My 66 F-100 Shortbed resto. Taking a while.

[brute66]

Thanks for sharing your project pics and modifications on your terrific looking shortbed. I thought my 66 shortbed was a factory cruise o matic and was bummed to find out it was a 3 on the tree converted to a C6. If you need to sell that steering column and/or shift indicator, please let me know. Mine has column from an automatic of unknown origin. Also, what did you do to link up the aftermarket master cylinder rod to the factory rod that goes through the firewall? My new master cylinder from Tuff Stuff has a threaded rod coming out the back end. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Nate

[MeZapU]

I will be modifying the steering column to remove all evidence of the shifter when I get around to it. I have a 66 mustang column adapter that has no shifter provisions so it will look smooth and original. I have no idea when I'm going to get the inclination to take the truck down for the mods. May even be a year or so. I had to basically rebuild the entire thing so I really don't want to start from scratch again unless I can acquire another column and just work on it as I find the time.

The aftermarket booster came with a rod that I needed to shorten and tap/retherad to make the rod length correct. Lots of measuring. The brake pedal I needed to drill a new actuation location hole to accept the new rod location, as low as possible as to not have excess pedal travel. I did it firstly where it looked optimal but it had too much pedal travel.

It was this unit below but I could have sworn it was about $100 cheaper than this auction is for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-1972-Ford- ... 4ad3912008

[MeZapU]

One thing of note.

I took the radio faceplate apart and painted the parts with some bumper chrome aerosol paint. Just to see how it looks. Hell, It was a $85 radio back in 2008 so I really don't care about it. I kind of wish I would have found a repair panel for the dash to get a two knob style radio in there, but this will take the edge off the modern stereo look and I think I can more easily live with it now.

[Eallen66]

Very nice work. Clean and simple and a testament to being able to do good work in home garage.

[thenephilm]

Looks good with the new tranny in there.

[brute66]

if you want to sell the factory auto column, please let me know, thanks

[gmack192]

BEEEEEAUTIFUL............

[MeZapU]

Had a bit of a setback the past few weeks. The clutch was juddering pretty badly, especially when warm. So bad that it would make the hood and rest of the truck shake. I assumed it was the flywheel as it was the one component that I took for granted was in good shape, but never had surfaced before installation. I knew the flywheel had a small crack in it so I ordered a brand new one from Jegs. Was just under $100 shipped. Fit really well. When I was reinstalling the clutch I noticed that one of the three finger levers on the pressure plate was loose. Loose enough to cause me concern and rethink the root cause of the clutch issue I was having.

I called Rock auto and they honored the 1yr warranty. They shipped me a new clutch and it got to me in only two days. I have the trick back together but need to go to the parts store to get some fresh synchromesh gear oil for it in the morning.

http://youtu.be/426stDmqFbA

[MeZapU]

Got it all fixed up and it drives great again. Towed my 85 GT to the track which was 80 miles away. Managed 11.25mpg's which surprised even me. Was a good day.

[MeZapU]

I drove the truck 380 miles each way to the NPD Silver Springs car show in Ocala FL last weekend. Managed an average of about 15.2mpg doing 70-75 mph on the interstate. That means about 200 miles to the tank. Truck ran great. Not a single issue.

I ended up buying a new grill from NPD while I was there. $500 but I saved 10% being I was a part of the car show so that saved $50 and I also saved the $120 truck freight shipping cost if I would have mail ordered it. It actually fit really well. Comes with the headlight bucket adjusters and the nylon swivel pads installed as well. The only thing I needed to do was mask and paint the blackened sections with some SEM trim black paint. I need to save the headlight trim rings for a later date ($80 ea) but I just shot them with some bumper chrome paint for the time being. I also installed some new Halogen headlights as the old ones were a mismatched set.

[flames unlimited]

the all white paint looks awesome!!!

[MeZapU]

Makes the turn signal trim look dull now.

[JR66Ford]

Truck looks great. It looks very similar to how mine used to before I took it apart....12 years ago. I'm gathering parts right now to start building it again.

On a side note, are you stationed at Eglin or Hurlburt Field? I'm over at Barksdale, been in for 18 this coming August.

[MeZapU]

Hurlburt. Been in for 22yrs in March.