Author Topic: '76 F100 Build (Read 24983 times)

R-WEST · « **on:** August 27, 2014, 10:40:43 PM »

Looking at TimeWarpF100's build got me to thinking I should post up some of my '76 F100 shortbed, so, here goes.
Current engine is being done by Rhodes Performance in Somerset, PA (0.030 over 390 with Ed heads, Probe 10.5's, Comp 282S, modded Streetmaster, 750 QuickFuel "Slayer", a , "Faron'ized" Duraspark, MSD Streetfire), etc..
Future plan (wishing..

) is for an aluminum (BBM) 482. We'll see.

Anyway - here's how it started. Picked it up in Raleigh, NC last May for $5K.

While I was on vacation a few weeks ago, my brother e-mailed me this pic:

and said "hey, we got started on your truck.

Since we're already into it, I figured we'd better get going.

So:

(that's my brother's '53 in the background - supercharged 351C, flip front-end, etc..).

The bed's gone:

It's in decent shape - needs a bit of work around the wheelwells and tailgate posts.

There's some rust on the floorpans, but we have new ones:

As of 8-27-14:

More to come as we progress.

turbohunter · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2014, 11:09:23 PM »

Damn I wish I could find a 2x short bed in that great of shape.
This should be fun.

Bolted to Floor · « **Reply #2 on:** August 28, 2014, 05:22:38 AM »

That truck is in nice shape. My first truck was a 76 F100 with a 300 I6 in 1986 and it never looked that good. What other plans do you have in store for it?

GJCAT427 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2014, 05:23:08 AM »

nice, I also like the 53 of your brothers. does he know the hood emblems are off a 56?

bluef100fe · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2014, 10:59:32 AM »

My favorite two body styles right there... I wish mine was that clean... Wisconsin has taken it's toll on my 76.... Good luck with the project... Glad to see another f100 like mine being built...

R-WEST · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2014, 09:44:43 PM »

Quote

What other plans do you have in store for it?

Have the C6 re-done; Hughes 3000 RPM T/Q; Hoosier 31x12.50's on Cragar S/S's - I really like the way they look against the black paint; we're re-doing the interior - trying to find power seats from a late'ish F150 or Expedition; fresh paint, of course, maybe ghost flames. If funds permit, the aforementioned aluminum FE will end up in there.

I'm trying to get it done in time for Great-Niece #1's last day of school (her senior year) next spring.

She absolutely loves it, and it will be her truck at some point in the future, as long as she doesn't marry a liberal.

We did a quick fix-up on it this spring - stuck in a Comp 268H for a little rumpity, and put the Cragars on it, for her to take on the last day of her junior year. You'da thought she and Great-Niece #2 were in a Bentley or something, if you'd seen them cruising down the road - long hair flying out the windows, smiling ear to ear!!

They said all the kids at school were just agog over the thing!!

Quote

does he know the hood emblems are off a 56?

Hmm, I doubt it. He just got it a month or so ago - he liked my truck so much, he dug around on the 'net and found one of his own to play with. It was put together by some guy in Philly, who decided he'd rather go sprint car racing, so he sold it to my bro for a song. Stuff like that happens to him all the time.. It's currently getting disc brakes on all four corners - he got a kit from Speedway, and one of the guys who works with us just put the same kit on his '56, so he's helping out. The garage is really busy, right now.

R-WEST · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2014, 09:52:13 PM »

D'oh!! Just hit a snag - the fairly new compressor we were using to sandblast the frame just up and quit..

That puts a crimp in our plans to have it done/POR15'd by the end of the week. We were hoping to have it to the paint shop by the end of next week, so we'll have to wait and see.

R-WEST · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2014, 11:08:01 PM »

Sometimes you just have to scratch your head..

We got the new 10 HP I/R 100 gallon compressor hooked up/ready to go yesterday - turns out the original one was getting worked too hard and crapped out. Naturally, some other issues popped up - turns out my brother's garage, where we're doing the work, was originally wired with a Federal Pacific entrance panel, so he decided he'd better change it.

Yes, we're all set!!

Wrong..

