55 F100 Help Please!!!

I have a 55 ford with a late 60's model chevy 350. Although I don't like the previous owner's choice for the engine in the truck, me being the idiot that I am, bought it anyway. And boy am I paying for it now, pretty much every engine component is rigged on, the battery doesnt charge even though it indicates that it does, and I have suspension problems up the wazoo. I'm now in Tucson, AZ and need lots of help in fixing this truck up. I love the body style dont want to sell it, but I don't know if I can afford to fix it either. Life sucks. Anywho, I was wondering if anyone knew of shops or mechanics out here that could help me out. Any info would be appreciated on fixing this frankentruck! Thanks again for reading this piece.

 

unless the engine is on its last leg its not the engine thats giving you trouble its the cobbled up wiring, what components are rigged on it? might be as simple as cleaning up the wiring and getting some of the proper brackets for the alternator/generator or something? cable throttle linkage can be had at the junkyard pretty cheap if thats the sort of stuff thats not up to par

is the suspension stock or?

 

Yeah its a stock ford straight axle. And the steering box is from some GM car. The linkage has a coupling missing causing the car to have a lot slack in the steering wheel too. Its like everything was rigged up. And yes, the truck definitely needs to be rewired. It looks like a nightmare under the dash.

 

I would love to see pictures of said truck.....Reason being I had one about three years ago with the same exact problems and same setup....I sold it and havent seen it since.

 

Ha ha, its probably the same truck. I bought it in OK.

 

the sbc wouldn't be causing a suspension problem since its pretty close to the same weight as the old flathead that was in there, you can either look for an original box and pitman arm or convert it over to a toyota box and toss that gm box if its not gonna cost an arm ans a leg to fix up, I picked up a toyota power steering box last week for 40.00 pitman arm included, you can buy the bracket and a pitman arm from http://www.classicperform.com/4856fordtrk.htm
or make up your own stuff if you got the time and tools
you can keep an eye in the HAMB classifieds as well for an original box and column as well if thats the way you want to go, they come up there time to time for under 200.00

lots of people with them trucks on here with a whole lot more info than me about them trucks and their parts since I am pretty new to them trucks I am fixing up a 54 f100

 

Thanks, I appreciate the info. I'll see what I can do.