Thinking about buying this truck.....
 

Lately I have been wanting to buy an old pickup that I could use from time to time to haul stuff, drag a trailer, and just drive on weekends for fun. I am partial to F100's and I found this one locally on craigslist.


1966 F100 step side pickup

66 ford pickup with 390 three speed standard on the floor. A very solid truck that you can drive home. Drive it while yourestore it ther way you want. Very little rust. Glass is all good, doors open and close easily, motor has no issues doesnt rattle or smoke and trans shifts easily. Tires are in pretty good shape and has a sweet sounding dual exhaust. Come have a look, make a reasonable offer and drive it home. Paint looks funny because I just washed the truck and didnt have time for it to dry before taking pictures,

The guy will probably take less than the $4,800 he is asking. I don't really know much about trucks in general but I like this one and it is around the right price. What do you guys think?

See it in person before you get excited, but I wouldn't pay that money for one that has any rust on it.
I think $3000 would be a good buy.

For reference, I just bought a 1966 Catalina with 85K original miles, very very little surface rust, strong motor and trans, good interior for $1000.
I will paint it, Donk it, and sell it to the homeboys.

That looks like a $1500 truck if it runs ok, and no more. Pictures were taken while still wet from being washed. "Never go look at a car in the rain."

Master cylinder is a good indicator as to how this truck has been kept.

Good eye!!!

Old trucks are popular right now. Prices are inflated. I don't think they are a good buy. Maybe buy one that is newer and hasn't been dinged by "old truck" price inflation yet? Like mid-70's and later.

Couldn't exactly make out the area around the master cylinder, but is that a massive rust hole in the fender directly below it from brake fluid leakage over the years?!?

I do not think that is a rust hole but I see what you are talking about. I guess the consensus is that this one in particular is not a good buy. I'm in no hurry so I can wait for a good deal.

Found another that is much farther away. I would need more pictures of the interior and engine bay before I would drive to go see it but looks ok.

1966 Ford F100 Step-side

Own a piece of American history. 1966 Ford F 100 Stepside. Has a V8 with auto tranny. Body is suprisingly straight with very little rust. Runs and drives, you can drive this baby home.Clear Fl tittle in hand. $2500 cash. No trades, no paypal. Call or txt for info or test drive.

The aftermarket steering wheel on this one would get me to inquire a little more about what has been done to this truck over the years. Always look under the dash in these old cars/trucks to see how intact the factory wire harness has been kept.

Great body style you chose!

I would not keep the FE line of engine, they are heavy and a gas guzzler. Swap a 351W with EFI

Ditch the single reservoir Master cylinder and install a dual, it is not a fun thing when the single fails or a brake line goes out.

If you really are interested in the one in PCB, let me know, I have a couple mechanic buds down there that I can call to go lay an eyeball on it.

Don't do it.

Thanks for the offer to help look at it BogusSVO. If I find one I want in that area I will keep that in mind.

lol.

I won't be getting that one. The interior photos he gave me were very revealing. It was rough on the inside. Lots of rust. The engine bay wasn't too bad and besides the rust on the bay itself the engine and all hoses and wires looked to be in good shape like it has been maintained. Too much body work would have needed to be done though. The search continues.

But

1. You don't need a second project vehicle.

2. A 47 year old vehicle is always a project vehicle.

3. If you don't believe #2, you really have no business with a 47 year old vehicle.

4. Don't you live in an apartment complex with already limited parking and no good place to perform maintenance?

5. If you are looking at buying this with the intention of it being a trackday tow vehicle, I've got three words for you, front drum brakes.

6. Do you know how to set ignition points? Do you know why?

7. As a friend I am expressing concern with the veracity of the choice due to a knowledge of older vehicles and a knowledge of your limited experience with them. I do not wish to be a killjoy but I'm often pretty good at it.

Sixshooter, you make great points. I use my parents garage/driveway to perform all maintenance. I do lack knowledge of older vehicles and I do realize this would be a project. My goals are not crazy though. I just wanted to get it running well and then slowly restore the body. Because it would not be a daily driver I figured it would be reasonable for me to be able to work on it and learn as I go. From what I understand 50's and 60's cars seem to be relatively simple. I say this with no experience of actually working on one just my knowledge of the technology involved.

This is not intended to be a track day hauler. Atleast not primarily. My car is more than capable of driving itself to sebring perhaps towing a tiny trailer for fuel and tires. I am still up in the air about actually going through with a purchase but I am still looking never the less.

Don't think I wasn't planning on extracting all of your golden knowledge to help me along the way. That would just be silly of me. ;P

EDIT: I also find it ironic that YOU are telling me that I do not need another project vehicle.... what are you on now? 3 I think it is. But I suppose you are speaking from experience.

I just had to take Sixshooter's" test



1. Second project, be more like the 7th

2. Yes I would agree!

3. Here again, I agree! I have had a few from around that time, 63 Falcon Ranchero, 72 F250 Camper special, 67 Buick Wildcat

4. No, on a a decent size of land with a 24x24 shop

5. Drum brakes FTL, IIRC mid 70's disc truck brakes bolt on.

6. Yes I do. I keep a couple match books in the glove box. But could always go to the 74 360 FE and get electronic ignition and Dizzy, or just Dizzy with MSD box

7. N/A... But a good concern for those under 30.

Following Bogus's lead.

Here's my Sport Fury:
https://www.miataturbo.net/attachmen...ine=1360611242

It has a Super Commando V-8. Seriously!

Those were the days.

Not to throw more cold water on the idea, but Six makes great points. An honest, strong grasp of one's technical skill level and motivation and facility to work on a vehicle is critical in these kinds of decisions.

For example, I have modest ability, a decent set of tools and a nice garage. However, I have gone from very little to absolutely no desire to work on a project vehicle.

Therefore, I wouldn't pick up a truck like this unless I had set aside funds for a repair/maintenance/modification budget and had picked out a shop that could do the work.


If you do not have the right combination of skill / time / facilities / tools / budget, it's a mistake.

However, it might make for some great conversations and an interesting life experience!

I have only the wisdom of experience to guide me. Youthful exuberance has left behind projects I don't have the time, money, or focus to complete. It isn't that I don't value them or have great dreams for them, but damn I'm swamped with things to do and things that need money more than my projects.

And I don't have time to help you with your MSM much, even less so something like that. It will require much more maintenance per mile than your car does. It even did when it was new, which it isn't. That's why everyone made such a big deal about Japanese reliability. If you are passionate about it, that's fine, because passion will help you to overlook being stuck in bad situations for hours and hours in places that you would rather not be. Or spending money you would rather be spending on your MSM's new rollbar on repairing a slow, rusty truck. But you need to know it isn't maybe what you are expecting if you've never had a car from the 50's or 60's.

The Austin Healey and the GTO are just what I ended up with, not what all I've had along the way. I wish I could devote more to them, and the old boat, too. But I also want to build the engine in the Miata and do a lot more track days as well.

I wish I had a '67 Wildcat with a 430.

I know you are right and I will more than likely not buy a truck. It is something I would like to do down the road but I think right now I'll probably just put the money in the miata so I can start tracking it.

Listen to sixshooter. Until you have a well stocked garage of your own and a very reliable DD, don't play with old cars. While they are cool, they were unreliable when new compared to nearly anything made in the last 20 years.

Boy, I'm glad I didn't ask before buying the 51 this weekend! lol