The guy doing the sandblasting, Joel, worked in a custom shop some years ago doing just this sort of thing, and he's doing it for me gratis, but, then he went and broke his foot today. BUT, it's actually a prosthetic foot - he lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident any years ago. Seems you don't just go to WalMart and get another one of those.. Talk about custom work - they cost about $4K!! I offered to carve a new one for him out of a chunk of wood, but he said no..

He promised to hobble out and show my brother and I what to do, so, we'll see..

jayb · « **Reply #8 on:** September 05, 2014, 11:59:45 AM »

Geez, that sounds like my kind of luck LOL! Nice of him to come out and show you the ropes, though...

R-WEST · « **Reply #9 on:** September 05, 2014, 10:39:53 PM »

Glad to make you feel like you're not alone, Jay.

When I got home from work this afternoon, I heard the blaster running so I went up and looked, and there Joel was, blasting away. He went and got a 'loaner' foot, while they whip up a new one.

The top of the frame is all done, so we flipped it over and wrapped it up overnite - hopefully it'll be nice tomorrow and we can finish it up. Forecast is for a chance of t'storms..

Saw something neat that I never knew about - the VIN is stamped on the top of the passenger side frame rail. At least it matches the one on the dash tag and door pillar.

TimeWarpF100 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2014, 12:59:02 AM »

Cool truck! I hope you keep it black.

That VIN number is in 2 places on the frame . . . One to view while looking under hood and the other ya just have to know where it is . .

R-WEST · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2014, 09:31:31 PM »

Yep, black it shall be. Like that one you had in your earlier post!!

Here's Joel sandblasting the frame today, before the storm came. It worked out okay, actually, we ran out of sand about the same time the storm got here.

His 'loaner' foot..

They only had an 8-1/2; his "regular" foot is 10-1/2, so his shoe doesn't fit too well.

TimeWarpF100 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2014, 01:01:56 AM »

Quote from: R-WEST on August 28, 2014, 09:52:13 PM

D'oh!! Just hit a snag - the fairly new compressor we were using to sandblast the frame just up and quit..
That puts a crimp in our plans to have it done/POR15'd by the end of the week. We were hoping to have it to the paint shop by the end of next week, so we'll have to wait and see.

As long as you are going through all the trouble to sandblast the frame nice I would do anything but POR15.

Powdercoat done right would be best. Then a good bonding primer for bare metal like DP90 (black) then a good paint like PPG DCC Concept 9000. If you want it satin~semi gloss just add a bit of flattening agent.

R-WEST · « **Reply #13 on:** September 10, 2014, 09:46:19 AM »

Why not POR 15? I thought it was the cat's whiskers for frames.

TimeWarpF100 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 10, 2014, 01:29:15 PM »

People use the POR15 to go direct over rust. The "cheap" route to just cover over the slop.

Since you seem to be doing it correct by blasting first it will not cost much more to have it powdercoated.

I paid 200.00 to have my frame powdercoated and could not be happier with the result. Most areas it may cost more but well worth it.

To me the POR15 is used for one reason. Trying to cut a corner and do it on the cheap.

If you are going to spray vs brush, roll its different but it will simply not look as nice when done.

I tried POR15 once for just that. Taking a short cut and never again. Maybe for covering mud puddles or . . .

If I was doing a chassis and POR came and said here is free materials and 1000.00 in cash I still would not use it!

Just look up photo's for end result using "poor15" then make your own decision

mlcraven · « **Reply #15 on:** September 10, 2014, 06:20:01 PM »

I'm not so hard over against POR15, it does have its place in some situations and can be cost-effective. I used it with good results on those portions of the Cyclone floor that were scaly but salvageable, after proper surface prep it worked a treat and then I covered it with sound deadener (see pic).

That said, I'm with TimeWarpF100's advice on finishing a sandblasted frame, don't go the POR15 route. The lesson I've taken away is that POR is best used in places where you don't plan to have anyone see it. The application instructions MUST be adhered to the letter or it will just peel off and/or yield a peculiar surface finish when dry that looks like crap and is impossible to cover up with anything else. And it's a bugger to clean up.

