I'm about to get my driver's license (January 12, teens rule!) and my grandfather's F-100 has been waiting for me for about 16 years now (he died about a year before my birth). I know from the inspection sticker that it hasn't been driven in at least ten years and I was wondering how I would go about getting it up and running.

It was in working condition when it was parked and cosmetically speaking is in excellent condition. It needs paint (white), a dent in the wheel well and hood removed, and new boards in the wooden bed. I have been told that the short bed with stepsides are more valuable, but I don't really know for sure.

The brakes are locked up so I think I'm gonna get the wheels rolling and cart it to a concrete garage instead of the gravel farm shed it's at now. I have a few questions about the engine though. What would you guys say needs to be changed after sitting for 10 years? If I can go ahead and get all the parts I need I'm hoping to make it driveable to my home in a 2 week time frame (Christmas break). Is that realistic?

I saw a '68 just like this in about the same condition in the paper going for 2800 and I'm wondering if that's a good indicator of this trucks value. I'm also wondering about whether I can remove the box part of the glove box and create a custom glove box to suit a CD changer. Any ideas?

I appreciate any input you guys can give!!! Just think about what it was like when you guys got your licenses and I know you'll be anxious to help me out!

 

BTW: It has an inline six engine and I'm pretty sure that it's the one right below the 302 V8. What is the approximate cost comparison between rebuilding this engine (if necessary) and replacing it with a fuel-injected 302? And what kind of gas mileage do you guys get? Thanks!

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-Sep-00 AT 01:27 AM (EST)[/font][p]When I got my 67 I didnt think we would get it home cause we yanked on it with my dad's truck and it didn't move. we yanked on it about 3 more times and broke it free. It had sat in the same spot for ten years. put a battery in it took the spark plugs out and put marvels mystery oil in the spark plug holes let it sit overnite. the next morning went out and cranked it a couple of times put the spark plugs back in hooked em back up. I dumped gas down the carb and it started right up. had to drain the old gas and hook the compressor up to the fuel line to clean it but it ran ok. then i had to put a carb kit in it then a rear main seal and a clutch. now it needs a fuel pump. I Just turned 16 in june.

 

My wifes uncle recently purchased a '63 Ford Galaxy 500 that had been sitting for about 10 or 12 years, this is what we did be for starting it.
First we removed all spark plugs from the 390 v8. We bought some Mavel Mystery Oil and pured the oil into a small spray bottle. Then we sprayed 2 or 3 shots into each spark plug hole and then let it sit for about a day to let it soak around the pistons and rings. After a day of soaking we manually spun the engine by hand using a socket on the crank bolt and checked the compression to see if the motor was any good. After seeing the motors comp. was good we replaced all belts, hoses, spark plugs and plug wires, dist. cap, rotor button, points, and fuel filter. We changed the oil and oil filter,replaced the anti-freeze and thermostat. Then drained the old gas from the tank and flushed out the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump, and from the pump to the carb. And of course we insalled a fresh battery. Now it was time to start it up!. I pured a small amount of gas down the carb., and after the motor turn over a couple of times it fired for about 5 seconds. We repeated this step a couple of times until the gas got from the tank to the carb. It would idle fine but it would die when we gave it some gas. We desided to pull the 4v carb. and have it rebuilt.
After bolting on the rebuilt carb. and repacing the fuel pump it run great. At first start up the motor smoked something terrible, but it was just the Marvel Mystery Oil we sprayed on the pistons. Once the oil burned off the motor smoked very litte on cold start ups. I know this is a lot of work but when a vehicle has been sitting for a long time just about everything on the motor has to be replaced becouse of deterioration. Good luck with your truck!!!

 

James, it looks like you have some good information already. I like the mystery oil in the cylinders, and don't worry about getting too much in, it won't hurt a thing. The I6s are pretty tough old motors and after you get the carb fixed (count on it to leak) I would suggest that you take your time and don't rush into changing engines and things like that. You will find enough places to spend your money. Some say that you can add a two barrel carb and dual exhaust and the ol sixes are pretty peppy, don't know personaly. You may want to look at getting I-beams from a 74-79 and adding power disc brakes and power steering to the truck. Your brakes will need attention after the sit. Blow the lines and replace the fluid and wheel cylinders.

If next year this time you have any money left you can start thinking about motor upgrades.

As for mpg look for 12, if you get better you will be happy.

Good luck and just take your time, you have your whole life in front of you. :-)

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

Thanks guys, that's great!! I still am curious about the value of these old trucks, but I appreciate all of the input!

 

James, the range can be from $400.00 to $4000.00, mostly in the $1000.00 range until you get to Atlanta. ;-)

John
jowilker@nc.freei.net

66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.

 

Yes the box part of the glove box is removeable and you can custom build one if you like but be carful if the hazzard lights are in the glove box I broke mine pulling out the box. Eric

 

How much can generally be expected to be spent in a process like this? I know that painting is around 500 for a decent job and the windshield has a huge crack in it. Other than those I think all the parts are just standard cheap stuff... But what amounts am I looking at for spark plugs, all necessary filters, and dent repair?

 

here in phoenix at u pull it if you can find a windshield that is good it is $32.00. at autozone the spark plugs are about $1.00 each fuel filter about $3.00 oil is about $1.00 a quart and up the oil filter is about $3.00 and up. The spark plug wire set for my 352 with a lifetime warranty was about $25.00 I am not sure how much marvels mystery oil is when you put it in the cylenders save some to put in the oil to clean out the inside of the engine.

 

Well, figure around $8 for plugs, $10-15 for all of your filters. Probably $30-$40 for plug wires, And get a brass contact Distributor cap (trust me on this one) they usually run about $20 and come with the rotor.

While your in there I would replace the radiator hoses $??, and your antifreeze.

Just my $.02 worth

 

You guys make this sound pretty easy. I've done a little bit of work on an Inline-4 Mitsubishi with a marine conversion in my boat, and beyond that no work on engines at all. I'm amazed that I have understood all of what you're said so far!