Hey, been on here for a while. Ive owned the 66 for a little over 2 weeks now.
This is how it sat for over a year at my buddys house. I traded a Motorcycle I restored for this truck.























Its a decently solid truck, I have the origional door, and such.

First thing I did was ripped out the wood slats and trim in the bed. The axle had been welded upside down (which explains the PO not being able to hook the driveshaft and parking brakes up) so the axle was ripped out, new axle perches ordered and old taken off the axle. The brakes got torn down, and the axle was just torn down tonight.

Progress is slow right now, as im waiting for parts and weather hasnt been the best.

I got the leaf spring bushings as the leafs are good, all new brakes are awaiting installation, and the rear end parts are on order. Tomorrow the bed comes off and some frame clean up will happen.

I am wild in my designs, and I had the rendering for this truck done before I even had it. Ill have updated pictures tomorrow. But Im hoping most things dont need replacing, I mean the god damn thing has 59xxx original miles!!!

More pics to come, and questions will arise

Looks like a great start you've got there.

it is. Im looking for a transmission and bellhousing for my 351, then ill check compression and give it a mild build, then drop it in the truck


got my sheet metal from work. It came off a 2003 Dodge ram long bed, the metal is the same thickness, so once I start my body work ill be able to make any patch panels I may need instead of buying them. The goal is to buy only a tail gate and make the rest of the patches myself.




The rear end is also torn down. The outter axle shaft bearings are in great shape. The bearings for the pinion, the seals, and the inner axle bearings all have some play, so those will be replaced. The pinion bearings and seals have already been pressed out.




The origional door also got stripped down today as its not salvagable. Bondo chunks 1/8 and 1/4 inch thick are falling off it already.

here is the ID plate too, if someone could run that for me and let me know what it means?

I should have my brake drums back today, and should have all my bearings in it and have the axle and rear end rebuilt this week.

Going to relocate my gas tank, and the plan is to also use a 1966 Mustang tank, and fit it between the frame rails, and hide the filler neck somewhere. Anyone done this or have any ideas? Id like to stay away from cutting into the bed, but I dont mind if I have to. I hope to run it out the side or rear of the bed, but we will see once the tank is here.

Cool project!

According to my 1966 book, if I am decoding properly..

F10..........F100
A.............240cid 6cyl
N.............Norfolk assembly
816088.....Feb 1966
115..........115" wheelbase
F101.........4200#
3..............Green vinyl interior
81............Conventional cab
C..............3 spd Ford light duty transmission
05.............4.11 3300# axle
129hp@4000rpm
DSO...District Sales Office...number doesn't jibe with my book....sez the "90's" are export...DSO codes in book go from 11 to 89
If I'm off on any of this stuff, I am sure Bill (BKW) will correct it

Can't wait to see this project completed

If you are not intending to use it as a hauler, then you could make and access door in the wood in the bed for the fuel fill. Otherwise not a lot of options that don't involve cutting into the bed.

Thanks guys. I got the gas tank and the parking brake cables ordered since the old ones were not too good. The passenger side had frayed and split, and someone took some hose and zip tied it around the broken strands to keep them from hanging loosely. I should have my tank and cables tomorrow.

I didnt get anything done today as Im always working side jobs and such. Had a co-admin for another place bring his R6 bike for some welding and other minor things over to my place, and I felt like taking a lazy sunday. My truck is on the right

update. no work this week, lost a friend and weather has been s****y. i did get my parking cables and gas tank, so maybe this weekend if I dont work on another vehicle I have or have customers blowing me up. I work, and run my own business. This is always the last thing or stress reliever.

DNFXDLI said:

According to my 1966 book, if I am decoding properly..

F10 = F100 2WD

A = 240 1V I-6.

N = Norfolk VA Assembly Plant.

816088 = 1966, assembled Feb 1966.

115" wheelbase.

COLOR code: Blank *

F101 = F100 2WD .. 4200 lbs. GVWR

381: 3 = Medium Green Crush Vinyl & Medium Green Wicker Pattern Vinyl / 81 = 81A Conventional Standard Cab.

C = Ford type 3.03 3 speed Manual all Syncromesh Transmission.

05 = Ford 9" Rear Axle / 4.11-1 / 3300 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity.

