Projects New project 53 F-100

I have not posted a project thread on here in awhile so I thought I would share my latest. I picked up this 53 locally. Was in a barn until 3 years ago then it was put outside. I went and looked at it and besides missing the grill and drivetrain, it was all there.

I was not going to buy it but decided to make a low ball offer and the guy took it. So I now have it at home and I am putting a list together of what I need and what I want to do with it. You guys will probably see the wanted section blow up with my needs. Lol.

I picked up a 65 F-100 3:50 rear axle, bought a 71 302 and I am looking for a C-4 trans. Going to drop it a little and drive the wheels off of it. Body work will come last. I will try to keep his thread updated.

 

Looks like a good project! Ill be watching

 

Nice patina,just take a few leafs out,(every other one you can)that will drop it some.

 

Was thinking of getting those front center correcting springs that are a 3 inch drop. Think mid fifty sells them but not sure who makes them. Never new these trucks had the front axle set back.

 

Looks like a good start, watching now...

 

I was gonna show you a pic of a 56 I lowered by only taking leafs out but cant find the old thread that has the pic in it. It was called the good bad and ugly F100s or something like that??? It had a bunch of f100s in it. I dont have much luck with search anymore, I guess some of my posts have gotten too old???

 

I bought one with a seized 350 Olds motor. I flipped the rear shackle mounts and repleced the worn out front end with a 75 Z-28 sub......built a 301 chevy/350 turbo/66 lincoln rear axle. I realize front subframes are looked down on here on the HAMB but damn! That little truck drove like a slot car with the variable-ratio steering box and 1.25" stabilizer bar....loved driving it.

 

look at any stock 53/56 f100 and the front axel is set back 1 1/2 in I think Tom

 

Yeah 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 is what I have been told. I am going to keep whatever I can do the front axle is staying. Once everything is rebuilt I am sure the ride will be acceptable.

 

Found a grill that looked like it had some original paint still left under the nasty black that was on it. Little stripper and some thinner and I got a grill that matches the truck perfect. Could not be happier with it.

 

The 302 is home. It is a '71 out of a 50k fire department bronco that was used to plow.

 

I owned a '53 F-100 from 1979-1992. It, too, was faded red like yours. Mine had a 327 Chevy and Turbo 400. I sold it to a friend in 1992. He still has it, and has promised to sell it back to me if he ever decides to sell it.

 

Finally found a C4, it is from a 78 ranchero. Also picked up five 15x5 wheels and original hubcaps for it. Time to order my drivetrain mounts and get to work!



Also picked up a set of original parking lights, they match perfectly.

 

That truck is beautiful. Centered front wheels is a huge improvement on these.

 

That is going to happen for sure. Also fixed that nasty crack in the fender, it was pulled out, bent, way out of shape. I welded it up and made it look like an old fix but it is straight now.

 

I built a 53 over the last year. Put the axle on top of the front springs and moved it forward 3/4"
c notched and boxed that area raised the steering box
was cheap and worked great
I would put a link on here but I dont know how to make it happen

 

Hood is on. The truck did not come with hood hinges, it was just sitting there. Found some good ones locally, spent about 4 hours on them to make sure they moved easily and correctly with correct year shoulder screws and the hood shuts, all the way around. No raised hood at the cowl which I see on all these trucks. Hopefully I can have the engine, trans and rear end in before snow flies.

 

Don't you have to take the hood back off to replace the engine?

 

Yeah but the hinge placement is where all the fitment is, hood can only bolt to the hinges one way so it can come off and on now and no alignment issues.

 

Got a pretty crucial part today in my opinion, a '57 p***enger car automatic column. It will need to be lengthened some but not a hard job at all when looking at it. Also going to incorporate the indicator into the column drop. Will need to get clever there but this should fit the bill nicely.

 

Nice man!

 

Thanks! One question for you guys, after a quick look at fitment, my stock 53 truck wheel will not clear the shifter arm or the blinker rod. Should I put a '57 p***enger car wheel in her? Would it be out of place or a nice touch of chrome? Do they bolt up, same shaft for car and truck? Or should I just bend the arms and run the stock 53 truck wheel??

 

Can you just make a spacer?

 

My old 53 had a 56 Wheel in it, I thought it looked OK, and it would give you the clearance away from the Shifter and turn signal.
Love the project!

 

nice find

 

A spacer would be too big and look like **** in my opinion. Time to think about this one. Fedman, that wheel does look nice!

 

just heat and bend the shift handle and turn signal handle
thats what i did on my 53
I used a 56 pickup auto column and had to make clearance for a flat 53 K wheel

 

Yeah that is what I am thinking of doing, I already have the stock wheel so no need spending money if I do not have to.

 

take the shift handle and turn handles out before you heat them or you could ruin something
the 53 pickup wheel is a nice piece
you can check out my 53 in a thread called: My friend Bruce's new shop truck

 

Have to remove them because the shifter has a rubber boot on it that will melt. Got some stuff done today, picked up a nice set of tires for it and went over to my father in laws and made up the new wood for the bed. Red oak, really nice and from a local mill. Also got all the mounts for the engine/******.