can't decide which slick to build....Help!

PatriotCPO · Post by **PatriotCPO** » May 9, 2009, 12:09 am

Let's just say "a friend" has two Slicks:

a 64 Custom Cab LB with a 292 8cyl, 4 on floor.
a 65 LB with a 300 I-6, 4 on the floor

Each has some plusses and minuses

The 64 has some nice straight body panels, but it lived most of it's life in the Northeast, so it does have some rust. Some rust in lower corners of cab. Nothing that couldn't be repaired, though. Bed floor is like swiss cheese, but frame is straight and solid. Engine runs/truck drives, but I have no knowledge of engine rework history. Left bank of cylinders throws a little bit of blue smoke. Overall, even though the truck needs some help, it is still a looker. Much prettier than the truck I just bought as a parts truck.....which is a....

The 65 lived most of it's life as a San Antonio, TX area farm truck and it shows. Floor boards have some minor perforations, but the cab corners are very solid. The body panels have some surface rust, but no perforation. They are however beat to hell...big dents on virtually every corner of the truck. The truck was used as a daily driver by it's last owner until a year or so , and in fact was used to move him and his wife from WA state over here to the east coast, with a Toyota in tow....not too shabby for a 40-some year old truck! Bed floor is solid, frame is straight and solid. I-6 has a top-end rebuild in the not too distant past, and the engine compartment sports several new-ish parts like water pump, master and wheel cylinders, starter, alternator, carb.

So here's my dilemma. I bought the 65 as a parts truck, but I'm starting to think maybe the chassis and driveline from the 65 might make a better base for my keeper truck than the 64. I love the 64 however...it has a certain hot rod feel to it that the 65 is missing.

Is there a huge advantage in having the 65's Twin I-Beam front end?

I know this is gonna be a can of worms, but what are the plusses and minuses for both the 292 Y-block and the 300 I6? I do LOVE the music the 292 plays through the true duals with Cherry Bombs, however the 6 is nice and smooth, and runs strong (along with legendary reliability....) I know the 292 isn't a real powerhouse among 8's, but it at least SOUNDS fast!

All opinions/thoughts are welcome!!

Mark

Alan Mclennan · Post by **Alan Mclennan** » May 9, 2009, 3:11 am

Mark, you aren't going to like my answer but here goes!, build both! you know you want too!.

36truck · Post by **36truck** » May 9, 2009, 8:16 am

X2 build both. Only you can decide what way to go either one will make a good truck.

ridgerunner · Post by **ridgerunner** » May 9, 2009, 8:30 am

i agree with Alan. build both, they sell repair panels

65f100_Thug · Post by **65f100_Thug** » May 9, 2009, 12:43 pm

If you can, build both. but if I had to choose I would pick the 64 building a 65 bondo buggy was fun for me as a kid ,but now i Look for straighter metal to work with. Plus I think the twin I beam is over rated don't get me wrong probably the toughest suspension built and great for a work truck but as a hotrod they just miss the handling and ride a guy comes to expect,especially after driving newer stuff most of the time. well thats my 2 cents.

1961 slickwilly · Post by **1961 slickwilly** » May 9, 2009, 12:59 pm

build the 64 then use the 65 as its been used for most of its life a work truck use it as a work truck, a parts hauler, trailer pulling machine. then pull your 64 around with to the show and tell every one that you have two trucks to show the actual before and after instead of pictures. you have to love that feeling of going to the parts yard to get slick parts and not having to worry about scratching your paint or puting more character building dents in it lol

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » May 9, 2009, 1:13 pm

I've got to agree, build the '64 and continue to drive the '65 as your daily driver. when done with the '64, then go to driving it daily and rebuild the '65. See how simple...

.... good luck either way and keep us up to date on the decision and the build.... Anthony

1966 Ford · Post by **1966 Ford** » May 9, 2009, 4:46 pm

I agree I would build both

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » May 9, 2009, 7:02 pm

I voted for the 64.

Use the 65 for parts, putting the best parts on your 64 but keeping the 65 running. When finished with the 64, you can either sell the 65 or build it up.

PatriotCPO · Post by **PatriotCPO** » May 9, 2009, 9:56 pm

Everybody,

Thanks for the input....I think the majority opinion sort of goes along with my gut feeling...the 64 has more hot rod appeal, and that's where I think I'll focus my efforts first. Keeping the 65 as a work truck took on some new significance today, since we ended up having to remove a dead tree from our property. Every time my son let a tree branch scrape the side of the bed, I thought how lucky I was to not be doing this with a pretty new paint job. Keeping the 65 as a workhorse sounds like a good idea after several runs to the dump!

Here's a link to a photo of the 65.... Patina-a-go-go!

http://fordtruk.com/forums/album_showpa ... ic_id=5721

36truck · Post by **36truck** » May 9, 2009, 10:01 pm

That's a perfect work truck the wheels give it that hot rat rod look.

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » May 9, 2009, 10:43 pm

yep. build the 64 and work that 65.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » May 10, 2009, 5:49 am

looks to me like someone has used the '65 as a truck?!?!

Oh yea, I guess that is what it is. Looks to be solid but dinged and dented. thats what a truck is. looks like a killer daily driver to me Patriot. got to love the side tool box. been looking for one myself. just haven't found one at a price I can afford.(free or cheap) keep us posted on the '64 build..... Anthony

Gary Seymour · Post by **Gary Seymour** » May 10, 2009, 6:20 am

Yep. That '65 is a great daily driver truck. Keep it going and use it.

can't decide which slick to build....Help!

Given the info here, which truck would you build and which would you part?

can't decide which slick to build....Help!

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