1968 F100 2wd style side short bed.

[Craigerf100]

Ok so soon ill post all the pics of my progress. but heres a bit of history since ive bought it.

So driving my black 68 f100 short bed style side Friday, and this white chevy blazer swerved right in front of me, trying not to clip the car in front of 'it' while on the highway. i tried to avoid hitting it but both of us ended up sliding out of control along the highway. the blazer missed the guard rails.... but my truck didn't. i hit them probably going 50mph. it spun me around then the back end of my truck it the rails. and thats what stopped me. by the time i got out of the truck the blazer was long gone.... i hate chevys

Well im alright so thank God for that, worse could of happen.

The whole front end needs replacing. fenders, inner wells, grille radiator core support, hood now has a dent in it but it could be fixable. bumper is bent. passenger side wheel is gouged. both doors tweaked abit. tail light quarter is bashed in. and i musta bend one of the twin eye beams cause one will is turned in.

All fixable, and most needed to be patched or replaced. but i would of liked to of enjoyed her for a while before starting the restoration.

I just hope and pray the frame isnt tweaked. i can see dents and scrapes of where the bed and hit the cab. the driver side of the cab is sunk down less then a 1/2 inch. the front cab mounts look to have taken some punishment. i just hope the driver side mount is compressed abit. the mounts needed replacing any how.

everything else seems to be fine.

ive never been one to 'what if' things that happen. but im pretty sure if i had a booster with disk brakes, a front sway bar and less touchy power steering. i think the out come would have been better. idk


so its a forced restoration.
Before:




After:

[basketcase0302]

Glad your ok, hope the bump wasn't your "daily". Cab mounts are a lot of work, (look closely at the body sheet metal where the mounts are as it does rust out there sometimes requiring a lot...more work). Your pic link didn't work due to the one ] missing above:


And there's a recent thread from Kurt on sway bars I believe under the suspension threads.

[sargentrs]

Aw man! What a shame! She was real sweet. Good luck.

[Craigerf100]

some updates.


taking off the front twin I beam and entire front clip.

got a good booster for free, figures it wont fit, it will make a good core when i buy the new one.

BAM!! the entire fronts off, twin i beam is bent its trash. front clip taking all the bolts and brackets off in case i need em.
Ive got a disk twin i beam ready to pick up off a 74, thats the next step to get this truck mobile again.

found a whole new front clip im going to buy in a parts book for a grand. comes with everything but the hood and grille.


after the new twin i beam is installed, im going to do some engine work while its so accessible. shorty headers with flowmaster 40s, edelbrock intake and 600cfm carb. new valve covers as well. also Mallory electric descriptor. im playing with the idea of going electric fan.

not to mention im going to clean up the fire wall. and paint it as well as the frame and i beam. nothing fancy, just to protect it.

oh i also have a oem front sway bar in the bed.

more pics to come.

any advice would be great

[Craigerf100]

Ok so some updates
i labeled the wires, and started cleaning up the engines bay and frame for some paint.



Did some engine work this last weekend. getting it ready for the performance parts.







i think the engine valley looks clean.
wish i knew more about the engines history.

heres the edelbrock intake i got for free.
before/while soaking

after soak

compared to the stock intake. im going to be painting it black here after i giver a one over with the wire wheel/brush.

the 600cfm carb i picked up in town for $140. its used but (so im told) it may have 50miles on it.

the new Mallory distributor i snagged for $50

new thermostat housing

and soon to arrive
new shorty headers

and valve covers


next ill post some pics of the intake painted and and hopefully installed and the fire wall being painted and the frame. along with some other parts.

the guy that has the disc front twin i beam has yet to take it off the truck. he lives a few hrs from me. ill keep the updates coming.

[tylerb43]

Great progress so far! It hurts a little to see it crunched up like that, but thanks to you for putting in the work to get her back on the road! I had the same accident with mine back in the day. Hit a guardrail on the right front corner, nearly identical damage. The impact tweaked the frame horns to the left a little, so you may want to check the squareness of them while you have access. And as far as the cab kissing the bed, it may be as simple as the cab scooting back on the rubber mounts. Again - that's what mine did.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, and keep us up to date! That's a nice truck and I can't wait to see it back on the road!

[Craigerf100]

Great progress so far! It hurts a little to see it crunched up like that, but thanks to you for putting in the work to get her back on the road! I had the same accident with mine back in the day. Hit a guardrail on the right front corner, nearly identical damage. The impact tweaked the frame horns to the left a little, so you may want to check the squareness of them while you have access. And as far as the cab kissing the bed, it may be as simple as the cab scooting back on the rubber mounts. Again - that's what mine did.

Anyway, thanks for sharing, and keep us up to date! That's a nice truck and I can't wait to see it back on the road!

ok cool tell me how to check my frame horns, if you could

[tylerb43]

No problem - very simple and quick. Measure diagonally from a common reference point (maybe the forward-most crossmember rivet) to the bumper mount hole center on the opposite frame rail. Compare the two measurements, if they're different, you've got an issue and should have it put on a straightener. Now granted, a 1/16" of an inch probably won't be an issue.

Checking up and down is a little harder. But just measure up from a level floor on each side, making sure there's no extra weight on one side (no one in the truck), and the tires are the same size and pressure. (tough for you right now since the suspension is gone )

[Craigerf100]

No problem - very simple and quick. Measure diagonally from a common reference point (maybe the forward-most crossmember rivet) to the bumper mount hole center on the opposite frame rail. Compare the two measurements, if they're different, you've got an issue and should have it put on a straightener. Now granted, a 1/16" of an inch probably won't be an issue.

Checking up and down is a little harder. But just measure up from a level floor on each side, making sure there's no extra weight on one side (no one in the truck), and the tires are the same size and pressure. (tough for you right now since the suspension is gone )

[ Image ]

awesome thanks tykerB

[basketcase0302]

A lot of progress in a short time-looking good!
I have the same valve covers on my truck, just put them on about a month ago. You'll need to get the allen head bolts like these or you'll scratch the new covers up, (using hex head bolts):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180021679514?ss ... 1423.l2649

[Craigerf100]

A lot of progress in a short time-looking good!
I have the same valve covers on my truck, just put them on about a month ago. You'll need to get the allen head bolts like these or you'll scratch the new covers up, (using hex head bolts):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/180021679514?ss ... 1423.l2649

dually noted thanks for the info

[Craigerf100]

Painted the intake manifold.


almost ready for mock up. but my valve covers are taking along time.
im going for a black on silver..... theme i guess

also my headers came in

[Craigerf100]

not much to update,

i have finished, ordered or going to order a bunch of ods and ends for the engine.

water pump, fuel pump, carb return springs, fuel filter, new intake bolts, new valve cover bolts. the 'just cuzz' parts.

im finally (fingers crossed) going to be getting my disk twin i-beam out of a 74 f100 this Sunday. and ill start tearing into that. cleaning it up, paint, and replace bushings, calipers, rotors if needed.

and hopefully get it installed by next week.

i still have to clean and paint the firewall, the frame, the radiator, the (only) inner fender. and ofcourse buy fenders, core support, and grille.

[91Bear]

Where do you live?

[Craigerf100]

Where do you live?

springfield mo