Just found your thread. I love your truck and what you are doing. I hope the thread keeps going. And Thank You for your service!
Sold the Fairlane last week. Bummed to see it go, but nice to have a little project cash. New owner seemed pretty stoked, so that makes me glad to know it's going to a good home. As an added bonus my truck is now parked in my garage and that makes me feel better knowing it's not sitting outside this winter. I'm hoping to take some of the money from selling the Fairlane and putting it towards a larger shop which I'm currently hunting for in Baltimore. My wife and I just bought our first home about a year and a half ago and found the perfect house - that doesn't have a garage. We live in the city, so I'm hoping to find a stand-alone shop on it's own property in one of the commercially zoned areas. Folks in my church usually bring their beaters to me to help them fix them, so the space will serve a dual purpose. I'm also still on the lookout for a 55-57 t-bird for a straight axle build, but honestly without the space it wouldn't be the wisest decision to pull the trigger on another project right now without the space to keep it. Theoretically, if I found the right one I'd figure it out somehow, but I'm prioritizing a new space. I found a freakin sweet shop that's been vacant for at least 4 years - owned by the 7th day adventist conference east up in PA, but after calling them they said they won't sell any of their properties. People wonder why Baltimore is such a ****-hole... It's partially because of people leaving vacant properties unused to fall apart. I'm not a real estate mogul wanna-be, but having purchased our house unlisted, and without an agent I'm a little more hip to "the game" than the average person. I'm not looking to make money off a work space, but I do want to use it to help out my church family that needs it. I'm sure people on the HAMB have some strategies for purchasing properties not for sale and I'm open to suggestions. The big issue with this property is dealing with the bureaucracy of not just a church, but the entire church conference.
I just found your thread. I also began a F100 project a few months back, (Bringing an F100 Back from the Dead) although mine is a '65. Looks like you're having fun with it, which what this is all about!
Ha, this was what my 1965 looked like when I bought it last spring 2021. Could it be that there are more than 2 baby blue short box Ford pickups out there? Yours looks great - you've got good taste!
Great old farm truck love what your doing with it and your never stop at***ude is inspiring. But I wouldn’t expect anything less. Hope you have success with the building that thing would make a great shop. Hope the thread stay up I’m following along.
With the Fairlane sold I've got the truck stashed in my garage just in time because we've gotten some pretty decent snow the past couple of weeks here in Baltimore. Friday after work I finally swapped out the ugly billet one-wire alternator for an overkill 150 amp Powermaster unit. I was tired of the battery not being charged at idle and I murdered it by cold-cranking it and letting the truck idle in my garage in the 20* weather. The old alternator wasn't shimmed correctly, so I addressed that with the new unit so hopefully the belt doesn't squeal like it used to. Additionally, I burned up the fuse for my hidden under-seat JBL subwoofer/head unit some time during the 1500 mile drive, so I replaced the in-line fuse with a fuse block on the fender apron next to the solenoid. I've had some periodic issues with fuel percolation while I was in Texas and encountered it on the drive back to Maryland, so I decided to plumb a return line with an electric fuel pump. I consider myself an expert level Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace skimmer, so I picked up a Holley Blue pump new in the box, some brand new billet 40/100 micron fuel filters. I still have a bunch of AN fittings left over from pluming the fuel system for my Fairlane, so I think I'll be able to get by. After doing a little poking around online it seems like the best way to plumb the return is with it on the back end (opposite) of the fuel inlet on the duel feed for the carb. My in-cab tank is brand new, so I'm going to plumb the outlet fuel line from the existing NPT bung and put the return on the fuel filler neck with using a bulk-head fitting, 90* turn, and steel fuel line going back into the bottom of the bank via the filler hole. I think after I work all that out I need to beef up the rear end a little bit. I'm thinking of plumbing the regulator/return at the carb something like this:
Worked on the truck yesterday in my frigid garage. Gosh, I miss the mild Texas winter. Got the Holley blue pump mounted up to the frame and began wiring the relay. Ended up mounting the pump on the outside of the frame rail high up since my exhaust runs way too close to the inner frame rail. I think this will be an adequate position as I won't be off-roading with this thing and I think it's high enough crud from the drivers side tire won't hit it (maybe I dunno we'll find out lol). The relay is mounted under the dash and wired up, save the connections to the oil pressure cut-off switch. I've been thinking about how I'm going to wire the common post on the relay/oil pressure switch and I think I'm going to run it through a toggle switch on the dash so I can cut off the fuel pump in case I'm in an accident and also provide extra theft insurance (as if the common human knows how to drive a clutch, let alone how to start this truck lol). I had a couple leads on a couple thunderbirds, none panned out. One was a 56 and two were 57's. I feel strongly that people want too much money for their rusted out junk. People are looking to get 6k+ for something that needs floors, rockers, no drivetrain, no gl***, top, etc. It's ridiculous. Something will pop up eventually... If you know anyone with a 55-57 tbird roller I'm interested. Nothing too nice. I'm going to chop it up.
If you are worried about junk hitting your fuel pump you can but a stone guard in front of it. Also you can wire a inertia switch in line of your fuel pump in case of a accident.
Made some progress today on the new fueling system. Made all the fittings and lines, mocked up the fuel return fitting in the filler neck. I plan on running submersible fuel hose from the fitting inside the filler neck down to the bottom of the tank. The fuel filters are mounted and bulkhead fittings used between the cab and the tank. After doing a little research I decided to place the regulator after the fuel log and run the return line off of it that way there's no fuel sitting at any place in the lines. I placed a fuel pump kill switch on the dash as well which will double as theft protection (as if the manual trans, lack of power steering, temperamental starting FE isn't enough...)
