I watch a lot of restoration shows on TV. A while back I decided to try it myself. I am reasonably handy with tools and fixing stuff. I had a 1958 Ford F100 that I had got a long time ago. So I drug it out of the pasture and started this long term project. I hope I have enough years left to someday finish it. This is going to end up being a long thread so be patient.

Ya can't finish if you never start. Good luck on your rebuild, I look forward to seeing progress pictures.

I have read and seen where a Crown Victoria independent front suspension will fit under a F100 frame. Also the engine and other drive line on the F100 was past fixing. So I got a 2009 Crown Vic that was the Police Interceptor model that had been rolled. I am using the IFS, engine and transmission out of it.

Wow. Looks as if there is a lot of work in store for someone.

Interesting project. Hope to follow your progress.

will look forward to seeing the progress ...

Taking the project apart is the cheap part. When I restored my ‘ 68 Bronco I worked on it every day. Had it running and driving in 6 months. That was around ‘03, I had lots more energy back then.
Good luck with the project Don!

Now I know how you got your user name.

Ya got me Bill!

One tip Don, when you get the truck down to bare frame, take several measurements to make sure it’s square.

He notices things.

Sure wish you were closer Don. I'd love to come help!

Best wishes to you!

Pretty cool project your starting out Don.

I wanted to restore my great uncles 65 chevy. He had listed it for sale before and always chickened out so I figured I had a few more years and it would be my boys first truck, but this time he finally sold it. I remember riding in it as a small boy going to the deer lease etc.

Hope it comes together for you.

I actually started this in Jan. Fairly far along but have a lot left to do.

Nice shop too

The cab corners were in bad shape.

Youch. Dad always tells me the corrosion resistance of modern vehicle panels is far better than the older stuff.

You doing your own body work?

Yes, seeing how it turns out.

Very nice! I look forward to watching your project. I bought a 77 GMC Jimmy years ago with intentions of doing something similar. It was in about the same shape as that, but being a college kid at the time, I quickly lost interest unfortunately.

Good job on cab corner!

Both cab corners done.

Looks like a fun project, Don. I have a concern with that CV. You said it had been rolled, and if I’m not mistaken the IFS is aluminum, I would check it for square and cracks before going through the headache of installing it and finding out later.

Progress looks great. Rome was not built in a day.

Dang man looks great

Very nice metal work Don.

You’ve got a lot of work still ahead of you... I’d recommend considering your driving plans when done on what to do with the front end. It’s not rocket science, but it can be one helluva rocket to build doing a subframe swap, etc. New bushings, joints, etc combined with a small lowering spring and current technology shock will bring a lot. Plus, it’s all new vs swapping in something old and likely worn. Nobody customizes a vehicle for a comfortable ride! 😀 I’d upgrade the stock stuff...

Charlie

Crown Vic engine and transmission.

Now your talkin!

Yep. New motor.

Looking good!

First picture before i got the engine and transmission out and the second taking out the CV IFS.

Tenacity.

Going to follow this one. Had a ‘59 F100 in High School...

Very cool project and looks to be really good progress so far. I will definitely be following along to watch the journey. I'm always jealous to see these types of builds.

I needed to get the exhaust system out and figured it would be easier this way.

i like that! the ford just likes it on the lid! ha ha! good luck!

Now your just playing with the life size Tonka toys lol

Looks like a lot of progress

Fitting the Crown Vic IFS to the F100 frame. Getting it centered in the wheel well and trying to make sure the engine will clear the firewall.

Looking great Don! When can I drop off my Jeep??

I did not want to make the truck look like a "Low Rider" so I added to the bottom rather than the top. You have to do one or the other since the frame curves in that area. So you have to straighten it out by adding to either the top or bottom.

Slow but sure.

You’re making good progress!

Getting mounts for the IFS tacked in and boxing the frame.

Got the IFS and lower control arm brackets welded and bolted on.

Tenacity. Keep on keeping on.

Coming along nicely.

Nice progress. You must have done a few race cars along the way. That rack&pinion steering is gonna be sweet in the old ride. Does the old truck have a 9" rear diff it came out in 57 I believe?

No race cars. Just watch a lot of restoration shows on TV at night and thought I might try it. I did aircraft sheet metal work for a number of years and have quite a few tools from that and other stuff working on the ranch. Yes it had a 9" but it needed work and I wanted to get disc brakes for the rear. So I got a rear differential from a 2000 ford explorer that I am going to use.

No rear end with the crown Vic? I would have thought it would have disk brakes on the rear. The explorer rear end will be narrow.

The crown vic had a bent axle from being wrecked. Plus it is actually too wide. The explorer is a little narrow but not much. Also the 9 inch has a different wheel bolt pattern than the CV. The explorer is the same.

Excellent work, Don!

Gonna have to keep up with this thread now.

Man, you are gonna have a sweet pickup when done.

Very cool! Looks like you will be done by the end of June!

Keep on keeping on.

Now this is a cool project!
Speaking of cool, this is Texas so make sure the AC works!

Looking good sir

This is a cool project.

The truth has been said.

Very cool old truck.

Took the cab off and mounting the 4.6 Crown Vic engine and transmission.

Look as if you have a lot of work in front of you.

Cut down the transmission mount from the CV and welded it to the truck frame.

Looking great! You must also be a man with patience.

Wow. This is an awesome thread. Look forward to seeing all the future progress. Keep up the good work!

I know it’s too late now, but drilling and threading holes in the frames plates would have allowed you to bolt the trans mount to frame instead of permanently welding it in place. Makes for easier removal later.

