RIF RAF
03-09-2014, 12:28 PM
I picked up a 76 F-100 back in October for $500 (solid TX truck) and finally bit the bullet and got this build going to get it road worthy.
It had been sitting for a few years, didn't run, 2 shades of primer on it, junk interior, 400M with a 3 on the tree and 9in out back.
First thing I did was pull the engine and rebuild it. Its a stockish rebuild of the 400M, bumped the compression up, bowl ported the heads, converted to roller cam/stud-guideplates/roller rockers, performer intake, and 770 Holley. It made 360HP and 457ftlbs on the dyno thru the factory exh manifolds.
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https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
After deciding to make a big push to get it on the road the 3spd was ditched in favor of a 5spd. I picked up a Tremec 3550 with low miles out of a late model mustang. I'll go into detail on this because it was shocked about how easy the swap was. The ONLY modifications needed were:
1. Narrow and generously chamfer the pilot bearing (a solid bronze one) because the input shaft is longer on the Tremec than the 3spd. 2. Remove the front seal housing and machine .450 off the snout length (again it is longer needs to clear the pressure plate fingers)
3. Cut hole in floor.
4. Use trans mount off of the 3spd and slide crossmember back to the other set of holes.
5. Shorter drive shaft and T5 trans yoke.
The speedo cable fits and is the same gear count, bolts up to bell housing no problem (locating ring is the same size), and still used the mechanical clutch.
Installed a Yukon Gear posi in the 9in also and kept the 3.00 gear ratio. The Tremec has a .64 firth gear and should make for some low rpm cruising.
A lot of effort has gone into making the truck nice to drive and comfortable. I used Dynamat for sound deadening and a big LMC truck order brought me new interior panels and carpet. I refurbished the dash pad and painted the interior which is 60% steel anyway. I'm mounting some bucket seats in the cab that came from a Datsun 280Z.
For exterior styling the back will have a roll pan and the front bumper has been narrowed 4" and paint matched to the truck. Drip rails have been shaved and changed from the big mirror to some smaller ones. Truck has been painted silver and blue. It came out decent for my first paint job ever. The new front grille bezel made a huge difference in the look of the fronted along with the blacked out grilles. Still waiting on the HID projector head lights to show up but they'll be here this week. The Dakota Digital dash will be here this week too. Then all thats needed is the glass and ext system.
Here are some pics of the project. I'll have more soon, paint is drying on the roll pan and front bumper right now. I'll get those installed and take a few more pics.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Still kicking around the idea of drop I beams, Mustang II swap, or fab a front suspension for this thing. I would like to drop it but the I beams seem to be an issue with quality product and good suspension upgrade. Not to mention they're 1/3 of the price of a mustang II kit. The rear will be easy enough to switch over to 4 link and mini tube for some big tires.
It had been sitting for a few years, didn't run, 2 shades of primer on it, junk interior, 400M with a 3 on the tree and 9in out back.
First thing I did was pull the engine and rebuild it. Its a stockish rebuild of the 400M, bumped the compression up, bowl ported the heads, converted to roller cam/stud-guideplates/roller rockers, performer intake, and 770 Holley. It made 360HP and 457ftlbs on the dyno thru the factory exh manifolds.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
After deciding to make a big push to get it on the road the 3spd was ditched in favor of a 5spd. I picked up a Tremec 3550 with low miles out of a late model mustang. I'll go into detail on this because it was shocked about how easy the swap was. The ONLY modifications needed were:
1. Narrow and generously chamfer the pilot bearing (a solid bronze one) because the input shaft is longer on the Tremec than the 3spd. 2. Remove the front seal housing and machine .450 off the snout length (again it is longer needs to clear the pressure plate fingers)
3. Cut hole in floor.
4. Use trans mount off of the 3spd and slide crossmember back to the other set of holes.
5. Shorter drive shaft and T5 trans yoke.
The speedo cable fits and is the same gear count, bolts up to bell housing no problem (locating ring is the same size), and still used the mechanical clutch.
Installed a Yukon Gear posi in the 9in also and kept the 3.00 gear ratio. The Tremec has a .64 firth gear and should make for some low rpm cruising.
A lot of effort has gone into making the truck nice to drive and comfortable. I used Dynamat for sound deadening and a big LMC truck order brought me new interior panels and carpet. I refurbished the dash pad and painted the interior which is 60% steel anyway. I'm mounting some bucket seats in the cab that came from a Datsun 280Z.
For exterior styling the back will have a roll pan and the front bumper has been narrowed 4" and paint matched to the truck. Drip rails have been shaved and changed from the big mirror to some smaller ones. Truck has been painted silver and blue. It came out decent for my first paint job ever. The new front grille bezel made a huge difference in the look of the fronted along with the blacked out grilles. Still waiting on the HID projector head lights to show up but they'll be here this week. The Dakota Digital dash will be here this week too. Then all thats needed is the glass and ext system.
Here are some pics of the project. I'll have more soon, paint is drying on the roll pan and front bumper right now. I'll get those installed and take a few more pics.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gifhttps://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Still kicking around the idea of drop I beams, Mustang II swap, or fab a front suspension for this thing. I would like to drop it but the I beams seem to be an issue with quality product and good suspension upgrade. Not to mention they're 1/3 of the price of a mustang II kit. The rear will be easy enough to switch over to 4 link and mini tube for some big tires.