Restoring My 1966 F100

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 5:19 pm

Hello everybody, this is my first post as I am new to this forum and would like to say this forum has a ton of very helpful information. I am in the process of restoring my 66 f100 and would like to keep a thread of my progress, pics, and for any questions I may have along the way. I look forward to learning as much as I can from all of you and will greatly appreciate any advice any of you may have. A little info about my truck. I bought it for $800 off of craigslist not more than 20 miles from where I live here in IL. This truck has had a newer paint job and some bodywork but is still amazingly solid for its age. Im not sure what size engine it has in it but the VIN # F10YL886685 indicates a 351. The PO removed alot of components such as the radiator, battery, and a ton of other stuff in the engine compartment which wasnt with the truck when I bought it. The engine was unbolted from the mounts and the tranny but looks as if they tried taking it out and dropped it as the spark plugs are bent to hell from landing on the headers. Im not sure yet if im going to put a new crate engine in it or rebuild the current one. I will be making my decision on that sometime later next year as I would like to complete this truck by this time next year. As far as I can tell everything is stock mechanical wise. Drums all around and it has powersteering. The interior was dirty and had a small rodent problem. They loved the seat cushion apparantly as it had tunnels chewed through out it. The cab corners are in great shape as is the passenger side floor board. The drivers side fllor board is the worst and will need to be replaced. The PO cut up the flloor to install a floor shift and did a piss poor job of that as well. The only major rust concerns is the driver side floor board, the passenger side radiator support connection bracket is completely rusted away, and that is it. No other major rust anywhere on the truck. Underneath has some surface rust but nothing that cant be stripped. This will be a frame off restoration but it will be a garage/shop kinda of job. Ill will be doing the body work by myself but the engine work will be done by my dad and various people. If you have any questions please ask away. I will be posting pics of my progress in the months ahead and will sure to be asking questions along the way.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 5:49 pm

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Side shot still on the trailor after being brought home.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 5:50 pm

Front shot

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 5:51 pm

Some more front shots

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 5:52 pm

Nice 2 lugnut setup lol

eaglefan · Post by **eaglefan** » November 11, 2008, 6:26 pm

What a great way to get rolling in the slick club! A 66 short and it really doesn't look all that bad. The engine is probably a 352 cu in and unless it is in very good shape a crate motor might not be a bad choice. Now is your chance to build your truck into whatever you want, unless you are dead set on back to original this is the time to make it all your's.
Good Luck and remember keep it all FORD!!!!!

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » November 11, 2008, 6:49 pm

Welcome to the site. You are in the right place for help and information.

Seriously SWEET project truck and you got it on the cheap too.

racerx1699 · Post by **racerx1699** » November 11, 2008, 8:43 pm

Welcome, you have a great truck to start a rebuild with, here is a link to my 66 frame off retoration. If you have any questions just ask, you'll get more advice then you could amagine. Anything you want to do, someone here has probably already done it. Keep posting pictures of everything you do.

http://fordtruk.com/forums/viewtopic.ph ... sc&start=0

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » November 11, 2008, 8:49 pm

Welcome from ElCajon. Nice raw material. Keep it Ford powered & they won't beat you up too bad on this site.

Post by **Greg D** » November 11, 2008, 8:56 pm

Nice looking short wide! Welcome from Ne (or wherever I happen to be, lol). Hopefully Truckfarmer will see your post too, he is in ILL too.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:11 pm

Thank you all so much for all the positive feedback. It is greatly appreciated. I plan on keeping it all ford but im not gonna be too concerned about bringing it back to the original form. I plan on making this truck to exactly the way I want it. There are quite a few updates that I would like to do but the knowledge on how to is were I need all the help I can get. I got some more pics so ill be posting some of my progress.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:16 pm

Another side shot.

Got the hood off and truck rolled off the trailer.

Back shot. Got the tail gate off and the bed bolts off. Some had to be grinded off.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:19 pm

Passenger side shot. Got the seats out and the carpet ripped up. Pretty messy process.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:19 pm

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:22 pm

Pic of the floor shift the PO installed. Annoying as hell in the way people cut the floor up.

Driver side floor board. Got some rust out areas. Not quite a flintstone truck yet.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:23 pm

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:25 pm

Lol those little lantern looking lights were attached by the kick panels for extra lighting I guess. Just screwed right in and wired up lol one of the first things I noticed when I bought this truck.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:29 pm

Some dash pics. Im not sure whats stock and what was added on. There is another dash gauge cover but it is a solid one with only the speedo gauge hole. Their were quite a few extra parts that came with this truck. Also theres another switch on the dash cluster. Its on the very left right by the amp gauge. I have no idea whats it for so maybe one of you guys can help figure it out. The wiring looks like a mess under their, alot of bare wires hanging around.

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » November 11, 2008, 10:34 pm

Got the headliner taken out and what a mess that was. I guess thats where the other colony of mice lived because there were tunnels all the foam that was stuffed in up there. As you can see this truck was a bright yellow before the paint job. Also got the speaker panels removed. Some of the screws were stripped so had to get out the drill. PO cut out two holes and crammed some speakers in there, heavy with all that extra stuff in there. Doors close alot lighter now.

61 Merc · Post by **61 Merc** » November 11, 2008, 10:36 pm

Welcome to the club, it looks like you are getting things done and quickly. Looks like you have a good solid truck, and you picked up the picture posting really well. If you have any questions about your build, this is a good place to get them.

Dean

Restoring My 1966 F100

Restoring My 1966 F100

Great start