Tidbit's 1956 - LS100 (53 F100)
12-25-2013, 12:53 PM
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Tidbit's 1956 - LS100 (53 F100) Lets begin with the background.
I have a dad whom likes to borrow my Ford F350 .. a lot.. So one day I got to thinking. "Maybe it's time for a shop truck. I don't need my big beast all the time, just something to throw the tools into and go".
Then a light bulb pops into my head! It would be better and WAY cooler to have an older truck with a decent body and rhino lined bed. Onward to the search! I toyed with Datsuns, Chevys, then finally with the 53-56 F100 body styles. Prices were still cheap on these rigs but the quest was finding one that was not rotten as I HATE RUST!
Few weeks on Craigslist and I came up with this, 1953 F100 - $3500 no title.
It came with a working engine (302) tranny! But the reason why I paid the premium is the bodywork already done to the truck. Blocked 3 times, each time using black as the paint to see high spots. All that needs to be done is, find a bed and BAM .. DONE!!..
Well thats simply not how I roll .
I have a dad whom likes to borrow my Ford F350 .. a lot.. So one day I got to thinking. "Maybe it's time for a shop truck. I don't need my big beast all the time, just something to throw the tools into and go".
Then a light bulb pops into my head! It would be better and WAY cooler to have an older truck with a decent body and rhino lined bed. Onward to the search! I toyed with Datsuns, Chevys, then finally with the 53-56 F100 body styles. Prices were still cheap on these rigs but the quest was finding one that was not rotten as I HATE RUST!
Few weeks on Craigslist and I came up with this, 1953 F100 - $3500 no title.
It came with a working engine (302) tranny! But the reason why I paid the premium is the bodywork already done to the truck. Blocked 3 times, each time using black as the paint to see high spots. All that needs to be done is, find a bed and BAM .. DONE!!..
Well thats simply not how I roll .
Last edited by Tidbit; 12-25-2013 at 01:49 PM.
12-25-2013, 02:09 PM
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My inspiration (without the chop)
Off to the metal scrappers for me! I have no need for this junk.
The bed and junk parts are separated front the frame. I finally finished a parts log and know what I need to order. Whats that in the background?
TCI front end rolling frame w/ bed? $1200 check! Btw that's primer not rust.
Off to the metal scrappers for me! I have no need for this junk.
The bed and junk parts are separated front the frame. I finally finished a parts log and know what I need to order. Whats that in the background?
TCI front end rolling frame w/ bed? $1200 check! Btw that's primer not rust.
Last edited by Tidbit; 12-25-2013 at 02:34 PM.
12-27-2013, 02:02 AM
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So this is when the buddies idea gets you thinking.... "You know that camaro out in the yard? Why not toss your 302 and run an LS in a Ford?"
Oh dear. Now that sounds like a great idea! Where is the Bobcat!
Motor out and being dropped off to get stripped. Turns out when we got into the motor is was in bad shape. Ran really hot the oil was cooked everywhere inside the motor. Thankfully my machinist is killer (head nod to Hutchinson Performance) and had me rebored to 3.905, new pistons, stock rods n crank in no time! (2 weeks to be exact)
Oh dear. Now that sounds like a great idea! Where is the Bobcat!
Motor out and being dropped off to get stripped. Turns out when we got into the motor is was in bad shape. Ran really hot the oil was cooked everywhere inside the motor. Thankfully my machinist is killer (head nod to Hutchinson Performance) and had me rebored to 3.905, new pistons, stock rods n crank in no time! (2 weeks to be exact)
Last edited by Tidbit; 12-27-2013 at 02:09 AM.
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12-27-2013, 02:36 PM
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So this is when the buddies idea gets you thinking.... "You know that camaro out in the yard? Why not toss your 302 and run an LS in a Ford?"
Oh dear. Now that sounds like a great idea! Where is the Bobcat!
Motor out and being dropped off to get stripped. Turns out when we got into the motor is was in bad shape. Ran really hot the oil was cooked everywhere inside the motor. Thankfully my machinist is killer (head nod to Hutchinson Performance) and had me rebored to 3.905, new pistons, stock rods n crank in no time! (2 weeks to be exact)
Oh dear. Now that sounds like a great idea! Where is the Bobcat!
Motor out and being dropped off to get stripped. Turns out when we got into the motor is was in bad shape. Ran really hot the oil was cooked everywhere inside the motor. Thankfully my machinist is killer (head nod to Hutchinson Performance) and had me rebored to 3.905, new pistons, stock rods n crank in no time! (2 weeks to be exact)
Mike
01-10-2014, 02:05 PM
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They are PRW shaft mounted 1.7 ratio arms. Very sturdy. I have yella Terra's on my ls7 build and these put them to shame. Wish they made them for the 1.8 ls7. Def go to them.
Last edited by Tidbit; 01-24-2014 at 04:10 PM.
01-23-2014, 01:25 PM
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a little progress.. I do not have much time (one day a week). I noticed that I did not like the way the motor and trans sat in the frame. So I did the one thing I HATE doing…
doing the same thing twice.
motor comes out
didn't like my welds that much anyways!
BYE BYE!
mated the TR6060 I had laying around. Turns out it's not worth the effort finding a T56. Oh well guess this tranny will work here.
love this shot!
All in! I am going to wait this time in putting the mounts on. There are some unknown factors that need to be bolted onto my motor. Namely the turbo and Serp kit. I want to make sure I have enough clearance before I move forward with a fixed mount. Right now she will sit on blocks till Sunday!
doing the same thing twice.
motor comes out
didn't like my welds that much anyways!
BYE BYE!
mated the TR6060 I had laying around. Turns out it's not worth the effort finding a T56. Oh well guess this tranny will work here.
love this shot!
All in! I am going to wait this time in putting the mounts on. There are some unknown factors that need to be bolted onto my motor. Namely the turbo and Serp kit. I want to make sure I have enough clearance before I move forward with a fixed mount. Right now she will sit on blocks till Sunday!
Last edited by Tidbit; 01-23-2014 at 09:53 PM.
01-23-2014, 05:48 PM
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Ha! No worries at all....thanks for helping me clear out some stuff from the shop. 
It was cool meeting you too!
So, looks like you're using a rack on the front? Steering shaft looks like it'll breeze right on past the manifold/piping....very nice.
Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.
It was cool meeting you too!So, looks like you're using a rack on the front? Steering shaft looks like it'll breeze right on past the manifold/piping....very nice.
Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.
