I hope to start working on my 54 F100 this spring. Its been sitting in my Grandpas back yard for almost 30 years now. The body is in ok shape. Has a little rot in the cab corners that I will get patched. My dad wants to do it once and do it right. Im all about that but I would like to drive it while I work on it. So if you know you are going to be pulling the body off the frame for paint and to rework the frame (add power brakes and paint) would you spend the time to get it running and driving? Im leaning that direction because I would love to have something to take to the shows while I work on it and gather parts and save some money for the body work. Sorry for the bad pics. Some other cars were in my way. The main rust problem. I love AZ for this reason.
i like the pantera look on that car...i personally would just get her running, i wouldnt waste my time w/ the off frame restoration.
Get it running, steering and stopping. Then when you're ready you can take the bed off and do the back half of the frame and set it back on in a week or so. The front of the frame can be detailed the same way but it'll take a little longer. If it's up and running when you take it apart you'll be less likley to drag your feet getting it back together so you can drive it again. At least that's my theory. It's exactly what I plan to do to my 55 this summer.
you have to decide what you want in the end.If you want a dependable safe driver,pull it apart,you will neeed brakes,completly,gas tank will need to come out and cleaned and any repairs done,wire,lights,wippers,glass,steering,raddator,clutch,motor work,and more.All this without body work.Or you can get it running and drive it as is.This will make you very good at,flat towing,roadside repairs,and use of profanity
Drive it while you build it. There's nothing less fun than owning a vehicle that's in a million pieces when you don't have the dough to properly finish it. You'll also be much more motivated to keep going on the project if you can get some seat time in it rather than looking at a pile of parts dreamin' about driving it sometime in the future.
I would get it running first. Yes, you would need to fix whatever is wrong with it to get it going. Brakes, wiring, ect.... Some people after taking it all apart will never put it back together again! I would fix it while i can drive it, even if it takes me long while to do it. just my 2 cents.
I would look it over good and if it looks ok I would do what it takes to get it going. But its a truck, It would not be to hard to pull the cab and bed off it you wanted to.
Tore my driver apart 25 years ago and it's still apart, sure could have put some miles on it if I hadn't torn it apart.
I took the fix it up to drive it approach now seven years ago. Its so much fun to drive that I can't bring myself to pull it apart to fix any of its major problems. And I had to buy another project to have something to work on. I'm not complaining I like the choices I've made. But deciding to fix and drive can mean it goes a long time before its finished right. Of course taking it apart now may mean the same thing.
I took my 52 apart almost 20 years ago.....it's still not on the road. Wish I'd been able to drive it some of that time. I took it apart to do it right, and life kinda got in the way........I say get it running if you can.
Get her running. Drive it some! Then start replacing and repairing stuff as time and funds allow. While you're pulling it apart after driving it, you'll have better motivation to get it back together for more fun and driving! Cool project. The old truck will love you for giving it new life!
I think these guys are right... Do what you have too to make it road worthy and drive it a while! If its been siitn that long and you havent did anything to it, whats the chances your really gonna get into now. It could very well turn into a garage ornament... Just food for thought..I do like thoughs trucks though!!!
Get it running and driving modifying each section to your liking as you go. Usually you will have to put it together and take it apart several times before you're happy. When you have the money for the body resto, take it apart and have it painted while you prep all the parts for reassembly, and make any mods to your mods that you've decided to make. Now on the other hand, if your Dad is willing to finance a full blown restoration, go that route. tnrotter
It's been sitting for 30 years. The brakes are shot, the gas tank probably is rusty or has holes, the fuel lines are corroded, the seals in the engine and trans are toast, the wiring has been eaten by mice or corroded at the terminals, the tires are junk...need I go on. Trucks are easy and quick to build, assuming you're building a basic driver. Pull the bed and cab, go through the chassis and add a little paint, go through the engine and trans (if you're gonna stay stock)...and then get the body back on. You can drive it once the chassis and running gear is sorted out, and it's easier to do it when you don't have to lay on your back! Finish the body as you're driving it. My $0.02
If I'd took the money I have invested in my time consuming $1000 dollar project, 54 F-100 on a S-10 frame, I could've fixed the brakes on my '66 Chevy and probably been driving it around last summer, and maybe even got around to getting some of my other junkers halfway road worthy. Instead I got to drive the F-100 on the road one day, and it never ran right since, and is currently getting a V8 swap. When its done, it'll be a pretty much new vehicle since I've replaced so much stuff. I still would've had more fun with junkers.
I would get Her running and enjoy her a bit before you take her apart. I took my 57' apart 15 years ago and didnt get her back on the road till lucky No.13 of 15 yrs. I did it right and glad I did but a driver project isnt as hopeless as a project in a million pieces!!!
Id very carefully write out what you want the finished truck to be, look it over, price it out, start collecting parts. most frame offs get way out of hand once they are apart, the budget dries up and they stall out, because people dont stick to their original plan. Take the cab and bed off, paint the frame, route all new lines, fix the brakes / fuel system, paint / repair the bottom and back of the cab, put the cab on rewire it and start driving it. (drivetrain is easy to swap on these trucks, rebuild the original stuff or drop in a running small block whatever, dont get caught up on a high horsepower build yet) Since you still have the bed off start repairing it, when the bed is ready to paint, park the truck, pull the doors, rebuild them and jamb out the paint, same with all the glass, hang the bed and doors, paint the truck, install the glass, truck is done. having driven it for a while will keep you motivated. This gets you driving safely while you work on it and reduces your down time. Drive it for a while with the "runner small block" if you wanna build some power do it later.
Don't get distracted trying to build some badass drag engine. You'll be so happy once its rolling down the road you won't care whats in it as long as it runs for 50 miles at a time.
Truck has had everything from a 6 cyl to a BBF. At this point I am told it has a hot little merc 8 in it with some goods. I havent had a chance to look it up and see what it is.
I spent some time talking to my dad. He has been spending some time looking at the f100 thread. He knows what he would like the truck to look like. Since it was my Grandpas and my dad was nice enough to give it to me I am taking the ideas to heart. I have my own ideas but we'll see how that works out. I will be doing the most of the wrenching. I cant wait to get started.
I'll side with Dad. It's like the couple that want to live in a house while it's being renovated, and the story usually ends with a divorce.
personally i don't like to see cars or trucks rotting away when they can driven and easily fixed. my brother bought a 57 truck and within 6 months it was running. of course all we did was clean out the gas tank, drop in a 283 a turbo 350 and fix the leaf spring set up. oh, yeah i rewired the complete truck too. set up an exhaust and drove it around. prior to that the truck had been sitting for close to 10 years or more. it already had a camaro frame grafted to the front. it's a little rusty but it beats pushing it around in the yard. currently working on a 55 belair ht to be road worthy, starts and drives but no front lights as of yet, and the front clip is still hanging off of it...fiberglass. my choice would be to fix it and get it running, much more fun. i don't care if people call my beast a rust bucket cuz it's all paid for, 454 bbc 55 sedan 4 speed for now.
If you do not have the available money or parts to do a full body off rebuild I figure get it on the road asap and enjoy it... Then just do 1 piece or area at a time and have it off the road for the odd week or so here and there....
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