Hot Rods Build thread: The evolution of my '54 f100 / m100 clone "Plain Lorraine"

I've always been into old cars. I've had 70's trucks, several '69 and '72 Novas, and a few '56 F100s. The first truck I ever bought (at 16) was a roached out '56 F100 - I didn't know any better and neither did my dad. Luckily the headaches of that truck didn't turn me off from the hobby. I have no mechanical background or training. I guess my dad and grandfather both like cars, but they really don't work on them. So whatever I end up doing to a car is usually from research, advice, or trial and error...

A couple of years ago I bought a 1954 Ford F100. I was in love with the body style of the truck (never owned a slant cab - always had '56s), but not so much with the previous owners "fabrication" and styling. Along the way the '54 took on the nickname of "plain Lorraine". In the first 9 months of owning it I refinished the exterior and some basic interior. I knew eventually I would need to go though the motor. Eventually came about 6 weeks ago. While the motor was out no better time than to address those fabrication issues.

This is how she looked when I brought her home. I wasn't feeling the pearl white, silver ghost flames, or the oversized mag wheels.



First change was to paint the running boards black and to throw on a set of wheels and tires I had left over from one of my '56s.



Eventually I repainted the truck a satin white, and a buddy added some door art, and simple 'stripes.






Like I said though all "good" things come to an end and eventually I had to go through the motor. It was weak, leaked and smoked - it had seen better days:



Almost ready to come out:



And it's out:






While the motor was out I decided it was time to address the issues I had just been living with while driving the truck.

The previous owner "installed" an unknown powersteering rank (I believe it was from a Taurus or something similar. The custom crossmember was a disaster. And yes that is the right front brake line coming across the trans & power steering crossmember!!!



So I got a little wild with the sawzall:





And then began putting a stock frontend back underneath it:





Here's a few shots of some of that "fabrication" work I was talking about.

Floor plates for where the pedals come up into the cab:



Homemade steering column bushing. The stock column was cut off at the firewall to eliminate the manual box and these were inside the column supporting the shaft:





Detail of the power rack and crossmember:



While the motor was out I decided to switch out the trans mounts also (new one on the right).



And after all the machine work assembly began.



Rocker arm assembly is NOS from Egge:



Ready to start going back in:



Back in:





Time to start bolting on the accessories. I added an old chrome valve and side cover set for a little sparkle. The chrome wasn't perfect, but it matched all the rest on the truck. I also installed a new Patriot header. I also eliminated the electric fuel pump that was on the truck when I got it and went back to a stock mechanical.





I hope to have everything wrapped up and back on the road in the next couple of weeks.

 

Lookin' good!

 

That is great "update" on your truck.

 

Here is how the previous owner was supporting the lower column:



My column now has a stock steering column and manual box.

 

*** Sorry about the random picture and double posts ***



I think oil bath air cleaners are so cool.



But instead of modifying the above one (from a bigger carb) I decided to go with a factory single barrel one. I also ran a hard fuel line and a hard line for the load-o-matic advance. You can see the rebuilt column and box in this picture too.




Mocked up a down and dirty exhaust.



And had a buddy burn it in for me.

 

Huge improvement...

 

Love your truck, glad to see you kept the "6". Can't wait to see it done. Looks like you fixed a lot of dodgy work it had done to it.

 

I like to see straight 6's get the same attention V8s get. nice job.

 

Looks like the Taurus rack. Man looks like they melted it with the welder and those booger welds. Looks good now!

 

I guess I got a little to carried away with enjoying my truck and never really finished up this thread. So instead of starting another thread with the further evolution of my truck I figured I'd raise this one up from the dead.

I have changed the title, fixed some pictures, and tried to correct some others (but was unsuccessful - not sure how with the not-so-new anymore HAMB).

So here we go...

 

Well?? Were waiting Carbs!

 

Since my last post I drove the snot out of my truck for a couple of years. Exterior wise about all I did was add a factory hood scoop from a 1956 Big Job truck. I always thought they were so cool. Even though it wasn't "correct" for the truck I still like it.



I was enjoying the truck, but I wanted something a little different. I thought it would be neat to have a Mercury M100, but I already had a pretty decent F100 so why not just clone one?

I hit the internet and found this, and that got the ball rolling...



I soon found a pair of decent emblems to, but a few of the mounting pins were broke.



I didn't really have the cash, or see the need to have them repaired and replated so what did I do? Epoxied in a couple of pins and called it good.



And then mounted them up. First I determined where I wanted them, and drilled the holes.



Next I welded up the original Ford emblem holes, primed, and spotted in the hood.







And while I was at it I also lost the door art.

Got some step plates:



And I picked up a tailgate too.



Shot it white...





And then had my buddy Matt Wood do his thing...





He also did his magic on the beak...



I assumed my truck was "finished" and I'd enjoy it for a long time. There were still a couple of things I might change (switch to bias ply tires, lower the rear, etc but nothing major) and then one day this happened...

 

Patience man - I'm slow... lol

 

Before I get into what happened / is happening with the motor I'll mention a couple of other things I updated.

I decided to put in the factory Big Job tach to match the scoop. I had it converted to electric (eliminated the cable drive).