4,200 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

129 net HP @ 4000 RPM

DSO: 212699:

21 = Atlanta GA Ford District Sales Office, where the original selling dealer ordered the truck from.

2699 = Domestic Special Order number, truck ordered special by original purchaser, not "bought off the lot."

If I'm off on any of this stuff, I am sure Bill (BKW) will correct it

Click to expand...

* When there is no COLOR code stamped on the Warranty Plate, truck painted a non standard color per the original purchasers order, making it a Domestic Special Order.

Thanks Bill...still learning!

Stress reliever, aka Therapy. These old trucks are perfect therapy, working on them and driving them is very therapeutic after a stressed out FTFed up day at work. My 78 F-150 is my therapist, whether, I'm driving it or working on it.

Any progress?

Yes, life got hectic. Got a promotion and my business is booming. But here are some updated pics.

Got the rear ripped out and rebuilt. Debating on keeping the hitch or selling it. I am doing a bunch of subtle things, and the rear has taken some time to do.






The rear half of the frame was stripped, cleaned and painted. Bed was taken off, and with all my experience, I am buying a new driver side fender. Its too gone and the time it would take is not economical to fix it. But hey, thats the only panel I have to replace, and Im happy with it. The rear crossmember was cut out to make way for the gas tank to sit inside the frame rails. I got a gas tank for 90 bucks brand new (I love my connections) and its from a 66 Mustang. Figuring out where I will put the fill neck will be tricky, and I want it hidden and clean, or make it look like it was supposed to be there.

Now to the axle. I bought a Yukon Gear posi, and ran the 3.55s that were already in the truck. I replaced all the bearings and seals, and even stuck brand new brass washers on the third member bolts.

The weld is the prettiest, but It wasnt the best welder or the best surface for me to weld on, but I made it damn good. Had to center the axle, and get the pinion angle right, and waited until I had the lowering shackles.





The brakes got rebuilt, all new everything besides the drums. They were in spec, and were able to be turned. They are dusty from sitting around a couple weeks.




All new bushings and such went in, and the truck was set on her own weight today. Sits damn near level now, (the bed has blocks under it so it looks odd).

I did however discover that my passanger leaf spring might need to be replaced. I believe it has lost its strength, but we will find out once all the tires match and have air. The next thing on my list is to fabricate the brake lines, and hook the parking brake cables up. The PO lost the bracket that ties both the cables together. Sooooo, im on the hunt for that now. I will have my sway bar for the rear mounted soon, and have the gas tank mocked up. Once thats done, its time for the front brakes.

Only had the truck for about 2 months now. So the progress is slow with the damn weather Georgia has had for the past month. But so far im happy.

Ive got shocks on the way, and deciding on the wheels/tires.

My 351 I have has not been touched. But planning a cam, heads, carb, headers, and a mild build and trying to track a 5 speed down to mate it too. Im now shooting for around 500 or so horse. Should be a cake walk since im working on a 800 horse N/A for my other truck.

I know this isnt the conventional way to do a restoration, but this is my truck, and not my customers. My customers get the full frame off treatment. My truck is an experiment, but its being done right and looks damn good. For my limited space and time, I believe its great progress.

Enjoy. Will update more as things start to get back to rolling again

Also, Id like to run this by as an idea. Would a electric power steering rack be something that would be neat in a 66? I can fab, mount, and make it work, not an issue. But it might be too sacrilege to do it?

Long story too. While I was trying to get a tag and registration, it took me 3 weeks to get btw. The office kept dicking me around always finding something new I had to have.

First time was needed a police officer to come inspect the truck.

Second time, told me I needed to have insurance to get the tag, which was a catch 22 at the time, not many companies insure anything older than 22 years. And classic insurance has to have your name and an already existing policy on another vehicle.

Third time, I got insurance on it, but the insurance was not in the system. And I had it for 1.5 weeks prior. so I had to get a 30 day binder.

Be in mind I work a shit ton, and rarely have time to make a trip. So my fourth time back, I was able to finally get the tag and regis' for it. The DMV is the biggest pain in my ass when it comes to my buying of classic cars, so is insurance.

shocks be on tomorrow. Brake lines fab'd up friday.... front discs ordered next week.

Parking brake works, made a custom bracket and adjuster.

Looks like it's coming together nicely