Always been a fan of cl***ic trucks, especially Fords, and found a '53 Ford F-100 with a 215 Inline 6 and 3 on the tree, and was wondering what your thoughts were on using it as daily transportation. I know I would swap out the front drums to disc, and do some other upgrades to it to make it safe. Thinking about keeping the Inline 6 and trans in it for awhile, then eventually swapping everything over to a 351W and C6 Auto. Anybody out there use a 1950's pickup for a daily driver?
My cousin put over 200,000 miles on his 56 F-100 before it was totaled by some dumb *** on a cell phone 3 years ago. These things were driven every day when they were new......
I have driven my 54 f100 for years with stock suspension and breaks with out any problems. I recently took it off the road to fix a few things. But it will remain my daily driver if I can keep the wife out of it
Speed limits have changed since then... Want to know if a Original 53 F100 with a 215 and 3 on the tree will keep up on today's roads?
i drive my stock 62 falcon with the 144 six every day. I have to get on her to keep up with the slow cars, and im always in the right lane just chugging along, but I've done 24,000 miles in her and never really feared for my life, drum brakes and all. Just be mindful of puddles with the drums. If you don't keep them lightly applied as you go through the puddle, you lose that brake for a short while. If you hit a big puddle on the p***anger side and then go to hit the brakes, it will pull hard to the left, and lock the left wheels easily because the right side isn't really doing anything to stop the car.
Depends on the other drivers in the are and the speed limits. I thought Portland had bad drivers on the interstate, but Denver is down right dangerous some times. I'm not sure if these old trucks can sustain 75MPH (borderline by my calcs for my old truck), but the drum brakes might not be up to the cutoffs and other poor driving. Surface roads and two lane highways should be just fine, though.
thats a really good point. I'm in new england, and the fastest speed limit in my state is 65, so 55 to 60 isn't too bad, but i went out to colorado last year, and i was doing 90 in the rental and they were p***ing me like i was standing still sometimes. redline in third is 85 in my car...
It's not just the speed, it's also the utter and total lack of consideration the other drivers have. No, it is not everyone, but a higher percentage than other places I've lived. I drove across town the other day and was cut off, tailgated, and p***ed more in one 45-minute drive than I think I was in months in Portland. I'm not sure how drum brakes and old suspension holds up to evasive maneuvers at speed... but at least in our little town and the next one over you can travel comfortably on two lane highways at 55 or surface roads.
I use my 57 Dodge D100 everyday for the last 5 years. Disc brakes are nice but not a must, if they are adjusted right they work fine. I cruise 80 alot down the highway and they work fine. I drive mine in 120 degree PHX heat all summer in traffic and it does great. I was T-boned by a honda a year ago and While I was alright and with a little work the truck was back together, but it made me realize the need for seat belts so that would be my priority if it doesn't have them already.
I drove my nearly stock '67 F-100 through high school and college. Stock brakes and suspension. The truck was my most dependable vehicle I have ever had. If a bone-headed 16 year old can drive a old "67 everyday, and then drive it out of state to college on 8 hour drives, then someone like yourself should be able to drive a "53 everyday. The hardest thing about a daily driver is figuring out when to do repairs and modifications. If it's the only thing you have to drive, you can't just take it apart anytime you want. For me, this was the fun of it though. Planning a weekend thrash in advance. Taking the truck apart Friday night in hopes of having it back together for school on Monday. Have fun man.
I plan using my 53 F100 for a daily driver, but it gonna be running a newer V8 & auto, because us Colorado-yines must drive like ***holes?? well it was stated twice above If you see a powder blue 53 blow past ya then it must have been me? (back to your question I say watch the RPM's may have to swap to a newer/higher gears)
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