64 project "Money Pit"

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 8, 2010, 6:41 pm

It's a off brand but identical to the heidts. I have not been able to locate one for the slicks but a 56 ford truck is only 3/8" narrower. I spent a lot of time talking with Brian Pope at the F100 show in Pigeon forge 2 years ago. He has built quite a few of the slicks. I used 1/4" material to box the frame. I'm running Heidts lower a arms because I chose to run the adjustable coil over shocks. You can get a kit from speedway with the coil overs for $1200. Not too bad considering that Heidts kits run more than $2k.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 9, 2010, 9:58 pm

Even though I din't get a lot accomplished today on the truck, I learned a lot. I thought that all 9" chuncks were the same. Well they ain't. The posi unit that I acquired is a Nodular and apparently the ring gear is a little larger then what I removed. It doesn't fit in a factory 1964 housing without modifications. After lots of grinding I finally got it in there only to find out that after I tightened it up that it was completely locked down. The gear was sitting the rear of the housing. A little metal shaping, a couple of smashed fingers, several cuts and a double differential gasket and she's assembled. Ready to install the new disc on the rear now. As aggrivating as it was, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 16, 2010, 5:04 pm

Well, I got all of the wheels on her today. We set the front clip on and the hood (Its bent, gotta pull another from a parts truck) is sitting on it. I also set a rough bed that I already had off on it to get an idea of the look. I'm gonna have to modify ont of the bed supports to gain clearance for the upper arms of the triangulated 4 link. Shouldn't be too difficuly. I also scored a very nice aluminum 64 grill for her today. I'd say that today was pretty good.

gumshoe · Post by **gumshoe** » January 17, 2010, 2:26 pm

this should answer concerns about mustang II crossmembers being heavy enough for these trucks, and with a 460 to boot. way to go, this build will be something to see when finished, it already is.

Post by **Greg D** » January 17, 2010, 4:57 pm

Going very nicely - killer stance.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 17, 2010, 5:11 pm

Well I got a better bed pulled off of another truck today. Its sitting on the trailer and ready to take to the shop. I also got another set of doors pulled. I'm gonna tinker around and see what suicided doors would look like. I'd rather use some rough doors to cut and test on than good ones.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 17, 2010, 6:41 pm

Here are some pics of the donor bed. The floor is rusted out but the bed supports look to be in good shape.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » January 17, 2010, 8:00 pm

Nice!!!! and the tailgate even looks solid..... good score....

bluebolt · Post by **bluebolt** » January 17, 2010, 10:37 pm

Reds Rod Shop wrote:Even though I din't get a lot accomplished today on the truck, I learned a lot. I thought that all 9" chuncks were the same. Well they ain't. The posi unit that I acquired is a Nodular and apparently the ring gear is a little larger then what I removed. It doesn't fit in a factory 1964 housing without modifications. After lots of grinding I finally got it in there only to find out that after I tightened it up that it was completely locked down. The gear was sitting the rear of the housing. A little metal shaping, a couple of smashed fingers, several cuts and a double differential gasket and she's assembled. Ready to install the new disc on the rear now. As aggrivating as it was, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

Sounds like you have a 9 3/8" chunk, does it look like this? Notice the curved upper rib on driver's side.
https://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/attac ... 0small.jpg

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 25, 2010, 9:27 pm

Ok, got a little done today. Cut most of the floor out of the new bed, Head board of the bed removed and replaced the top rail with 1 1/2" tubing. And got the bed on the truck. Due to clearance issues and the possibility of a little bigger fuel tank, I'm debating on moving the floor of the bed up 4 inches. If I do this, I should be able to build my gas tank to hold ~30 gallons. Still a lot to figure out though. But a little each week will end up a finished project one day.

f100cowboy · Post by **f100cowboy** » January 25, 2010, 9:59 pm

Great progress Red. I really like how your truck sits. It is going to be one mean looking ride when you are finished.

snopek · Post by **snopek** » January 30, 2010, 4:20 pm

nice welds dude!

greenindian · Post by **greenindian** » January 31, 2010, 4:13 pm

Very, very nice, Red. Keep up the great work.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 31, 2010, 6:14 pm

Well, I got a little done this weekend. Finished removing most of the skin from the bed and got the bulk of the fender wells trimmed out. I also got the rear frame cross brace removed. I'll trim it down so it will only be about 1 1/2" thick and reinstall it as far back as possible.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » January 31, 2010, 6:19 pm

Looking clean Red... thanks for being the one of us that is getting something done...

Keep us posted....

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » January 31, 2010, 6:50 pm

I struggled yesterday. Wasn't really in the mood but I only get 1 day a week to work on my projects so I pressed on. Thanks for the comments. Red

loosrp · Post by **loosrp** » February 1, 2010, 8:27 pm

Nice work Red! You putting a sway bar on that thing?

tschmitt · Post by **tschmitt** » February 1, 2010, 9:07 pm

That stance is perfect! Great job so far, you do very good work.

Reds Rod Shop · Post by **Reds Rod Shop** » February 7, 2010, 7:00 pm

Well I got a little done on her this weekend. I got the skeleton of the new bed frame built and tacked in. I did raise the floor up 4 inches. I'm debating on building in some storage compartments under the bed at the rear on either side of the frame. Would be nice to keep some essentials, maybe even build in a cooler for the car shows. I'm going to place the battery under the bed just behing the pass side of the cab. I'm still debating how to access the these compartments. Thinking about using some power window motors and automating them. (Like I don't have enough to do already)

kstones63 · Post by **kstones63** » February 7, 2010, 9:03 pm

It looks like you are making good progress on your truck. I am putting the battery in the bed of my truck and then putting a false floor above it. This way I can put a spare tire, jack, lawn chairs and an awning under it and the bed will look empty when the cover is lifted.

Kevin