There are no shortcuts or, at least in my limited experience, none that won't be regretted later.

http://s458.photobucket.com/user/mlcraven/media/1967%20Cyclone%20Resto/Int7-2013SoundDeadener2_zps6f5b4443.jpg.html

Richard F · « **Reply #16 on:** September 10, 2014, 07:17:11 PM »

I agree, with a sandblasted frame I wouldn't use POR15. I'd epoxy prime it if it were mine and paint it single stage. Powder coating would be great too if you can afford it.

TimeWarpF100 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2014, 08:12:05 PM »

Quote from: mlcraven on September 10, 2014, 06:20:01 PM

I'm not so hard over against POR15, it does have its place in some situations and can be cost-effective. I used it with good results on those portions of the Cyclone floor that were scaly but salvageable, after proper surface prep it worked a treat and then I covered it with sound deadener (see pic).

That said, I'm with TimeWarpF100's advice on finishing a sandblasted frame, don't go the POR15 route. The lesson I've taken away is that POR is best used in places where you don't plan to have anyone see it. The application instructions MUST be adhered to the letter or it will just peel off and/or yield a peculiar surface finish when dry that looks like crap and is impossible to cover up with anything else. And it's a bugger to clean up.

There are no shortcuts or, at least in my limited experience, none that won't be regretted later.

http://s458.photobucket.com/user/mlcraven/media/1967%20Cyclone%20Resto/Int7-2013SoundDeadener2_zps6f5b4443.jpg.html

poor15 does have its place,. Just not in my shop . . . LOL

For someone who has minimal $$ to cover up rust more power to them. Its just that for me I can blast it and do a much better job in the fraction of time and elbow grease.
I simply do not care for the look of it.

Again, here in AZ we have little rust to deal with.

Love that Cyclone! Some day I would like another 66 or 67. I do prefer the 66 as I like the grille better and then no emissions to worry about like the '67 here still has.

R-WEST · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2014, 09:43:59 PM »

$:-\$ Too late.. My brother already put the first coat of POR 15 on there.
Oh, well, I guess we'll just see how things turn out..

fastback 427 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 10, 2014, 11:48:05 PM »

I've got mixed feelings on both. In my opinion por-15 is way more durable than powder coat but does not look as nice. I worked in my factories paint department for many years and we used a lot of powder. If its not applied right or at the right temp for the right time it flakes and leaves bare metal. On our system it went through a wash, then a light acid wash, then an electrostatic paint dip, pre heat oven, then powder coat followed by a 45 minute 475 degree oven cycle. I doubt many powder coaters are that meticulous. I'd like to see some pics of your por-15 on prepped metal. If you don't like it you can always top coat it with something else. That being said we are starting on my wife's 67 mustang coupe this winter and I'll be replacing some floor panels and doing a mini tub. It's going to be a pro touring/ restomod kinda thing and not a show car. She doesn't want a trailer Queen but a driver. We will be using por-15 on the whole underside of the car to stop rust.

R-WEST · « **Reply #20 on:** September 11, 2014, 09:06:39 PM »

The nearest powder coating place is about 40 miles away, and, as noted earlier, this is what I found when I got home last evening:

brother Brad spraying away.

Here's the end result:

Maybe I'm less picky, but it looks pretty good to me!!

fastback 427 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 11, 2014, 09:34:40 PM »

Looks real good! The finish looks smooth. I think people put por-15 over rust and everything else which leaves a crappy finish. Enjoying watching your project.

R-WEST · « **Reply #22 on:** October 01, 2014, 10:36:56 PM »

The engine's almost ready to go to the dyno:

I'm gathering up the pieces: tranny rebuild kit from TCI, wide ratio gear set from Broader; picked up the 3.70 posi and axles with new bearings/seals/etc so we can get the rearend back together, then start putting pieces back on the frame..

TimeWarpF100 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 02, 2014, 09:40:38 AM »

Quote from: R-WEST on October 01, 2014, 10:36:56 PM

The engine's almost ready to go to the dyno:

I'm gathering up the pieces: tranny rebuild kit from TCI, wide ratio gear set from Broader; picked up the 3.70 posi and axles with new bearings/seals/etc so we can get the rearend back together, then start putting pieces back on the frame..

