1966 F100 Short/Fleet Full Stock Resto Build Thread

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

I have to go back and look at the first page now and then.
Just beautiful!

Thanks, that's one reason I like to do a detailed build thread... we forget all the things we've done so we go back through from time to time to help us remember.

Originally Posted by 60-66

Excellent details. theastronaut, what plating? are you using on the bolts. Looks like silver cad ?

It's actually a paint that replicates the look of cad plating.

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Thanks for explaining the process, I think I'll try it. It looks great

No problem! Try it out on some small/spare parts first to get the hang of it so it'll go smoothly when you get to the good parts.

[theastronaut]

Hood has been wetsanded and buffed top and bottom, it's ready to install.


Couldn't resist...




Guide coated with sharpie marker, ready to block with 1000 grit.




After sanding with 1000 and 2000. More sharpie marker before sanding with 2500.




Inside after sanding/buffing.






Top finished up.

[aggie91]

WOW just WOW

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by aggie91

WOW just WOW

Thanks Karl!!


We've been busy on a 1/4 scale Model T go-kart project lately but we're still working on the truck too. I'll start a build thread on the kart in a few days.





On to the last frontier... finishing the bed.




Hood and radiator are installed.

[plainred65]

Like all your other work following along is fantastic, always something to learn.

Why do you think the parkerizing rusted on your first attempt? I've been wanting to try my hand at it and would like to use it for the rust inhibiting properties. Maybe a home kit isn't quite the same as the original?

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by plainred65

Like all your other work following along is fantastic, always something to learn.

Why do you think the parkerizing rusted on your first attempt? I've been wanting to try my hand at it and would like to use it for the rust inhibiting properties. Maybe a home kit isn't quite the same as the original?

We left them in a bucket of soapy water overnight... Not our brightest idea.

[theastronaut]

Radiator and heater clamps installed, and we found a non-heated carb spacer.

[theastronaut]

Here's the latest. Inside and left side of the bed has been blocked and shot with tinted K93. It's ready to wetsand and paint. Still have to finish blocking the right side of the bed and get it in K93.






Tailgate is ready too.

[theastronaut]

Found the missing/broken firewall clips we needed locally today so we cleaned them up and put them on. Also hooked up the washer nozzles.




Got new cables for the battery but the ends were dull and flaky looking. Glass beaded them, then burnished them with a stainless brush. The battery post got the same treatment. Can't be losing points at shows for shabby battery posts.

[theastronaut]

Outside of the bed is painted. Still need to wetsand and reclear it to level out the mask lines, then wetsand/buff it. We'll paint the tailgate once we get a set of decals to mask the FORD letters.

[theastronaut]

Here are videos of the first start. The owner had his mechanic come over and set the timing and adjust the carb.

'66 F100 352 First Start Attempt - YouTube

'66 F100 352 First Start - YouTube

'66 F100 352 Engine Running - YouTube

'66 F100 352 Engine Running - YouTube

'66 F100 352 Engine Running - YouTube

[chevyrestoguy]

Ah, the first light-off of an engine. I never look forward to it, because you're always second-guessing everything you did up to that point. "Did I torque the flexplate, did I put enough break-in lube on the cam, and on and on and on. Once it lights off, it's the greatest feeling, like a huge weight was lifted off of your shoulders.

That 352 runs really smooth. Nice job!!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by chevyrestoguy

Ah, the first light-off of an engine. I never look forward to it, because you're always second-guessing everything you did up to that point. "Did I torque the flexplate, did I put enough break-in lube on the cam, and on and on and on. Once it lights off, it's the greatest feeling, like a huge weight was lifted off of your shoulders.

That 352 runs really smooth. Nice job!!

Exactly!! I had the VW motor apart a couple years ago to fix a broken cam bearing flange. I've torn down a few engine so I knew what to expect inside, but never a good running engine that was expected to run again- just junkers for parts. I worried about that thing for the longest, hoping I did it all right and didn't forget anything. Even after starting it I didn't want to drive it hard, worrying about the rod bolt torque specs (enough?) and that kind of stuff. Took a couple weeks of grandma-driving to get comfortable with it again before I started beating on it like normal. Super nerve-racking!

[theastronaut]

The door locks were hazy so I buffed them with green, then white compound before installing them.






Installing the floor mat from ACC. The mat looks good and fits the shape of the floor very well. We still need to finish trimming around the door jambs and gas tank but it's fairly close for now. Dad wants to finish it up so I stopped trimming at this point. If you're going to be installing the floor mat and the firewall pad, you'll be way better off to install the floor mat first as it's tough to tuck the floor mat under the firewall pad around the pedals.

The padding they sent was too small so we added more padding around the edges and missing spots. We also cut reliefs in a few places since the padding is flat and not shaped to the pans already.




Roughly fitted. I'll post more pics once it's in and settled. The instrutions say it takes 48 hours for wrinkles to come out from being boxed up.




Extra length at the rear in case you moved the gas tank. Needs trimming in our case.




This is how much we removed from the front edge.

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks great. ..

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice!

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looks great. ..

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Very Nice!

Thanks dudes!!

[theastronaut]

So the same day we install the floor mat, we find a NOS 65-66 tan/black, low hump floor mat... right here in town. What are the odds of that! He's going to dig it out of storage and check it's condition, and he's willing to part with it if it's in good shape still. He says it's never been exposed to heat so our fingers are crossed!


Shot the inside of the bed this morning.

[theastronaut]

We shot the bottom with red oxide epoxy, then added overspray around the edges with single stage.

[theastronaut]

The trim came back from King of Trim late Friday so we installed what we could Monday. They strip, straighten, buff, bright dip, and anodize the aluminum trim so that it looks better than new.





Correct black detailing around the headlights and upper/lower vertical bars in the grill.






Rechromed original door handles.






ACC floor mat after trimming and getting a few wrinkles out with a heat gun.

[Palf70Step]

Very Nice!

[Ol Blue K20]

Looks awesome, you're definitely paying a lot of attention to the details

[SamsAutoParts73-87]

I thought I would never say this about a F*rd , but that is one nice looking truck!
-Sam

[theastronaut]

Originally Posted by Palf70Step

Very Nice!

Originally Posted by Ol Blue K20

Looks awesome, you're definitely paying a lot of attention to the details

Originally Posted by SamsAutoParts73-87

I thought I would never say this about a F*rd , but that is one nice looking truck!
-Sam

Thanks dudes!! We weren't crazy about building a Ford either but it pays the bills... and it's turned out to be a good looking truck. Still wouldn't own one though!!

[theastronaut]

A few more pics. Had a couple leaks to fix, whoever built the engine didn't get the thermostat housing sealed up so we had to pull it off and resurface the housing to get it fixed. They also used a fiber washer on the drain plug that had split, so it was leaking too. Got those taken care of yesterday, changed the oil and filter, and pulled it out so it could run for awhile to check for leaks again. No wet spots underneath this morning.

Some daylight pictures.













Scott Drake headlight with Ford embossed from Mustangs Unlimited. They're halogen so they're brighter than the old style sealed beams.




Checking the park lights and headlights.