer I have.


Unbolted the springs and put the frame on jack stands and a 55gal drum.
Today I used two engine stands and made a quick rotisery in whick the frame is currantly on.
Will get picks tomorrow.
Used ZEP industrial degreaser and pressure washed the frame 3 times.
The cleaner some good stuff. Let it sit for 15-20 minuted and it would lift paint right off.
Frame is now 99% paint free and no grease or oil.
I've got one front cab perch to repair then I'll sand blast and spray two cots of POR15.
Will post more pics tomorrow....

[trukcrazy]

Seems I skipped a few shots but..
I was plannning to prep and paint the front section of the frame, Get the dics brakes in and get the engine back in and put the nose together. But a friend convinced me that at the point I'm at it would only be a couple more day's work to just do the whole frame....

Famous last words.......some friend you got there too. I hope that friend is helping you. Looks good going this way.

[convincor]

He does actually help when I ask, so....
Got some pics today of the frame on th rotisserie.
Degreased and pressure washed 3 times. came out great..
Got one cab mount perch to fix then sand blast & paint. Hopefully by the end of this weekend I'll be painted.


Now that's a clean frame-



The one perch to fix-

[Fordnatic]

Nice Work!!

[convincor]

Fixed the perch. Sand blasted the frame and sprayed three coats POR15 semi-gloss.

[marvin2]

Looking good...keep it going.

[mrsnicks]

Looks good. I like your poor-man's rotisserie.

Patrick

[convincor]

Looks good. I like your poor-man's rotisserie.

Patrick

Didn't cost me a penny. one stand is my brothers, the other is a neighbors.
The other good thing is once I'm done with them, I give them back and there out of my way...

[convincor]

One step foward, two steps back
I couldn't deside whether I wanted to do the rear tank swap so I had gone ahead and painted anyway.
Well I should have waited because I ended up doing the rear tank. No big deal just some touching up on the edges that where cut.
Anyway, the tank is from a 69 mustang. 20 gallon. Others have down the same swap but I did mine a little different.
I didn't like the idea of seeing the flange from below. So what I did was used the forward cross member to support the front of the tank then made a "U" frame from 3/4" square tube that supports the back and the sides. I'll get some pics of that when I take it back apart to paint all the parts. With this arrangement, if I want to get the tank out I will need to remove the rear bumper, and the rear cross member. Really not a big deal as why would I take the tank out? I'm really happy I did this. The thought of buying a new grommet for the fill tube in the cab was what did it. Most of the new ones crack after about a year or less. Not to mension the fuel sloshing around
Looking from the bottom it looks like the truck came this way..
Here some pics-

[convincor]

It's been three years since last update..
Not much has changed except that I ended up selling the 418".. Needed cash...
I did get it on the dyno for the new owner though.. 501ft.lbs. @3600, and 402hp @5100.. definately regreting selling that but... I'll just have to build another..


Now moving up to date.. We've all seen the recent Loud&Fast episodes which of course got me going again..
And just recently came across the twin of what my truck originally was.. Raven black, CustomCab, 360, 3 on the tree...
http://www.finecars.cc/en/detail/car/147006/index.html
I'm in love all over again..
Got the cab into the shop this past week, been working on the floors, one side done, will be workin on the other today. Then onto the doors. I'll get some picks up shortly as I go...
I want this truck on the road come spring..

[hazelnut]

I remember when you had the motor for sale, Thought about buying it but i had had spent a lot of money on the 390 build for mine. Motor made some good numbers, Lot of people will guess what thier engine will make but the dyno don't lie, Nice build.

Are you going back black with it ? Black looks good but i don't have what it takes to keep one clean Im digging the poor-mans rotiserrie to, I can see that idea being used in my future

[basketcase0302]

501ft.lbs. @3600, and 402hp @5100.. definately regreting selling that but... I'll just have to build another..

I would loved to had thrown that engine into a 14' fiberglass hull with counter rotating props for a lap around Lake Okeechobee.

[convincor]

After owning black vehicles in the past I told myself never again.. but currently my daily driver is a black 01 expedition, street glide is black..
Was planning wimbeldon white, but... there's nothing like black & chrome..
I guess I really wont know til the day init the paint..
as for that engine, it's now in a FFR mk4 roadster in NC. He's not on the road yet but in a 2300# 90" wheelbase car bet it'll scare the crap our of him...