At 74 years old and maybe a year or two before I finish if I am lucky hopefully the transmission will not shell out before I die. And if it does I will pull the engine and transmission together.

Put the cab back on to see if clears the engine. Looks like it is going to be OK.

That is gonna be sweet

One word. Tenacity.

No, tenacity is when you plowed a mule.

Getting closer to firing her up. Impressive progress in this weather.

Here is the wiring for the Cop engine and transmission going to the ECM.

What a cool project

Had to add a couple more things to the computer, Started the engine. Sounds good and has great oil pressure. Got the master cylinder, booster and brakes hooked up. The wiring I still have to tidy up when I do the rest of it.

Looking good sir

Building a truck from scratch. Man that is IMPRESSIVE.

I could not do it myself.

You said this was going to be a long truck project. You’re moving right along very efficiently. Nice work.

I actually started this in Feb. Doing this makes you appreciate what the pros do restoring cars. This is going to nowhere be of that quality. But I can say I did it myself.

It's looking good Don k, take your time and enjoy the project. I have friend from school whose husband does restoration work and he is an absolute artist. He has a shop dedicated to it and has been doing it for 40+ years.

Getting the shifter in. Also got the CV drive shaft shortened and fitted to the Explorer rear end.

Very impressed don I ll need to see it in person come November

Sweet build!

Keep on keeping on.

Changed the filter in the transmission, Hooked up all the water hoses, put on the serpentine belt, hooked up the power steering and transmission coolers. Jacked up the rear end and started it. Amazingly everything works. Brakes work, transmission works in all gears, power steering works and so far no leaks. Only thing that did not work is the fan for the radiator. May just not have gotten it hot enough. Supposed to come on at 180 degrees. Have to check on that tomorrow.

Making great progress Don....

I bet that's the first ever floor shifter that a Crown Vic has ever had. Amazing progress by your lonesome. How about some more pics....a smokey burnout?

This is an awesome thread. Inspiring to say the least. I've got no excuse. Thank you sir. Looking forward to a video of her running down the road!

Looking good sir

Much respect for Don. To be his age and still accomplishing goals & doing stuff. Pretty awesome.

Got the shaft from the steering column to the Crown Vic rack and pinion done. A lot of cutting and fitting to get it clear of everything . Got the tilt steering column secured in the cab. So far everything to do with the steering works good. As you can see from the second picture I had to do some cutting and repositioning with the brake pedal. The brake booster and master cylinder would only mount in a certain area of the firewall and where it was positioned the brake and gas pedal where too close together.

Amazing progress Sir!

Looking good Don.
I feel like Jebediah Nightlinger when it comes to these kind of projects

Looks Good

This!

At his age and doing stuff? I will only be 75 in November.

I got the brakes working. I got the engine working. I got the transmission working. I got a seat semi in it. I thought why not see if it drives. So I drove it down to the county road and back. And it didn't quit or break down or have any leaks. Amazing.

That’s really nice sir

Congrats on a job well done.

Shoot... "only" Ill be lucky to see 70 with my family history.

The engine all of a sudden sprung a water leak. The infamous plastic intake manifold on those and 5.4 ford engines. Ordered a new plastic intake manifold. Also going to put in new spark plugs and coils while it is easy and all apart.

Plastic intake? Are there any aftermarket aluminum units available?

The only part that is aluminum is the thermostat housing part. And it sits on plastic. Every part of the intake that bolts to the engine is plastic. The only way to get an all aluminum intake is to do away with the ford fuel injection.

I think pretty much all intakes are plastic now and have been for a while. LS, Coyote, Hemi, etc. Some folks try to sell the idea that since plastic doesn't heat soak like iron/aluminum, it allows for a cooler intake charge/more power. I personally don't buy that, but some certainly do. Same argument on fresh air intake tubes.

Charlie

Much respect Don!

You ain't skeered to dive in and make it work!

Got the new plastic one installed. And the engine still runs. Amazing

Dang, I just stumbled across this tread..awesome job! I love old trucks and IMO the “restomod” is the way to go. You have better steering, stopping, power and it’s just safer if you are actually gonna get out and drive in traffic. (Personally, I just enjoy the looks on people’s faces when they get passed by my old truck. I know you will too.)

Now that the summer heat is gone I home you can make some more progress.....I’m amazed at the past four months!

Cleaning up the engine wiring
Finished the engine computer wiring
Installed a new gauge panel
Working on wiring up headlights and turn signals

Coming along great. You’ll be tooling around town in no time.....

Really liking this build.

I put in new gauges. I drove it this afternoon to get it warmed up to see if the temp gauge worked. It didn't so will have to figure that out. I was going about 30 and goosed it. This thing is bad. Do not have the bed on yet but it doesn't weigh that much. Going to be hard to keep from smoking the tires.

Looks great don

nice!

Put the bed on. Still have to get it and the cab lined up. Still a lot of body work to do, but starting to look like a truck now.

Coming along nicely don

Gonna be a clean looking little pickup

Don, I’m not quite sure you understand the definition of “long”, as in “a long pickup build” because you’re moving at an incredible pace. There’s a lot of restoration shops that would be at the 1 year mark before they got to this point, I guess that’s how they stay in business.

Trucks looking great!

I can't decide if he parked it there for the picture or if it was an accident.

But somebody will eventually make a smarty pants remark about it being an e- truck.

Absolutely!

Just by cheap ones and dont try lol

Looking great!

Fantastic job you are doing!

Last update was 9/30????? How is she coming?