My build is a 72 F100 shortbed. I have played with Foxbody Mustangs and late model F150's and a couple of Lightnings but have wanted an F100 hotrod for years. So I worked out a trade for this 72. The Previous owner had already done the Crown Vic swap with an Explorer rear end. Exactly what I wanted to do. He installed the late model Mustang wheels with a 2 inch spacer in the back. They work ok on the front but not on the back even with a spacer. Way to much offset. Also I had hoped I would make a few changes and then it was off to the autocross...well the more I messed with this truck the more I realized it needed a total tear down. Sooo many things were barely installed. Fromt clip only had 4 tight bolts out of 8. No wonder things were shaking and rattling on the way home. Then found that the frontend was not tight, rear leaf springs were shot...total tear down is bound to happen.
Then I tried an 18x10 Bullitt wheel with the 2 inch spacer. Worked ok but not what I wanted.
I made me a frame to pull the bed off with my engine hoist.
I pulled the bed to do a couple of things. First was to remove the cross member for a Mustang tank and then move on to a C notch. As far as the Mustang tank I purchased a Tanks Inc tank setup for fuel injection with a 255lph Walbro pump. (Set up similar to a fox mustang). For the C notch I picked up a piece of 6 inch steel pipe, cut and spliced.
Ready to start the c notch
Made my first cut using a angle grinder with a cut off wheel. Tough making curves with that. The other side I cut it small and worked my way into the right side with a flapper wheel on the angle grinder 60 grit.
Second side with the pipe fabbed in
I picked up some steel plate and fabbed in the backing plate. I could not take it further forward because of leaving room for the shock
I work on the side (truck money) for American Powertrain. I take care of their computers and server for them, but a couple of guys came over to help me weld up the c notch. I am very inexperienced with welding so Matt Graves taught me what to do and in a few minutes I was welding up my frame. The bald head is Gray Fredrick one of the owners of American Powertrain. Both are awesome guys. Gray is building a wicked 66 Cornet Convertible with a 528 fuel injected big block 6 speed and Matt built a C10 (known as the cheap 10) with a carbed LS 5 speed.
Finished product
I went to the local pick and pull with my dad and buddy and bought a 351W out of a 96 F150. I wanted a late model to have the roller cam and also all of the mounting brackets for the accessories such as A/C compressor and alt. Cost me $280 with everything but the intake. I plan on running a foxbody style intake plus I have an extra fox engine harness. The plan is a basic stock rebuild with flat top pistons and I have a set of AFR185 heads(Thanks to a fellow Ford buddy of mine).
Today I worked in getting the front clip ready to come off. It's ready so just waiting on some help to lift it off.
The next step is to replace the rust on the Krusty Kab. cab mounts, floor pans, small spot on a rocker, plus the back cab corners...both sides. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks I can get that done so I can remove the cab. I decided to go ahead and sand blast the frame to powder coat it.
Barry
