I threw up a few pictures I had on my phone, there are others in the following add. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=774713 It is clear that I am not going to sell the truck unless I want to give it away and I am not about to do that so I am going to drag her home and start fixing unless it finds a new home in the next 2 weeks. A little background on me, I like cars! All kinds, traditional, rats, rods and those mega buck show cars. Like I said I like em all! I am not a big Ford guy but a few months ago my mom gave me the toy milk cow I gave my grandpa when I was 5 years old 47 years ago. That old milk cow rode on the dash of every truck grandpa owned up till the day he passed. The first truck it was in was a red 64 Ford 6 cyl, 4 speed. When I ran onto this truck at my buddies lot I got bit with the nastalgia bug and had to have it to build a tribute truck to my grandpa. Then the 51 Dodge came in that I also have listed and I recovered from the nastalgia bug real fast being a Dodge man first with some Chevy love. I mean after all that old milk cow ran around on the dash of a Toyota for the last 8 years of grandpa's days. It would look good in the Dodge I have reasoned with myself. Or the 58 Chevy that just rolled in! So thats the history driving my dilema lol! So I am trying to decide which way to go with this truck. The 223 engine runs "poorly" and the 4 speed tranny works great. Well it did from one side of the lot to the other anyway! Bottom line everything is salvagable. Should I put her back pretty much original with new paint and a rebuilt drive train or should I drop in a modern V8 with an overdrive and bring her to the modern age? What are your thoughts boys!
I need some help from the experts. The steering column in the truck is very low, I find it hard to believe it is original, I know it won't work for me. Regardless of what I do with the drive train I want to add a tilt and telescopic column. What should I look for in the bone yard?
There are a lot of really good build post on these trucks on here, did you try a search? Your '64 looks just like mine. I would like to swap the complete drivetrain from a '03 to '08 Crown Vic into it, including the front X-member & suspension. A relitivllly easy swap, and it drops the truck a good 4 to 5 inches.
I have been searching a few I just have not run into anything specific regarding the steering column. Interesting comment on the Vic cross member. How close are they to fitting? I see those cars all the time on the salvage auctions pretty cheap.
i understand the nastalgia. but my theory with nastalgia is that it holds a little more when it was something that a family member actually drove. not just the same type. if you like the dodge better. go with that.
I hear you man. I like these old trucks so I will get this one on the road and decide what I want to do later. I have to do something about the steering column regardless as it had to have been installed for one damn skinny dude!
I think that steering column is likely stock, I picked up a 63 m100 that I can barely get into with the steering wheel right at the gut. I'm just going to shorten the column. I like the straight 6, so I'm keeping mine. If yours is junk, likely easier to put in a later 8. I'm flipping mine, and they don't bring as much as a chev, so I'm keeping it cheap. Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
I had a 65 F100. loved that truck. It had the old 302 and automatic swap in mine. Have you checked the prices on Thunderbirds lately? You could pick up a 97 for around a grand. You would get a fuel injected 4.6L, overdirve auto, and have the OBD2 diagnostics.
My engine should be ok. I am going to get it road worthy for a few events I want to attend this year. If the right offer comes along I would sell but I don't need to so I will play with it a bit first.
Checkout these 2 threads to see what is possible and also get some ideas. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=663175 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366906
Fifty your a brave man dropping the Chevy into your Ford lol! I just so happen to have a fresh 350 and trans in the shop. And it is real tempting to go that way but I think I will go with a 302 with an overdrive tranny to stay all Ford. Question, is there an overdrive Ford tranny for the 302 that don't require an electronic controller. If not which one is the least complex as I don't want a ton of wiring.
I hear you, I confess to being an all Ford kind of guy, but I just got all caught up with the IFS and it would not work and look any good and needed firewall surgery etc, so decided to try a SBC. I am OK with it but will never be a Chevy true believer after my experience. But in say all that it did fit like it was made for this project.
you can do the crown vic easy enough. I used a GM style steering column, Ive seen some that modified the stock ford one to work. 88 and older AOD overdrive transmission is non computer controlled. If you put a 302 in it use the 88 merc marquis type pan, rear sump and shortest depth, with a slight angle it and an AOD will clear the stock firewall and floor and fit over the vic crossmemeber.
dont have a lot of pics on here, but have a 61 unibody with vic front and 302/aod trans setup ifyou go that route and have any questions