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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » help me find an old thread with a cool 60's Ford Truck

Aug. 25, 2009 3:34 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

As I plan future projects, I'm thinking about a Short wheelbase pickup. I remember seeing a shortbed ford truck with a nice stance and some talk about it being a Lightning before its time or whatnaught.

I found an old F100 in the region that looks like it could be prime for this sort of treatment.

It might have been on the old board, but I couldn't find it...does anyone else remember it...post a link?

Also...if anyone wants to discuss the merits (ha!) or lackthereof of Ford's twin I beam suspension...I'm all for hearing about it.

It seems downright wonky and wierd to me...but heck, the Lightning used it and they handled relatively well...

Clem
Aug. 25, 2009 3:49 p.m. slantvaliant Reader

The Twin-I-Beam suspension isn't great for handling unless you compare it to the solid axle it replaced.

It is, however, rugged. They were pretty popular in the oil field for a long time - and roughnecks tend to be hard on equipment
Aug. 25, 2009 3:53 p.m. JFX001 Dork

http://www.customclassictrucks.com/featuredvehicles/0509cct_1966_Ford_F100/index.html

http://www.mustangandfords.com/featuredvehicles/mufp_0511_1966_F100_truck_lightnin...

*EDIT...talk to ddavidv...I believe that he has an F100...maybe even a unibody?
Aug. 25, 2009 5:17 p.m. ddavidv SuperDork

No, I don't have a Uni, but I do have a Twin-I '65 F100 I use as a tow vehicle. If it's the 61-66 Fords you're interested in, I can school you on them. If it's 67-72 trucks, Fordification awaits. If it's the 57-60 version that floats your boat, you're into serious old skool pickup technology that I won't know where to send you. For review: 57-60 "fridge" style 61-66 "slick" style 67-72 "bumpside"
Aug. 25, 2009 5:57 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

Among many other modifications, a guy on the Ford-Trucks board installed the front suspension out of a late model Crown Vic under his 1967 F-100, it looks like a neat way to upgrade the thing. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/716058-buildup-06-crown-vic-front-suspension-int... (there are 63 pages so far, so it'll take a while to read it all.)
Aug. 25, 2009 8:25 p.m. porksboy Dork

You guys are killing me. I have a 66 Chevy waiting for the same treatment and no time to do it. Its THE truck I drove my Senior year of high school.

My plan is stock appearing on the outside with disc brakes in the front and mid to late 90s 350 with 4 speed OD tranny.
Aug. 25, 2009 8:32 p.m. maroon92 SuperDork

Hot Rod's muscle truck has had me thinking lately...
Aug. 25, 2009 9:21 p.m. blaze86vic Reader

If you really want a cool old Ford, go ultra smooth looking 61-63. The only years with the unibody. My father has a 61 that he restored a while back. Not having that space between the bed and the cab really cleans up the profile of a truck. And it gets nothing but compliments everywhere he goes. I should go take some new picture with his chrome smoothies on it now.
Aug. 26, 2009 5:11 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

Unis are cool, which also means they are not cheap. They are also more difficult to restore. Putting cab mounts on one of those isn't a simple matter of jacking the cab off the frame. Plus there's the $650 tailgate they ALL need that you'll never find used.

You can maybe get a cheaper Uni if you don't want a short bed. A long bed F250 Uni isn't a highly desirable truck compared to the half tonners. A short bed, though, will cost you dearly as you're competing with every custom truck guy out there who wants to use one as his palette of greatness.
Aug. 26, 2009 7:09 a.m. blaze86vic Reader

Really? I had no idea they were that sought after. Almost everyone I've talked to doesn't even know about them. I know they are rare, as I've never seen one that my Father didn't own at some point in time. None of them were in any particularly good condition, but then again I don't think he ever paid more than $500 for one. And so far, I've never seen an automatic like his.

My Father restored it about 10 years ago, did everything himself including paint. It is restored to its the original color. It was my great grandfather's truck, that he gave to my father when we took a trip to New Mexico to visit with his family (I was an infant). Well the Pinto we drove died in the driveway, and wouldn't start up, so I guess they were giving him a helping hand when he was starting out. It's the 292 Y-Block V8, with an automatic trans, Custom Cab, and with the radio (and it does work).
Aug. 26, 2009 7:35 a.m. alfadriver HalfDork

If I can suggest a place to look for them - Idaho, Montana, Wyoming. When I was just starting driving back in the early 80's, we had a '67 F-100, no rust at all- just faded paint. Trucks have always been popular in the Rockies, and the weather there is great for preservation- mainy dry, and zero salt.

Sadly, we parted with it for a bad paint job on a '77 F150... bad deal.

E

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