My '63 F100 build (pseudo-rat)

[Sam_Fear]

Thanks Moront,
I like about any pre-70's truck except a few years of Dodges around 1960. The Chevy Apaches are a favorite for me.

I hope to pull it into the garage tomorrow - pull the engine to get the deck height milled right and gonna fab my two beds into one. Can't wait to get started.

[wrecker55]

Chit...any truck is good, your's is looking nice sam

[Sam_Fear]

I gotta call the shop Monday and see if my block is done - starting to get the feeling I scrambled my phone number on them. (Hey, I never call myself!)

Anyway, got some work done on my bed bob this week. Got the 65 bed on the truck. Cut 13" out of it - which was longer than my 57 bed by about 4". I'm going to use the old 57 wheel openings and lower rear section. This is mock up - haven't started welding yet.

NOTE: The giant Valentines Day card in the background kinda matches my truck right now! That reminds me....

[moronthethrottle]

Lookin good Sam. Does your wife get jealous that you gave your F1 a big V-day card?

[Gastrick]

I like the looks of the bed Sam. Nice work.

[Sam_Fear]

Thanks Gt - I was afraid I'd chopped it too short by 2", but I think it'll be OK. Looking back at that last pic I'm wondering if I should drop the bottom edge of the fender behind the wheel a inch or two. Guess I'll play with it a little more before I weld that part up.

[Sam_Fear]

Time for an update. FIRST- I had engine nightmares - got it all buttoned up and made chocolate milk - uuhhgg! Right head gasket didn't seal - also found out my torque wrench failed at some point. Fortunately everything checked out OK torque wise up to the manifolds. So may not of got the head torqued right, but the steel gaskets can be a pain too. Anyhow cleaned the milk out and replaced right head gasket - extra seal around 2 problem areas. (and a new torque wrench) Runs great! Left head has bad coolant seapage. Replace left gasket. Still a very slow seap - about a drip a minute. It's an external leak so I decide to run it like this for now. Went out to the garage today - no leak! Have to see how it goes.

I did cause a penalty for over use of gasket seal - since I had the intake on and off several times, it looks like a drunk monkey did it - hope I don't die or something before I get that fixed right - how embarassing would that be?

SECOND - the bed bob. I'm combining a 60 and 65 bed. I like the mismatch 60 bed wheel wells and tailgate. I like the 65 top and rear body lines.
Pic1: 65 bed (blue) with the wheel wells of the 60 bed (black)
Pic2: sectioned 2" - flattened the bump out a little
Pic3: shortend the 65 bed 13"
Pic4: match up front well corner
Pic5: sectioned rear quarter lower

[Sam_Fear]

So now I've got the sides almost done. I have one more patch to fit where the body contours from the 2 different beds need to be fit and then its on to the back end.

My plan there is to mirror the rear light section of the 65 bed so it is wider like the old bed - The tailight openings will be welded up and I'll be using the old 60 round tailights.

Here's a mock up. (forgot to wipe my camera lens!)

[Kurt60F100]

The body work you did to that box looks great. When you just had it mocked up wasn't sure it was going to look that good but turned out .

[Gastrick]

Nice work on the bed Sam Fear. Very tricky.