my new 68 f100

[dolinick]

I saw this on craigslist and just had to have it. It needed a few things in order to pass inspection so I've been working on them. This morning I took a look and found out why the horn wasn't working. No horn! I had an extra horn from an older ford. I hooked it up to the wire that was already their and it works. The horn button in the steering wheel still works.

later I took my uncle to a couple of salvage yards and found some brackets off of a S10 pickup and they will work with slightly longer bolts and a couple of spacers. I bolted on my chrome bumper and connected the license plate lights.

I also found a pretty nice rearview mirror from a late model compact car which I intend to install on the windshield. It has a good clear mirror. I have a lot of trouble with only that little mirror on the driver's side. The bed sticks up so high I can't see what's behind me. I also am going to replace the odd sized rear tire with the spare from my other bump which happens to be the same size as the other rear tire. I also picked up a steel wheel and tire I intend to use for a spare. It is just one size smaller thant the rear tires I am going to have on the truck. I believe they are 235 75 R15.

So I have gotten a lot accomplished already. We stopped by the Pig Stand for a little while to check out the cruisers. There was a 56 chevy totally customized, another 72 chevelle convertible which was really cool, an older two door chevelle with black vinyl top which was awesome looking. There was also a nice 57 chevy and a couple of others. It was only 7:30 p.m. so not many people were there yet.

I still need to get an air cleaner for my new truck. It has the inline six which I believe is the 240 cid. I was told it is a one barrel carb. Do I need to connect the exhaust and other lines to the air cleaner or can I get one of those small simple ones with no connections whatsoever?
I really need to put an air filter on it before I drive it anymore.

I'm gonna put up some pictures or links to some of the stuff I did and saw today.

Dan

[1971ford]

[dolinick]

I got some of the pictures in the 'photo gallery' section:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=26586

Today I glued the rear view mirror to the windshield. It is semi temporary so I didn't worry about lining it up exactly I just got it centered. The windshield is already cracked. I might go back to the u-pull-it because I saw a nice windshield. Clear I believe with no tint. Did they make them without tint along the top? I gotta go make sure it has no rock chips.

I also finished airing up the tires to 35 psi. They were still a little low. I put the dry rotten big fat tires that were on the front on the rear and moved the smoother and smaller tires on the front. It handles much better.

It was really all over the road. Probably somewhat dangerous to drive on the highway but so much fun. It's been a few years since I drove a pick up and never an old short bed. I'm in the 18 wheeler every day. The f100 seems like a tonka toy or something.

The truck just recently celebrated it's 40th birthday I believe. According to the vin number it was manufactured in September 1967.

Let me dig out some pictures...

All the '68 f100 pictures can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolinick/s ... 834513774/

A slideshow of same pictures can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolinick/s ... 3774/show/

With new bumper:


Engine:


New alternator and belts:


Horn(almost looks like it has always been there)


Jack:


Rusty bed:


Interior:


Dan

[dablack00]

Wow Dan. You said you needed a bed and you weren't kidding! How are the bed sides? If the sides and braces are solid, I would find a big flat piece of steel or find a long bed that is in good shape, steal the floor, and cut it down to fit. I bet you could even cut down a dent side bed floor. There are usually a couple of those in the pick-n-pull.

Austin

[AlleyCat]

Dan, something else you might look into is patch panels for the bed floor.I've seen them advertised but can't remember where.

[FORDification]

Wow! And I thought a few of the beds I've gotten in the past were bad! I guess I'm not sittin' so bad after all!

Is it just the bed floor that's bad? How are the supports underneath? They don't look too bad from what I can tell.

[dolinick]

Wow! And I thought a few of the beds I've gotten in the past were bad! I guess I'm not sittin' so bad after all!

Is it just the bed floor that's bad? How are the supports underneath? They don't look too bad from what I can tell.

The previous owner said it was rusted like that because of a rubber mat that was in it. I think just the floor is bad although there are a couple of small holes in the bottom of the body panels either in front or behind the rear wheels. The PO runs a body shop. He actually suggested buying a replacement floor for a couple of hundred bucks and welding it in.

I was wondering if they could use a longbed floor. Two of the things I need to address if I am going to continue driving this truck is the passenger door lock doesn't hold the door shut very well and you can lose your passenger especially while making a left turn. The other thing is the front end. I don't know but it's probably wore out. The truck is all over the road. I'm not that bad a driver.

Dan

[dolinick]

Yesterday I got a set of used tires for the truck. They are pretty good tires but I guess I could have gotten better ones if I had looke around some more. I didn't like driving on those old dry rotted ones. I also got the matching wheel from the previous owner. The truck only had three of the aluminum wheels on it when I got it. The other thing I got done was the exhaust hanger in the back had fallen and I had it welded back in place. I need a couple of fuses for the heater and maybe the horn. I didn't find the right size at pep boys. I'm still trying to get the truck inspected. I haven't gotten to it yet. I have either been too busy or got off from work too late. I've been to about six different inspection stations. It's hard to find someone to inspect your vehicle after 5:00 p.m. The last one would have passed the truck as is but I had left my insurance card at home.

Dan

[dolinick]

So we got back from Falls City last night which is fifty miles away.
This morning the truck wouldn't start. I thought it might have run out of gas. My driveway has quite a uphill slope to it also. I added a gallon of gas to the tank and then poured some in the carb. The truck started easily but died after a few seconds. I noticed fuel coming out of the gasket between the carb and intake whenever I poured gas into the carb. so I bought a carburetor kit and replaced the gasket only. I added another gallon of gas to the tank for good measure. Then wanted to see if the fuel pump was working (mechanical) so I turned the engine over a bit while watching the fuel line. I didn't see any fuel coming out. There is a canister on top of the fuel pump. Is this the filter? Does it unscrew. I couldn't get it to budge with my bare hands. I guess I broke my new toy.

update: replaced the fuel pump.

Dan

[dolinick]

So I took the truck out on the highway again today. I guess we're working the bugs out. The right front drum brake got stuck. There was a burning smell so I pulled over and actually burned my finger checking the brakes for heat. Otherwise she's running great. I was concerned maybe the clutch was going out but It was just that brake overheating. I was told that if the clutch starts slipping I'd probably smell it too.

Dan

[MaxKlinger]

That bed is bad, but it's still a lot better than the bed that was in my '83! Good luck, nice truck!

[MaxKlinger]

That bed is bad, but it's still a lot better than the bed that was in my '83! Good luck, nice truck!

[67 ford f100s rule]

you can buy replacement bed panels at the paddock. if i had money thats where i would spend it.since you live san antonio it might be expensive to ship. PM me if you want the website.

[layedout72]

if your not worried about being all original, i would steel Marz' take on bed sheetmetal. Wouldn't need the notch kick up and it would be cool looking to boot!

[dolinick]

wow, i've had this truck a while. it's now for sale one ebay...

Dan