1972 Styleside SWB Parts Hauler

[elgemcdlf]

I would still check with a frame shop & see what it would take to straighten what you have.

[Maximus]

Got the hub caps, curdosy of americas favorite auction site...



After I replace the front i-beams and rear springs, it it still isnt sitting right I will probably look into the frame.

[elgemcdlf]

I think your problem is way too large to be repaired. I would be willing to take the truck off your hands so that you wouldn't have to go through all the turmoil. CA is a big trip but I would be willing to make it to save you the heartache.

[Maximus]

Haha thanks for the offer but I think I'll suffer through it.
The way the fenders line up so well lead me to believe that the front of the frame can't be that bad.
Thanks for the advice and I might take it to a frame shop if it is giving me problems after my planned repairs. The truck is a blast to drive.

Anyone know how much work rebuilding the 3TT linkage? Getting into 1st? /reverse it hangs up half the time and I have to double clutch and yank down into first pretty firmly. It slips into 2nd/3rd like butter...

[Maximus]

Parked the bump for a while as I source some suspension parts, but just couldn't resist a chance at upgrading my 300-I6
The motor was a rebuilt install just a couple years ago and the truck had receipts of the rebuilt engine purchase.
The previous owner had some strange priorities though because they installed headers, a electric fuel pump and an MSD ignition.
Well, I dont think they did any research on how the original manifold heats the intake because there were two 1bbl carbs in the bed and a new one on the truck, all running "okay" but serious lag on acceleration.
Anyways,
I figure since i already have the headers, ignition and elec fuel pump I might as well go that one step further.
an auction later I am the proud owner of a new intake, carb, carb heat plate and air cleaner.
Will media blast the intake and rebuild the carb when the post man brings em to my proch...

Here is my new purchase: an Offenhauser dual-port intake and Holley 8007 390cfm 4bbl Carb

[elgemcdlf]

What ever came of the frame issue?

[derbydad276]

from what I see in the pic on how bent up it id underneath by the time you rip out the cross member to replace it your half way to installing a CV
clip and I would leave the six in it with the extra goodies

but if your dead set on keeping the twin tire destroyers you can have my crossmember when I put the crown vic front under mine

I can throw it on a pallet here in Detroit and ship it to you

[Maximus]

Hey elgemcdlf, havent made any moves on the frame yet. I have been lurking the local classifieds for a 76-79 f100/f150 to use for donor parts.
Im still thinking that the frame is repairable, but I wont know until i start to tear into it and remove the damaged i-beams.
My intentions with this truck are to make it a little more drivable, so the idea in finding a 76-79 truck would be that here in California smog year trucks are cut off at '75 so if i find a beater that wont pass smog then I might be able to get it cheap. Using a 76-79 I would have all of the parts I would need to repair my current rig, while also jumping to discs, power brakes and probably also taking the column/box/pump/linkage to go power steering as well.
Having so many vintage/classic cars makes priorities jump around (I have 6 vehicles that are 1972 or earlier, 4 of which are registered and driving)
Seems how even damaged it goes down the road strait its at the bottom of the priority list until I find that elusive 'cheap as chips' donor. Funny how there were like 4 around when I was looking for a truck, but as soon as I have a truck they all disappear...
The engine does fail me though, if i try to give it 1/2 to 3/4 throttle the engine will completely cut out as if its starved of fuel, so instead of spending a ton of time and money on what appears to be a new 1bbl carb, I jumped on the chance to put a much more efficient fuel delivery system (low 390CFM vacuum secondary Holley model 8007).

If i am able to smooth out the engine hiccups then I may start putting more miles on it, and therefore make the suspension more of a priority. As of now, im of the mindset that the worst case scenario would be a frame swap and thats not difficult, just time consuming so I figure ill just keep tinkering on the small stuff for now.

derbydad276,
first off I totally appreciate your offer on freighting over the crossmember. I think with the torch i can knock my crossmember back into submission. If i cant, whatever donor i end up with will surely supply the crossmember - Thanks though!!!
as for the CV swap, this is just going to be a fun runaround vehicle, and on top of that it will still be a truck. the CV swap is killer in the right application, but for me I don't want the truck lowered (hope the suspension repair will bring it back up to its stock height) and I also don't want to fiddle with the bolt pattern on the wheels, as I love the 94-96 alloys that I was able to track down.

Looking forward to cleaning up this intake and carb and giving my big 6 a more efficient fuel delivery

[Maximus]

The intake is still sitting on a shelf, havent really done anything to the truck other than fire it up every couple weeks to run the gas through and keep the seals lubricated. I have been working on several other projects, as well as replacing failed parts on my DD. All the while I have not lost interest in the F100, just havent had time to make any progress. Its sitting in a tent carport and I signed up for the email service at Row52.com that emails me when new trucks show up at my local junkyard (Pick-n-Pull).
After nearly 6 months of looking for a disc brake front end from a 73-79 (later years preferred because I wanted the vented backing plates) one showed up in my email. every couple weeks a truck would show up, but almost always they were a 3/4 ton, or a 4x4.
Finally I got the news that a 4x2 f100 of 1979 vintage showed up at the local junkyard, so I waited for the weekend and was sitting at the door of the junkyard when they opened the gates. Two hours later (and a few scratches and bruises I was finally coming home with the parts i am going to need to make this truck safer and more structurally sound.
I put the front end parts in the bed of the truck and they will probably sit here for a few months before I can find the time go get it around but I am thrilled to finally have the axles and spindles that I have been looking for.

[Maximus]

I got some free time this weekend so I set some of it aside to tear down the F100.
Set today's goal to get the suspension out of the truck. After work throughout this upcoming week I will probably get the crossmemeber pulled back into shape and the new i beams back in.
Here is the truck before going under the knife...

And here it is after i pulled the old ibeams out. the warped drums were happy to no longer be asked to stop a vehicle any longer...

[Maximus]

Got the old beams out, tweaked the crossmember, swapped my 6 cylinder springs onto the '79 front end, tossed on some new shocks, calipers, pads and hoses and now I am just waiting to track down the proper proportioning valve and swap the master cylinder for a disc/drum unit. Nice to have the majority of the work done though!

[Maximus]

I finished greasing the tie rods and king pins, and threw on the wheels. I am VERY happy to see the suspension sitting level as it always should have.
The great thing is the rear shocks are totally shot so the rear sag was just the suspension following the smashed front. now that the front is sorted the ride height is all leveled out in the rear as well! new shocks for the rear are in order but I coulnt be happier to see the truck sitting nice and level!

Now i need to source a proportioning valve and go buy a new master cylinder, might just have to throw a booster on while im at it...

[Maximus]

Now that I got the suspension back to a working condition I started looking around for options with the seat, as the stock bench just doesnt support me. As luck were to have it a craigslist ad in my home town lead me to a new front bench. Its a front split 60/40 grey vinyl bench from a early 90's Ford F350 ROLL-A-LONG conversion. VERY Comfortable seat cushion and who doesn't like an arm rest? I am happy with it, and will hopefully get some free time this weekend to bolt it in the truck. Its a quality aftermarket seat too as its split bench sliders are on a single full-length frame that mounts to the cab of the truck on each end like a factory bench. Should be very simple to modify into the '72

[Alstoyz]

Nice progress... Did you windup not needing to change out the brackets I sent ya??? LOOK'N GOOD!!!

[Maximus]

The drivers bracket survived but I torched off my passenger bracket and used yours, worked out awesome! Thanks for the bracket and the kind words!