First Build: 1959 Ford F100

Hello everyone, Ive been wanting a project for a while now and after two long months of searching ive found one. Its a 59 ford f100 styleside with a 223 inline 6 and the 3 speed on the column. Im stoked.

It didnt run when I brought it home saturday as it had no battery. Slapped a battery on and it turned over. It wasnt stuck lol. Poured some gas in the carb to see what would happen and well, nothing happened. Found out that it wasnt getting spark so had to look at the ignition system. The guy I bought it from had put in new points, a new distributor cap, plugs and wires, and a coil. The problem was the wire going from the coil to the base of the distributor was all old and ratty. Fixed that up and got spark. A little gas down the carb and it fired up!. So, the next day, Sunday I think, we got the gas tank out and cleaned it (i think its out of a later ford f100). It was pretty clean so ran some fuel line and it fires up and runs nicely (well sort of).

The body is ok, looks like most of the paint is original. Fender corners have tons of bondo, as do the cab corners and the back of the bed. The bed floor is full of holes.. Floors are ok.

Barely anything electrical works. The gas gauge, oil light and gen light all come on at times, and theres a switch that turns on some sort of farm tech tail light. Thats about it electrical wise.

So all that out of the way I have some questions.

1. I can see sparks inside the generator while the engine is running. What does that mean? Is the generator bad?

2. It sounds like theres a m***ive exhaust manifold leak, but me and my dad were wondering if that was not the carburetor letting all that sound out since there is no air cleaner on it yet. Could that be what it is? Smoke comes out of the carb after running it then turning it off.

3. Since the oil light comes on sometimes, I am wondering if the oil pump is bad. Any advice on this? Is there a way to check the oil pressure? I dont have much faith in the oil light.

4. Any problems with the 223 or these 57-60 ford trucks I should know about?

Im sure I will have more questions but I would appreciate any help I can get.

Here are some pictures!

 

Sounds like a great first project. first thing I'd recommend is a repair manual for the truck.
There should only be suction noises coming out of the carb. You should get a set of under dash guages for the truck, i.e. oil pressure and watertemp. at the minimun. They are cheap and easily installed. The 223 is a good engine for a old truck, by 59 they were totally reliable transportation, Get a good grease gun and grease everything that moves underneath the old truck, especially the steering components. Most of all, remember the truck is 53 years old its allowed to have a few squeaks and rattles. Have fun take your time, you will learn lots.

 

Motor god is right. Don't rely on the stock lights. Looks like a nice start to a build. I've seen tons of 223 parts on this site, sometimes people give stuff away because they went to a V-8 swap, so check the cl***ifieds often.

 

thanks guys, I ordered some brake parts last night. Should be here in a few days. Im also going to pick up a manifold gasket. If anybody has some door gl*** I need both sides on the cheap.

 

Do yourself a favor and check the king pins. Will save some time if you are doing the brakes. Yes buy a manual.

 

Anybody know how to get the fan belt on and off? Do i have to take the generator off?

 

Cool old truck! If you ever decide to get rid of those wheels let me know.

 

Should be an adjustment bolt on the generator. Loosen it up and push the generator towards the engine and the belt will slide off. Buy a repair manual. They are all over ebay. They come in book and CD. Sounds like you are going to need it.

 

Well I tried taking loosenig up the bolt and moving it over but I was thinking that it was attached on the bottom by a bracket. I'll look when I get off.

 

Kickstarter, I sent you a pm about the wheels. Thanks.

 

my truck had a 223 in it when I got it and it ran great! Those motors are bulletproof. I kept mine for a rainy day because it ran so good. I would stay with it if you are ok with it. You can get multi carb manifolds and headers for them.

Another good place for rust is above the winshield where the top comes down to the rain gutter. Its spot welded there at the gutter and the water seeps through the seem and rusts out the top. To see, get inside and shove your fingers up to that area and you will feal the rust fragments. Mine is kind of bad but fixable. The other day I saw one that didnt have any at all, so take a look.