POR sprayed onto a sandblasted surface I do not have a problem with. Looks great!
(its the POR over rusty surface I have the problem with)

Engine looks great too!

R-WEST · « **Reply #24 on:** October 03, 2014, 11:28:54 PM »

It's on the dyno, waiting for headers and such - hopefully it'll be fired Monday..

BUT, it looks like it will be sitting under wraps for a while..

Driver's side cab mount:

Passenger side:

Fortunately, Joel said "heck, I've fixed lots of 'em that were worse than that!!"

R-WEST · « **Reply #25 on:** October 07, 2014, 07:06:46 PM »

Each day, I see more and more of the garage floor, and less of the floorboards..

New cab mounts on the way from Dennis Carpenter, I already have the floorboards - before we started cleaning away the old undercoating, I thought I didn't need all of them, but I'm glad we kept 'em..

My427stang · « **Reply #26 on:** October 07, 2014, 07:13:59 PM »

Did you get the dyno run in?

Richard F · « **Reply #27 on:** October 07, 2014, 07:48:53 PM »

I've been there and done that on my car...I kept finding more and more rust to fix. Keep at it and you'll get it done.

R-WEST · « **Reply #28 on:** October 07, 2014, 10:11:24 PM »

Quote

Did you get the dyno run in?

Haven't heard from the shop yet. I'm so swamped at work that, every time I think to call and see what's happening, the phone rings or an urgent e-mail pops up and I head off in another direction. I sent myself an e-mail to make sure I call tomorrow to see what's up.

Quote

I've been there and done that on my car...I kept finding more and more rust to fix. Keep at it and you'll get it done.

Yep, I've been down this road a few times..

R-WEST · « **Reply #29 on:** October 08, 2014, 09:39:20 AM »

Quote

Did you get the dyno run in?

I talked to Dan this morning, he said it broke in cleanly and after he was done playing with the timing and jets, he was looking at around 440 HP (

) on his Stuska dyno. Seems kinda' high, considering the build isn't that radical; I hope he didn't confuse it with one of the other engines he was doing (he had some BBF's and a BBC there too). They're mailing (their scanner is on the fritz) the dyno chart - I'll post it as soon as it shows up.

Drew Pojedinec · « **Reply #30 on:** October 08, 2014, 10:54:16 AM »

Dang RWest, you are killing me!
I'm dying to tear into my 76 F100.... it needs a lil bit of everything, I just hate undoing that first bolt knowing it'll be 6 months until i get it all back together.

good job!
Drew

R-WEST · « **Reply #31 on:** October 09, 2014, 06:34:22 PM »

It's getting there, it just doesn't look like it yet..

R-WEST · « **Reply #32 on:** October 15, 2014, 02:29:23 PM »

Got the results from the 390 dyno run today!!

I've discussed the build in various posts (.030 over 390; 10/1; Ed. ..69's; port matched to plenum modded Streetmaster; 750 Quickfuel; Comp 282S at 104 c/l; Faron'ized Duraspark with MSD Streetfire - it was run with MSD 6AL on the dyno).

I couldn't figure out how to fit it all on one pic, so I stuck 2 in here.

Their A/F sensor must have been on the fritz or something.

Dunno if the EGT on #7 is an anomaly, or if that's common.

R-WEST · « **Reply #33 on:** October 16, 2014, 07:17:27 PM »

Got the driver's side floorpan in place:

Joel working on the driver's side cab mount:

It's not gonna fall on him - there are other braces holding the cab in place.

Going slow but steady.

R-WEST · « **Reply #34 on:** November 11, 2014, 10:11:48 PM »

Going VERY slowly...
Getting the floorboards in there:

And, the frame is on the lift in the garage:

ready to sit down on the suspension pieces...

Slowly..

R-WEST · « **Reply #35 on:** February 16, 2015, 02:59:33 PM »

Things are still moving slowly

along
Got a rolling chassis:
Hmmm, I musta' broke Photobucket... can't seem to get the pics to show up..