I also found a locking glove box.



And scored a factory radio from a local swap meet for $70...

Made a template and mounted it.





The glove box has since been painted to match. The truck had an aftermarket turn signal added at some point in it's life. I decided to take that out and install an factory piece. I decided to use a new mechanism instead of a stocker out of one of my spare columns. It's not an exact repop, but it works nice.



That little arm looks so much nicer...



This truck has never had a correct heater in it either since I've owned it. So I replaced the previous owner installed toggle switch with a correct one. The defrost cable isn't showing in this picture, but it is installed. I found a correct plenum, core, and box too.

 

Now onto that motor. First thing was to get it out of there.







Thanks to the help of Brady (Big Mac) and Eric (milkweed) the old motor was out and gone in no time.

A few of my friends said to rebuild the 6 again (either repair or replace the block), some said Y-block, Nailhead, or SBF. I want to just be able to drive this and have parts available quick.

It was a quick call and soon this was at my door.





To mock the new motor up I cruised over to Keven's (birddog) house for a bare block, and threw it in the back of the wife's Mazda3. I also grabbed an empty trans case from milkweed.

 

While the motor was out I cleaned up the flakey paint on the inner fenders (if I didn't milkweed swore he'd beat me).



I also decided it was time to upgrade from this:



To this:





I also replaced all brake lines (hard and rubber) - front to back.

And while I was at it I decided to eliminate 60 years worth of dirt, rust, and crud from the fuel system. Along with new stainless lines I ordered a replacement from Tanks. It is a nice unit:

 

With the old motor out it was time to remove the old mounts, set the dummy motor and trans in, get motor mounts in, a trans mount, and trim the inner fenders. Once again birddog came out to help with the mock up.



Removing rivets:



Trimming fenders:







Here's a shot with the mock up motor and trans out. I also decided to use new stainless fuel line from a '56 with the y block to get it to the correct side of the motor.

 

With the mock up done I started one the new motor and trans. Curt (firepilot) had a 700r4 with a broken pump that he was looking to get rid of. I picked it up and birddog's dad went through it for me.









I picked up a pair of 2 1/2" ramhorns for the motor.



And began to paint it. I also took the top half of an oil bath air cleaner and slipped it over an Edelbrock open element one for an older look.



And it's orange...



I picked up an old pair of Edelbrock valve covers CHEAP on eBay. They needed cleaned badly and detailed (top is as bought and bottom is after serious scrubbing)...



Eric (KJSR) hooked me up with a crank pulley and Kipp (kippers34) powder coated my fan and pulleys for me:

 

Kurt (Jirf) and James came over to help me stab the new motor and trans in.







And we had to check it out with all the goodies...



I then finished the detail of the valve covers and started installing everything else. As you can see in the 3rd picture I also wrapped all the wires in the engine compartment to try and clean it up a little.

 

Since I went with a 700r4 I had to eliminate the "3 on the tree" shifter. It was fairly straight forward - undo the mounts at the steering column base and drilled the pin inside the column upper bell.





I decided to use a Lokar 23" shifter in black to hopefully look a little like a stock floor manual shifter.

 

I also decided since I had changed the motor and transmission I might as well swap out the rear end too. The stock rear was a Dana44 with a 4.27 gear. I had a $50 junkyard 9" out of a '58 F100 that Ryan (grovedawg) and I had drug home one day. It had been laying up against the wall for a few years now. I had no idea what kind of shape it was in, but for the price it was worth a gamble.



I called up Brian (Hot Rod Packard) and asked him if he'd be interested in going through it for me. And after a little more discussion it was decided that we'd drag my truck up to his shop and he'd finish out a few more items for me. This is where my humble build has been pushed to the next level. Nothing radical has been done, but Brian's work is top notch. I'll start with what he's currently doing soon, but for now I'm signing off. I'll be back soon though...

 

Nice!

 

Ryan, I've always liked your pickup. It sure has come a long ways and you're doing some very nice work. I like the direction you're headed and it's great that you drive it so much!

Malcolm

 

Very nice transformation, You Really threw me for a loop when you put that Chevy motor in it!I will be watching for updates! Lucky

 

awesome...

 

Stellar update kind sir !!!!

 

Thanks guys!

 

So once the rear end was at Brian's shop he began to tear it down.





Turns out it wasn't as in good of shape as I'd hoped, but it was salvageable. Brian blasted the housing case, cut off the spring perches, pressure washed decades worth of goop out of the inside, straightened the tubes, welded up several cracks, etc...











He picked up all new bearing, seals, and true FoMoCo gears - switching from 3.88 to 3.50.

 

The next task was bringing down the rear end. When I first bought the truck it had a dropped front axle installed and because of that the truck has always had a healthy rake. The rear springs and mounts were removed.







Instead of buying new lowering springs, mono springs, or ones with reversed eyes he simply moved the spring mounts as high up on the frame as they'd go. He then removed 2 springs from the pack. The original holes are the ones at the bottom of the frame.



With the springs remounted he mocked up the rear end, welded in the perches and shock mounts.







And then a fresh coat of black paint was applied.

 

Great project!