So, I picked up a 1969 Ford F100 Ranger pickup the other day for what seemed like a song. The body is straight and has little rust, and the engine runs. All in all, I felt like I stole it when I bought it for $500
I am a bit perplexed to see it has a 360 V8, when the manuals suggest the 360 wasnt available until 1970. The VIN definitely shows a Y code though, and the last owner (the original owners son) insists that the engine is original as far as he knows. Any thoughts?
That said, the truck isnt without problems. It had no brakes when I brought it home. After bleeding them though, the pedal is firm and the truck can be stopped. Always a good thing. It pulls heavily to the left now, even after doing the backup and press the brakes thing, and for some reason (I assume they leak) the last owner had disconnected the back brakes from the master cyliner, plugging it with a nylon bolt.
Of more pressing concern to me are two issues:
1) The entire truck shakes violently when Im letting the clutch out, regardless of gear or direction. Im assuming (having not looked yet) that the clutch is in dire need of replacement, and remain hopeful that nothing is warped or damaged down there.
2) The engine stutters bad under load (but never backfires). I havent put a timing light on it or changed the plugs, and its set for a long time, so I havent decided what needs to be done there. I suppose we'll start with plugs, wires, points and a tuneup, and see what happens. Sooner or later itll have to be rebuilt though, as it blows blue smoke when you let off the gas.
To be honest its a little overwhelming at the moment, even though I know its just something I have to tackle one step at a time. That said, has anyone got any good suggestions on what I need to be looking at first?
Ill post some pictures in a couple of days.
I am a bit perplexed to see it has a 360 V8, when the manuals suggest the 360 wasnt available until 1970. The VIN definitely shows a Y code though, and the last owner (the original owners son) insists that the engine is original as far as he knows. Any thoughts?
That said, the truck isnt without problems. It had no brakes when I brought it home. After bleeding them though, the pedal is firm and the truck can be stopped. Always a good thing. It pulls heavily to the left now, even after doing the backup and press the brakes thing, and for some reason (I assume they leak) the last owner had disconnected the back brakes from the master cyliner, plugging it with a nylon bolt.
Of more pressing concern to me are two issues:
1) The entire truck shakes violently when Im letting the clutch out, regardless of gear or direction. Im assuming (having not looked yet) that the clutch is in dire need of replacement, and remain hopeful that nothing is warped or damaged down there.
2) The engine stutters bad under load (but never backfires). I havent put a timing light on it or changed the plugs, and its set for a long time, so I havent decided what needs to be done there. I suppose we'll start with plugs, wires, points and a tuneup, and see what happens. Sooner or later itll have to be rebuilt though, as it blows blue smoke when you let off the gas.
To be honest its a little overwhelming at the moment, even though I know its just something I have to tackle one step at a time. That said, has anyone got any good suggestions on what I need to be looking at first?
Ill post some pictures in a couple of days.