R-WEST · « **Reply #36 on:** February 17, 2015, 02:24:55 PM »

Okay, followed Jay's instructions, so..

Here are two good friends from work, Ron and Rich, working on the frame pieces:

Rolling chassis:

Joel got the floorboards/cab mounts welded in there and sandblasted:

That's our inspector, Levi, the Wonder Border Collie in the lower left corner.

Test-fit of cab to chassis (Levi gave it 2 paws up!!):

R-WEST · « **Reply #37 on:** February 17, 2015, 03:24:56 PM »

Here it is going on the rollback to head to Cover's Chevrolet (sorry, but he's an old friend and does really good paint work) in Windber, PA for painting:

Off it goes:

We had to wait almost 3 weeks from the time it was ready to go, until we were finally able to send it, because the relentless winter weather wouldn't allow the salt/slush to clear from the roads. $:-\$ Our little secondary road doesn't get salt so the snow doesn't go away until about May..

While it's at the paint shop getting prepped, Joel's getting ready to start on the bed:

It's hard to tell from the pic, and I don't have any good close-ups, but it needs some work. There are a limited number of replacement panels for shortbeds, so Joel has had to make some pieces. The piece on top in the following pic is the old one, at the bottom is Joel's work. He's pretty good:

At some point, hopefully soon, we'll be ready to put this baby in there:

I don't know why, but PB refuses to allow me to rotate the pic 90 degrees. I've rotated/saved it in Paint and uploaded it that way about a dozen times, but PB shows it sideways..

I'm still hoping against hope to have it ready for Great Niece #1's Senior Prom like I told her....

mmason · « **Reply #38 on:** February 17, 2015, 08:41:23 PM »

R-WEST · « **Reply #39 on:** February 17, 2015, 09:32:40 PM »

Thanks mmason!!

R-WEST · « **Reply #40 on:** June 21, 2015, 07:04:02 PM »

We've been slammed at work, so the truck's been on hold for a while..

But, SLOWLY it's coming together. We got it back from the paint shop with the cab installed:

Pretty shiny!!

We're using an American Autowire kit. Had a hard time finding the proper crimping tools to use for the connectors - until we found out A.A. changed their part numbers, and didn't update their website. Anyhow, we're hoping to get it wired up as much as possible, then we'll stick the engine in, and, back to the body shop to put all the pieces back together...

R-WEST · « **Reply #41 on:** September 08, 2015, 04:32:23 PM »

Okay, let's see if I can remember how to make P.B. work:

Here we're getting it ready:

That's Rich in the background - what a great help he's been!!

Definitely easier to install when there's nothing on the front end!!

Ta-dah!!

At the rate things are progressing, it'll probably be this time next year before it's on the road.. We're totally buried at work, so it's difficult to get guys to help out when they DO get some time to spend with their families..

R-WEST · « **Reply #42 on:** June 14, 2021, 09:49:32 PM »

$:-\$ Amazing how life intrudes on our plans... Anyway, almost 6 years(!!) later, we're back on track; the F100's at a local shop for finishing. I'm trying desperately to find some pics of the progress so far, but, for the life of me, I can't.

I'll try to actually get it finished this time.

BigBlueIron · « **Reply #43 on:** June 16, 2021, 09:43:04 AM »

Good looking truck.

My 74 F100 is currently blown apart, as much as I wanted it running 2 months ago I'm now closer now than I was then. Probably get fed up soon enough to close the shop from outside work to focus on it for a week.

Gregwill16 · « **Reply #44 on:** June 16, 2021, 09:54:25 PM »

Awesome truck!

R-WEST · « **Reply #45 on:** July 20, 2021, 01:19:29 PM »

Woo-hoo!! Things are progressing, although it's amazing how parts can disappear when they've been sitting for 5+ years. $:-\$ Thank God for LMC and Dennis Carpenter.

I have a pic of it sitting outside the shop, relatively complete, and a short video of it sitting there rumbling, but I can't remember how to post them. Can somebody help?

News:

Author Topic: '76 F100 Build (Read 24983 times)