fiftysixfordgal

Santa brought me a 56 F-100 for Christmas last year. Talk about pissing my brother-in-law off LOL It didn't take me long to decide that the original Y Block and 3 speed wasn't for me. I actually loved the 3 on the tree.. But there is no way it would hold up to the 390 that is going in. Pulling my first engine was a lot of fun. I pulled another 390 for the heads and C-6 out first out of a 77 ford donor truck. Then I got to go to the F-100 Nats and picked up my new engine mounts, tranny mount & I found a good deal on a Genie Shifter too. Then my husband and I tore down the 2 390's (one was a donor from one of my hubby's Galaxie's and was ready to be rebuilt... It was a little too badass for my truck so we changed out the intake from a 2 four setup to a nice single 4 intake.. I know, I know but it is better than him putting on a rev limiter or something like that ;o) Until I do some front end work she's gonna be hard to handle as it is. My truck is still all original and I haven't decided yet what route to take (air suspension or a nice FATMAN setup) and that doesn't matter since it is gonna be a while before I can save for that anyway. Got the heads back and built the engine and got it painted and ready to go. Then I got to really start making changes to my truck. I removed the front clip and pulled out the ole Y block. Bless it. I am gonna miss it It ran like an old sewing machine but about as fast. My old man fixed up the lower front cab corners with some new metal- the last guy filled the filled the corners from the inside with that yellow crap that foams up and it was a shock to discover that. That's gotta rank up there somewhere with duct tape and bailing wire right? (Gosh I hope he doesn't see this) I am still working to prepare my firewall and frame for the swap. I have my engine waiting and ready.. All I need now is my new driveshaft and I should be good to go.. In the future I plan to lower the front 3 inches, put in a 9" when I need it, widen the rear fenders 3" with real steel ;O), learn to paint it myself back black and I am even going to try my hand at doing my interior myself (at least the door panels) My goal isn't a rat rod truck or billet show truck. I don't want a lowrider. I want when people see me go by to say" Check out that chick in that hot rod truck" Period. I want perfermance and vintage air :O) Damn that thing gets HOT! But a perfect body and perfect paint just isn't my style. We know a few guys around here. One has agreed to teach me how to paint. My father was a Paint & Body man all my life... What an ASSHOLE! Would never teach me anything because I was a Girl! He had five of us you would think eventually he would give in but NO! So I have always be interested in metal work and paint. Another guy said he would give me some tips to learn to tuck and roll.. I can sew but mostly by hand so I will have to just see what I can do I guess. And then Welding got to learn that 2!