1970 F100 Project

[F100builder]

Nice so far and I really enjoy your pictures and descriptions of your work. Keep it up it is all appreciated and admired. I'm also working on a 1970 XLT short bed with a 390, it won't be as nice as your truck but it will be as nice as I can afford.

Thank you for the kind words...they're much appreciated. You might be surprised at the budget I actually have for this truck. I've been saving quite a bit by 'stealing' parts from my black '69 (disc front w/ DJM beams, headers, intake, etc.). Unfortunately, this means that the '69 will be shelved for a while as it's going to take a lot more time and money to make it 'nice'. This '70 is in far better shape to start with so I'm building as nice of a truck as I possibly can on a meager budget. I would like to revisit the '69 if my son takes an interest in a father/son project and it can be his first ride when he gets his license. Before I started taking the good stuff from it, I had roughly $3500 into my '69...it had been my previous low-budget hot rod truck. It would be cool to someday install a Crown Vic IFS, a 4-bar coil-over rear, and an EFI 300 I6 with an AOD, a new Ecoboost V6, or a bad to the bone Coyote 5.0!

Good luck with your '70! Make sure you're having fun, learning as much as you can, and have a big smile on your face while driving it and it won't matter how much money you spend...this is what it's all about!

[tylerb43]

Nice work, Patrick! Just awesome. How are going to attach the gauge panel to the bezel (surround)?

[F100builder]

Thanks Tyler! First off, I'm NOT cutting up the F600 bezel seen in one of the pics (already got questions about that one!). I was using it to check the fit of the panel. I've got another '69 steel bezel...I'm cutting out most of the center but leaving tabs for small button-head machine screws and lock nuts. I did the one in my '69 the same way.

[F100builder]

Finished and fitted panel and primed bezel...



Painted the bezel argent and installed the panel for the last time...WITH GAUGES!!!



I sure wish I was ready to put it in the truck!!!

[sargentrs]

Very nice!

[Alstoyz]

VERY VERY NICE!!!

[48prerunner]

That looks cool! I'm going to play with some hydro dipping when I get that far.

[F100builder]

Thanks guys! What is hydro dipping?

[tylerb43]

thanks looks awesome, Patrick!! What argent paint did you use? Are you happy with the finish?

[F100builder]

thanks looks awesome, Patrick!! What argent paint did you use? Are you happy with the finish?

Thanks Tyler! Looking at the can again, it says silver. It happens to be Duplicolor wheel paint and it seems to be fairly durable. I liked it when I used it on my '69 bezel so I used it again. I love the color and the amount of metallic in it but it seemed difficult to spray yesterday and I think it was due to the heat??? Maybe the low, low humidity too but there was a lot of dry-spray. It was tricky to get it smooth.

[bgulseth]

ok so do you cut out the old bezel and did you make the plate to hold the gauges or is that stuff ordered. it looks awsome

[48prerunner]

Hyprodipping is you take this paint film and suspend it on water then dip your part through it . Its sort of like a 2 stage paint with a base coat and clear. 1st video is more professional second is dyi
I plan on doing a carbon fiber brushed silver two tone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADq96RGRf00[/video]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8wHglTJl6A[/video]

[F100builder]

ok so do you cut out the old bezel and did you make the plate to hold the gauges or is that stuff ordered. it looks awsome

Thanks! Yes, I cut the center of a steel bezel out leaving a tab big enough to bolt the panel to. I cut the panel from 1/8" aluminum sheet and used hole saws to cut the gauge holes.

Hyprodipping is you take this paint film and suspend it on water then dip your part through it .

This is pretty cool!

[F100builder]

I trimmed the frame a little and mocked up the '69 Mustang tank. Like a few of you on here have done, I'm building a 1"x1" tube frame for it to provide support over the span between the rails. Hopefully, I'll get that done tomorrow. I also plan to use late model torx-head bed bolts as the tank will cover access to 2 bed bolts.

[Alstoyz]

LOOK'N GOOD !!!