Finishing up the fueling today and starting to look into am***ing parts to rebuild the Dana 60.2. I've never messed with a dana 60 before, so I'm not sure what I'm getting into. The only thing that leaves me apprehensive is figuring out the shimming situation. Everything I've done in the past were Ford 8" or 9" where I just dropped a new center section in. I'm pretty confident I can figure it out though. I can't really find much on this oddball axle, though. Plenty of information on full floater Dana 60's and dana 44's, but not really anything on the semi-floating 60.2/60.3. I'm ***uming that the center components would be just dana 60 parts? The factory axles are 30 spline, but I'd reuse the carrier and replace the clutch packs. I'm hoping to replace the axles through a custom order from a reputable company as the factory splines are twisted to all heck from the previous owner towing horse trailers and campers with this truck over the years.
I'm on spring break from work, so I've been working around the house doing yard work and finally disposing of construction material that's been sitting around since I got mob'd to Texas. Nothing like a hot rod work truck. lol. New return fuel system works great. Sitting in line at the dump it never overheated and had no fuel starvation problems, which is impressive since I estimate this motors somewhere in the ballpark of 10.5:1. Fuel pump is pretty loud, but is only audible at idle. I may pull it off and add more rubber insulators at some point, but it doesn't bother me much. I'm taking a break from working on the house tomorrow to pull the axles in the Dana 60 and take some measurements. My dad and I are taking my truck and his 38 Ford pickup to Cruising Ocean City, MD in late May, so I'll probably wait until after that before I pull everything apart. This being my first time rebuilding a Dana I want to take my time and I take it apart now I may not have it back together by then. I want to bracket race it at the local track this summer and the twisted splines, worn out clutches, and old bearings I think are the weakest link in the drivetrain right now. Here's some photos of the Rust Tractor earning it's keep:
Is this what your heart desires? I picked this 56 up a while back, after my old Cobra buddies pulled the correct for a Cobra 427 out- and it's getting another one. They also had a 57 that they bought for the Cobra Jet engine and resold. Not a speck of rust on this old 70's hot rod. I hit this thread as I just brought home a 64 shortbed stepside with a 390/C6. The gent I got the 64 from also has a 66 just like yours, same original color, except a 4x4- NFS
Great job. I bought a new '92 F150, first thing I did was put a seat cover in just like yours. 30 years and 140k later the cover is hardly worn from my bony ***, the rest of the truck, well not so good.
lol. Mexican blankets. I put that isht on everything lol. I reupholstered, recovered, and re-sprung the seat frame I pulled from a late 60's F100 and it looked amazing. Then I put a Mexican blanket over it so you can't see any of the hard work. ahhaa Hi Gene, I'm going to send you a message.
A few photos from the big car show at Ocean City, MD this year. Went tandem with the old man and his '38 pickup.
Haven't been on here in awhile. Truck has a line lock now. Pulled the carb for jet extensions, new floats, and re-bodied with a Holley HP DP. I also have new parts to replace the tie rod ends in order to finally take it someplace to do a proper alignment. Been driving it for as long as possible, but Baltimore has finally salted the roads in anticipation for some midwest snow/ice that's supposed to be blowing our way, so it's going back into the garage until the salt is gone. My plan for this winter is to yank the Dana 60.2 and rebuild with a Detroit locker, 35 spline axles, and either 3.73 or 4.10 gears. When I installed the engine and trans I never shimmed the rear end to fix the pinion angle, so the yoke has a ton of excessive play. I never actually determined what the first gear ratio is in my Tremec, but I'm thinking with my 285/70-15's, 3.75's might be right at 2k on the highway and hitting somewhere around 5,100 rpms at the 1/4 with a 29x10 radial which is about perfect for a mild FE. Weird thing is the 60.2 housing apparently has the same outer dimensions as a 8.75 rear and can run a 35 spline axle with something like a set-10 bearing. Only difference is the center section is Dana 60 and the axles are same-length, not different like the 8-3/4. I should be able to order axles like this from Dutchman, Strange, Moser, etc. right? I'll just have to call them... https://youtube.com/shorts/YTxQTHU0X5c?feature=share
Can't believe it's been a year since I've posted here last. It's been a busy one. The Army Reserves likes to take and take and take while my wife (33) has some chronic health issues and I try not to neglect the students in my middle school band/orchestra program. I started graduate school as well, but hopefully I'll be done with my masters this spring. Reading my last post looks like I was still talking about rebuilding the Dana 60... Welp that didn't turn outwell. The factory Dana 60 in it was trashed. I found out a week before running in a drag n drive the carrier was shimmed incorrectly and the housing needed to be machined which wasn't going to happen in a week. I found a dude in PA with a 60.2 that I purchased, threw in the truck, then grenaded the yoke and bent the housing at the event. I've since replaced the Dana with a Currie 9" axle housing and 31 spline axles, Quick Performance Detroit Locker, 4.10 gears, Daytona Pinion support, billet yoke, etc. Should be pretty strong now. I've been driving it to work every once in awhile, while my wagon was down I fixed the heat in the truck and drove it in sub-freezing weather. No salt on the roads yet, so not concerned over it. I decided the heat ****ed and I've been wanting AC, so as a Christmas gift to myself I bought a Vintage Air Surefit system. Pretty stoked over it. I'm hoping I can find time to install it betwen everything going on.
The Jalopy Journal
