I installed and pretty quickly realized the shift tab on the bottom of the column was on the wrong side. Then I flipped it over but now the shift was in reverse on the trans! A bit of fiddling there a...Read More
Digging this new air cleaner I found from a V8 Parts shop in Auckland. Looks perfect next to the Offenhauser rocker covers. The motor is starting to get it’s bling. Check out the before pic lover do...Read More
This old balancer was a total pain in the bum to get off but it finally gave way to my puller. Note the huge crack. I had a local engineering shop do the repair, looks perfect now!...Read More
Every good transmission needs an oil cooler. There’s a few places you could mount this but I went for in front of the radiator. Just an easy flat bar across and a few bold and hoses....Read More
The new C4 transmission will be a great change but adds a little weight. I’ve added a new cross member to help steady the trans and add an element of safety....Read More
This was actually a really fun job. A simple flaring tool and bender and that’s all I needed. Just a bit of patience.. Good to see the back of the old hoses, I just hope my new ones don’t leak! We...Read More
The brakes were looking fairly sad. I stripped down the brakes to every part and spend the day on the wire wheel cleaning it all up. They came up pretty good. Here’s the before shots. And here’s a...Read More
The rear Ford F100 leaf springs weren’t terrible, but needed some attention, a paint, new bushes and a few leaves out. I blew them apart and wire brushed them, sprayed them with Zinc oxide, should l...Read More
I’ve purchased an EZ Wiring loom to make life easier, so far it’s fairly straight forward, we’ll see how it goes. I’ll post an update when further along....Read More
Rather than replace them I took the time to strip, clean and repaint the original pedals. Was interesting the see the internal oil channel in the pedals. ...Read More
It’s out with the old and time to bring the old girl up to date! Here’s the old totally stuffed booster. And here’s the new brake booster, a total world of difference!...Read More
I’m onto the steering column now. The power steering is installed, the column fits thanks to the nifty adapter I found and everything sits at the right height. I’ll send the column off now for pai...Read More
After a solid day of troubleshooting in the workshop we managed to get the engine wired up and the motor running. It appears to be rebuilt! Sounds great and runs smooth. We need a new carb and fuel ...Read More
We spent the day sorting radiator hoses, carb gaskets, painting the headers, installing the starter motor etc. Next step is a little wiring and then see if the engine fires!...Read More
Here we go! Took about an hour to strip the truck back to basics. Next job is to get the engine fired up! I picked up a Ford 390 Starter from a mate and just need a few small bits, then she’s...Read More
I’m almost ready to start stripping the F100 and making a plan for the rebuild. First step will be to remove the bonnet, clip and tray and then start to work from the chassis up. Will be a decent pr...Read More
Made my day to see the painted truck arrive today! Considering what they started with it’s amazing how good they got it. With some pinstriping and timber work it’ll all come together to a n...Read More
The old girl has left Christchurch and is on the way up! Time to make room in the garage and start thinking about building up this beauty! Basically it’s a restored shell and chassis. Heck of...Read More
These are the photos of the F100 build. It’ll be a long project but though some of you would be interested to see the original state. Will post as I work through it over the next year. The tailg...Read More
Coming together! Looking green and awesome! Can’t wait to see the pinstriping when we get to that! Check out the before and after. It’s come a darned long way! I bet nobody else has a gree...Read More
I got some update photos from the panelshop sent through today. We have colour on the cab! He’s doing tray next, motor and inside cab. Nearly there! ...Read More
Visited my green truck at the panel shop in Leeston today. Good progress, seatbelt mounts in. Underseal done, painting motor soon and they should do hood and cab next week. Very happy with it. Only ta...Read More
Looking cool! Finally the color goes on the truck. Really looking forward to seeing the cab etc all painted and together. It’s coming home from the panel shop soon!...Read More
Was in Christchurch today for a meeting and popped into the panelshop on the way back to check out progress on the F100 body. It’s looking fantastic. In a hundred pieces but actually very close ...Read More
Well, here it is. I’ve decided to use Ford Orange Crush Pearl. Should look pretty sweet and will compliment the timber and leather. Will post photos as soon as I can, we should have the body back mi...Read More
I could change my mind yet but this is the colour I’m thinking of painting the F100. I think it could complement the brown seat and timbers. I’ll fake a final call next week. The colour is a ‘Co...Read More
I popped in to check out the F100 truck and get some photos for compliance. They’ve made great progress with the rust repairs and have the cab corners installed. Also tidied up some of the deck/tray...Read More
Progress… Panels primed. Still some dent removal and rust to fix but getting there. The truck has come a long way! We’re debating a metallic olive color but I’ll see how I feel in a few week...Read More
Job done! Here’s a pic showing a before and after. I imported new rubbers, replaced the glass with tinted safety glass and stripped/polished all the frame. It all came together and looks like new! Â...Read More
Just spent an hour or two, stripped the quarterlights, polished all the chrome with a decent compound, cleaned the channels and used RTV to glue in the new compliant tinted glass… Will reassembl...Read More
Small job for the weekend, disassemble the F100 quarter-lights, bathe old parts in petrol, buff and polish the chrome, grease, reassemble and install the new compliant tinted safety glass! I don’...Read More
I was stoked to see the rebuilt C4 transmission has arrived today for the 1954 Ford F100 rebuild! We sourced a bell housing from a specialist shop in the USA and Kaspa transmissions did the rebuild. T...Read More
Getting there! The F100 nearly has the seats rebuilt! brown Leather hide goes on soon. This is all thanks to a local upholsterer just down the road. Really happy with how they’re turning out!...Read More
I’ve decided to run with a C4 Auto behind the YBlock. Just waiting on the bellhousing from the US, which Kaspa’s guys will fit but the transmission has been fully rebuilt by Kaspa Transmis...Read More
Jack and I (and Livvy) dealt to the F100 seat today in the workshop. Man it didn’t start pretty and have multiple layers of covers but I now have a clean, tidy, painted frame ready for the uphol...Read More
I picked up the F100 truck and panels today from the local panelshop. I’ve had it media blasted and etch primed and the chassis looks like new. Next job is sending out the truck to another shop ...Read More
Almost all the F100 parts have come from the US! I’ve setup some tables and it’s now dawning on me that I have a wee assembly project on my hands. At least nobody can say I do things by halves! Iâ...Read More
Thanks to a local engineer at Lyndon Harrows, we have an A-Frame purpose built for the Ford F100 truck. I dropped off the truck at the local panel shop today to get the chassis and some of the cab san...Read More
Great day stripping back to the F100 chassis ready for inspection with the VTNZ certifier next week. Just need to pop out the gas tank as well (turning into a bit of a mission). Thanks Richard Poole a...Read More
Here’s the 1954 F100 pickup truck in it’s original state before I get into the build… Man this’ll take a little time but should be fun! It’s a pretty big project!...Read More
Welcome to the blog! This is where I’ll be documenting the progress of the F100 build. I picked this one up from Invercargil, New Zealand. It’s originally from California and is a 1954 For...Read More