 

Well, got a rebuilt carb off eBay for not Much more than the rebuild kit. I now have an autolite 1100 (i think)for sale. Kickstarter, I couldn't get a on out from my phone, wheels are 15s. 8" deep I think. Lots of dings. A chip
And dent on one rim.

 

Ok my rebuilt autolite 1100 has got a problem. It runs ok and and when I hit the accelerator it revs like it should but I noticed the the little thing that goes from the throttle linkage into the carb, I think its the accelerator pump?, is now come loose but I dont see how anything could have held it on. its just a rod with a spring around it that goes in the top of the carb. can someone help with this?

 

Sound like part of the choke ***embly. Can't say for sure without a picture with you pointing at the problem. By the way your truck came originally with a Holley 1904. The autolite was used on later years and just happens to fit.

 

Repair Manuals have lots of pictures, so you can see if something is missing, or how it goes on....just saying

 

Look also at the Ford Truck Enthusiasts site. They are devoted specifically to these trucks.

 

K it's the valve vent I think. I bought the repair manual today but yeah the autolite is not original so it won't be in there. I found a diagram of one though so it doesn't look like there is anything it's missing. I don't know. It works fine but theres a lip on it that could get stuck when giving it gas. Thanks for all the help.

 

Ok I have a newb question. When I install the intake/exhaust manifold gasket, do I need to
Use some type of
Sealer?

 

Well I got the manifold off, it's cracked so have to find one of those now any body want to donate? Here are pics of the carb also so y'all can know what I'm talking about

 

hey Congrats on the truck. I like it! im curious your plans for the truck.

Interior, suspension, paint, etc. restore? ratty? rod?

anyway good luck

 

thanks man. plans for the truck are running, driving, whitewalls and low, probably leave the paint the way it is. there is quite a bit of bondo in the fenders though. Several really shoddy patches, like in the cab corners and around the tail gate area (not sure what those panels are called.).

pretty much love the truck in your avatar. thats kind of the look im hoping to get to, but I dont really want to have to cut up the frame or anything. I also dont want to spend a lot of money so Im thinking an axle flip up front. Not sure about the rear though. Any suggestions?

 

Cool plans.....well first I'm sure you know but if not. Lmc truck has every part for our trucks( mine is 59 as well). Get a catalog from them it's FREE. here is a link to my build thread maybe you can get some ideas http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=716873&highlight=official+build+thread+f100

Flipping the rear is a cheap fix but def will need to notch the frame and might need to cut out small hole in the bed for the differential. From the front you can do mono leafs or drop axle... That's going to be $250-$400. Depending n new used etc...I'd say running is a good starting point.... If you have any questions feel free to ask or Shoot me private message....love your truck

 

Find yourself an unmolested correct Autolite carb and do a kit carefully yourself. I'd drop the oilpan and clean the oil pickup, good time to replace that gasket and inspect bearings. Check compression, get your ignition and timing dialed in and you're rocking. All cheap fixes. I love mine.



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Sorry, I meant correct Holley!


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Ok so I found an exhaust manifold! There's a group on Facebook for the 57-60 trucks and they are very helpful. Posted that I needed one and in about an hour I had made a deal.

 

If you need some help with body work etc im not to far away, give me a shout Joe

 

I may take you up in that man. It's a ways off though. Ever c notched a frame? Looks like I'm going to need that done lol. In other news. Got my head lights hooked up.

 

Still waiting on my brake parts. For some reason they sat at the ups terminal in Chicago for a day and didn't go anywhere after shipping from Cali. So now they're in Nashville. Can't wait to get em in to have something productive to do!

 

K so I got my brake parts in. Since I dot get off till five I have to do
One wheel a day. I've got two on so far. I've now done two in my lifetime! Ha didn't know there were two different shoes one long and one short till I stuck the first drum on and it got stuck. All good now though. Even packed the bearings with grease. Fun times.

 

yea notched a few frames in my day nothing to it really. trucks looking good bud