1970 F100 Frame and Powertrain Swap (to 07 CrownVic running gear)

[biggurn]

Floyd can wait - that tree fort looks epic!

My boys tend to agree! Promised to build them one when we bought the house last year, had to drop the old cotton woods as they were dying, figured it made for a good use of the stumps. Ran out of time last summer to get it done, so with the nice weather, it was time to make it happen.

Nice antenna! Is that one of the DC reproductions?

This one actually came from LMC as DC was sold out, need to make up my mind on a stereo.

[Bullitt74]

This one actually came from LMC as DC was sold out, need to make up my mind on a stereo.

So far so good (a few minor hiccups, but I just needed to read the installation instructions) with my Custom Autosound USA 230, which you can find for $160 on Ebay - if you don't want to cut the dash and bezel. I'm peeved it doesn't have a clock though...

[biggurn]

- if you don't want to cut the dash and bezel.

That is the decision I can't seem to make... my dash has never been molested, so I'm leaning towards something that'll fit in the stock local... I'll look into the one you suggest. How's the sound output? I plan to run an amp and subs.

-I'm peeved it doesn't have a clock though...

When I built my last jeep, it didn't have a stereo and therefore no clock... drove me crazy for a few days, then I remembered that I always wear a watch and could look at my wrist (honestly I was annoyed for a week until I had that small epiphany! duh!)

[biggurn]

Project Floyd today: I assembled the gauge cluster this morning. Went with Speedhut gauges as I've had great success with them in the past. I used a steel gauge bezel from a base '67 F350. The extra holes were welded up and filled, the center was cut out to fit the Boese Engineering billet gauge panel, then it was painted Wimbledon White. I have been working on this whenever I had a few minutes and couldn't start into something bigger. Fitting the gauges this morning was very rewarding!

From left: Volt Meter, Water Temperature, Tach, Speedo, Oil Pressure, Fuel.

They'll need wired up, but that'll come as the rest of the wiring is finished up.

51 hours!

[Bullitt74]

That is a fantastic lookin’ gauge cluster! Nice work!

[Bullitt74]

How's the sound output? I plan to run an amp and subs.

There are line-out RCA plugs (4 total, 2 red, 2 white) for both front and rear for an amp, so I'm not savvy enough with car audio to know if you can install subs with that setup. The factory setup is 4x50 watts.

-I'm peeved it doesn't have a clock though...

Correction - there is a clock on this model (just read through my manual again). It doesn't display automatically, but you have to press a button to see what time it is. Not great, but at least it's there.

I wear a watch too, but like to have the time displayed on my dash!

[biggurn]

Thanks for the radio info, I'll have to make a decision soon.

Project Floyd: Today was not exactly an exciting day, it was more of a it was make an oil slick on the shop floor day! The rear output shaft seal leaked on the transmission and the pinion seal on the axle... I managed to get both the before mentioned seals replaced, as well as the manual shift seal and installed a new filter (since I was there).

While I had the pan off, I adjusted the Lokar shifter, and amazingly, it will now hit ALL of the gears... they should include that in the instructions: drop pan to adjust shifter!


That yellow bulb looking thing found when the oil pan is dropped, turns out that there is no place in the entire transmission for it, I even consulted the factory service manual! It is the dip stick tube plug that is put in place when the transmission is assembled at the factory. Then when they put the tube in during installation into a vehicle, it gets knocked into the pan... spent 45 minutes looking for its home... thank you google (should have gone there first)!



54 hours invested!

[biggurn]

Project Floyd: Spent a couple of hours working on the truck today. First up was installing that gap filler panel for the core support. This will help to force air down through the radiator while also making things look a whole lot cleaner! I made it removable to facilitate removal of the radiator, should the need arise.




image hosting gif

From there I moved on to the under hood wiring. I was able to finish it up, get everything cleaned up, organized and secured. That should have everything under the hood wrapped up, until I get to AC... tried to start it and nothing... I'll have to go through the ignition switch wiring and see if there is a problem there... more to follow, hopefully the first part of next week.






56.5 hour.

[biggurn]

Project Floyd: April 3, 2018 Part II: I was suppose to meet someone after dinner this evening to pick up some pipe threading tools, but she flaked, went against her word, and sold them to someone else.... so what is a guy to do with a fresh new hour of life??? How about check the pinning on the ignition switch (needed corrected, no big deal my 1970 F100 has the wrong switch per the manual and diagrams), install the headlight switch, and try it out... WELL it starts from the cab! (still need to let the computer self tune), had headlights! and hazards!!!


https://youtu.be/jvh6xDhFFhk

57.5 worth while hours invested!

[biggurn]

Project Floyd: I had big plans for the truck the last couple days, but have been foiled by the nice weather and the need to get chores done outside (not to mention a 1250 mile trip over the weekend)... BUT I was able to spend an hour and a half wiring the gauge cluster up. Soldering all of the connections and getting it ready for installation. I plan to solder the truck side up tomorrow and check one more thing off the list!




59 hours invested.

[biggurn]

Project Floyd: After another hour of work, the truck side of the dash wiring is done. Realized that I had neglected to write down the pin-out last night, so I had to quickly lable the cluster side. After that, just a little quick soldering and good to go!



Dash lights up


turn signal L.E.D. indicators work


the high beam L.E.D. works


.... now to move on to the next step! (once I decide what that is!)

60 hours.... a week and a half of government labor

[biggurn]

Floyd Aha Moment: while wrapping up the wiring from this morning (installed dimmer switch) I happened to start the truck... it ran beautifully... then died. I realized the fuel pump wasn't hooked up, so I hooked it up... it ran crappy and super rich again... hmmm... so unplug the pump, runs amazing again, until the static pressure in the line goes away.... hook up fuel pump, repeat cycle. So, I start investigating and discover that there isn't a fuel pressure regulator ANYWHERE in the fuel system... odd! Pull out the factory service manual and it turns out that Ford modulates the fuel pressure via a sensor input into the ECU that then modulates the voltage to and the frequency that the fuel pump runs! Therefore the unregulated fuel pump is shooting 60+psi at the fuel rail and the injectors, causing them to flood then slam shut! (dooh!!) Solution: find a fuel rail from a pre '05 Crown Vic with a regulator (factory regulated to 35-45 psi, perfect for my 24lb injectors)... This will require switching to an external aftermarket pump and a return line (good thing the fuel tank vent line that ran up to the engine bay canister was left in place, perfect 1/2 steel return!).... So, I'll spend a little money and should (I hope and pray) have the run issue figured out!...oh, and yeah, the gauges all worked while Floyd was running.

Video:
https://youtu.be/PeCl_XKjjTY

[Manny]

Love the dash looks fantastic!

[biggurn]

Love the dash looks fantastic!

,thanks!


Project Floyd: Seating! Today was the day to install seats! I started with the factory seat feet and built from there.


The seats are from a 2010 F150 Super Crew, with power driver's seat. The jump seat is from a 2017 base model f150 that I swapped the grey cover for the black leather to make it match. Very happy with how they turned out (not to mention SUPER comfortable).





I also took a few minutes and installed the new windshield washer bottle. I'm a fan of tygon tubing... makes great fuel line and vacuum line, and now washer fluid line.





Ordered fuel system parts last night... should be here for my next day off.

64 hours.

[Manny]

Sounds good fuel system and then your running???