Bought a new project.

[notsofast]

I had a 1970 F100, 360ci 2 barrel, manual dash operated choke, c6 auto and a whopping big rear differential. No power anything, no factory radio or a.c. A good solid truck, now I have a 2004 xlt, a few more conveniences but still a good solid truck

 

[rubiranch]

I had a 1970 F100, 360ci 2 barrel, manual dash operated choke, c6 auto and a whopping big rear differential. No power anything, no factory radio or a.c. A good solid truck, now I have a 2004 xlt, a few more conveniences but still a good solid truck

Simple, not anymore.

Mine does have power assist steering (as they called it ) and an AM radio that doesn't work.

 

[rubiranch]

I finally got my auxiliary gas tank filled, it holds 24.5 gallons.
The main tank hold 19 gallons. I'm good with 43.5 gallons.

Right now it has 10 gallons of 110 octane low lead racing fuel, 10 gallons
91 octane premium and 4.5 gallons of 91 octane ethanal free premium.

That tank of gas is the one that I will run off of when I'm out playing.

 

[rubiranch]

I bought my old truck one year ago Tuesday on the Nov 1st, 2021.
Here's some updates on the progress.



















This was the old and tired junk yard 390 that came from a 1966
Mercury Monterey. It was very very tired.



And here's the 410 that came from a 1966 Mercury Marauder and
was rebuilt 50 years ago and never started until I dropped into my
truck and fired it up for its first time.




I woke up to some fresh snow this morning so I decided to go for a little drive.



This canyon is just across the road from me.



This is where I turned around. Having to get out of the truck to
clear the snow off the hood and windshield every time I hit these
low hanging limbs was getting old.





Its nice to see these pizza cutter traction tires living up to their name.



It was just a short drive but fun.

The truck needs 4 more major upgrades;
1. AC
2. A nice sound system.
3. Rear Detroit Locker
4. Front Detroit Locker.

Intermittent wipers are the next small upgrade.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGyigBv8QoY[/ame]

One year anniversary video.


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV6hPTUdO2Q[/ame]

After my short ride I headed into town to pick up a few items.
This was just after leaving my place on the old highway before
I-70 came thru.

It never will be a show truck, just a work and play truck.

 

[rubiranch]

I bought a set of Hedman Hedders and a pair of Flowmaster turbo mufflers for the old truck.






I installed them a few days ago.
The mufflers are bolted directly to the hedders.
Next week it will go to the muffler shop to get the exhaust system finished up.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgrhrfhPTFI[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PapZwOzfQuc[/ame]

I never expected that the old truck would run as good as it does.
The 410 runs excellent.

 

[rubiranch]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAecIFmKGXQ[/ame]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ruylz0YNB7Q[/ame]

Just out playing.
Some people buy and restore these old Highboys for show,
I bought mine for play.

 

[rubiranch]

The old truck is running pretty darn good.

 

[Bald1]

Browsing thru thread I see where someone offered you $6k. Here in NY , the land of road salt and rust $6k wouldn’t even get you a ride in it. Awesome truck. Hope you never do any body work. It just looks right.

 

[rubiranch]

Browsing thru thread I see where someone offered you $6k. Here in NY , the land of road salt and rust $6k wouldn’t even get you a ride in it. Awesome truck. Hope you never do any body work. It just looks right.

Thank you and no plans for any body work.
I plan on using this one and not for show and shine.

 

[rubiranch]

I had the exhaust finished up a few days ago t the local exhaust shop
It needs a few tweaks like rotating the clamps.


[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUq-7Oxusi4[/ame]

Sounds good to me.

 

[rubiranch]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PapZwOzfQuc[/ame]

I never started pushing it until I was about 1/2 way thru 3rd gear.
The old truck runs better than I had hoped for.

 

[Narragansett]

I thought you were going to fill it with dirt and plant tomatoes. Bet that is real economical to run.

 

[Doug M.]

The fuel consumption is likely similar to flushing a toilet. Older engine control tech, low gears, set up for power. That just reality. One thing I would want is a swap to a modern 5 or 6 speed transmission. The old school 4 speed was really a 3 speed with a crawler gear.

 

[Igiveup]

I have sat thru this whole post and enjoyed it immensly. Got me thinking, now at 75 yrs., that I have had 12 Ford pickups and 5 other pickups thru the years. First was a 1948 Willys with a 1953 over head 4 cyl. engine, the last and current a 2021 RAM 2500 4wd with a 6.4 liter engine. It looks like the 1970 and 1985 trucks I had were very similar in style to the subject truck.

 

[Narragansett]

I had a 72 F100 302, 3 speed on the tree. Rootbeer brown and a white bench seat. Well, I used it for 10 years. paid 1750 for it new. Well I bought an 82 ford ( Only vehicle worse was the 84 I bought to replace it). I parked the 72 beside the garage. One day a guy pulls in, and wants to buy it. We settled on 750.00, and he drove it off. 6 months later, a candy apple red truck with dual exhaust behind the cab pulls into the yard. It was my truck all restored. Still had white bench seat and mags now.. Very pretty

 

[murf205]

Man, you beat me to the punch. I was going to suggest the saddle blanket seat cover. Love the truck and those tires. I had a 70 Bronco with the same style of front hubs and they are easy to service. Nothing Not to like, congrats.

 

[rubiranch]

I thought you were going to fill it with dirt and plant tomatoes. Bet that is real economical to run.

I was thinking about it but I really don't care for tomatoes.

I'm averaging around 8.5 mpg.
I'm sure its capable of getting better but I love hearing those
secondaries at WOT (wide open throttle).

And with 10.5:1 compression it likes premium plus I have to add a
$5 bottle of lead substitute so a tank of gas gets a little $$$$.

 

[rubiranch]

The fuel consumption is likely similar to flushing a toilet. Older engine control tech, low gears, set up for power. That just reality. One thing I would want is a swap to a modern 5 or 6 speed transmission. The old school 4 speed was really a 3 speed with a crawler gear.

the worst mileage I've seen soo far was about 6.5 mpg.
But it was a fun tank of gas to burn.

A 5 or 6 speed would be nice but I don't go very far so the old 4-speed is going to have to do.

 

[rubiranch]

I have sat thru this whole post and enjoyed it immensly. Got me thinking, now at 75 yrs., that I have had 12 Ford pickups and 5 other pickups thru the years. First was a 1948 Willys with a 1953 over head 4 cyl. engine, the last and current a 2021 RAM 2500 4wd with a 6.4 liter engine. It looks like the 1970 and 1985 trucks I had were very similar in style to the subject truck.

Thank you and I appreciate you taking the time to scroll thru the thread.
Its been a lot of fun and its fun to drive.

In soo many ways I'm glad they don't build them like they used to.

 

[rubiranch]

I had a 72 F100 302, 3 speed on the tree. Rootbeer brown and a white bench seat. Well, I used it for 10 years. paid 1750 for it new. Well I bought an 82 ford ( Only vehicle worse was the 84 I bought to replace it). I parked the 72 beside the garage. One day a guy pulls in, and wants to buy it. We settled on 750.00, and he drove it off. 6 months later, a candy apple red truck with dual exhaust behind the cab pulls into the yard. It was my truck all restored. Still had white bench seat and mags now.. Very pretty

Awesome story Pete. Mine will never see a nice paint job.