1968 Ford F100 – Casey S.

Jeepers Creepers

It belonged to the neighbor down the road. Two different ones actually. It had just a bland enamel, medium brown, non metallic paint job over the original the first time I saw it over 20 years ago. Never paid it much attention. He installed a camper shell and drove it all over the US, camping in the bed. Eventually the original 240 I6 went out so he had a crate (Fred Jones) 302 installed and covered the brown paint with an awesome camo paint job and blacked out everything that shined (kinda creepy looking). Anyway, it came a time that it no longer was the “best” vehicle for him to drive, so he worked out a deal with the guy (Mike) across the street from him that dabbled in auto repair and that was the end of the trucks cross-country adventures. The new owner (who never titled the truck in his name) sold the new 302 to a buddy of his and eventually installed a late 70’s 351W out of a passenger car that had been sitting in his shed for a decade. He could never get it to run, and got frustrated to the point that he pushed it down the bank with the rear bumper resting against a sweetgum tree. There it sat for a decade. Then, I come into the picture. I had seen the truck over the years and seen it down the hill on occasion when I would drive to the back of Mike’s place to visit him, still never paying it much attention. Years before, I had restored a ’75 Gran Torino and had been toying with the idea of installing a modern drivetrain in it and thought “this engine and trans is still good”, I just need to buy a Ford roller and install them in it, that way they would not go to waste and I’d have something to play in and go to cruise-ins with until I get the Torino dialed back in. I mentioned to Mike my idea and said an old bump side like the one he had would fit the bill, except I’d rather it be a short bed. He quickly informed me that the one down the hill was a short bed. I guess the angle, the camper shell and the camo paint job and it sitting on flats gave it that illusion. Typical of a lot of guys that collect stuff, he back pedaled at the idea of getting rid of it, and it took several years to finally get my hands on it (that in itself is a story). After he drug the truck up the hill with his tractor and installed used tires for rollers, he informed me it was ready for me to take delivery (first picture). Upon arrival, I immediately told Mike that the camper shell and the hideous mirrors where not travailing even up the road to my house. He got a big grin and quickly went to work removing them. As soon as they were removed, we hooked a chain to it in good country fashion and up the road we went (only about a half mile).

Well, the Torino still has its original drivetrain with the modern install put on the back burner because the new kid in town (F100) got my attention. Being an auto technician by trade, it didn’t take me long to get the 351W running, and well enough that I decided to just roll with it. The factory C4 also seemed to shift just fine. Now I have a pair, because that’s what is in the Torino. The rest of the story is just me piddling with it for around two years doing this and that, fixing things, and reversing some questionable modifications, until it is now a much more presentable truck. It was never to be a show truck, but instead a weekend hardware store runner/ garbage hauler with my faithful pup on the passenger’s side (like my F450 has been for years, but that’s yet again another story). So, everything I have done has been low budget and LMC has helped me along the way with keeping all in check. Even the paint job is rattle can, albeit automotive quality, paint code mixed, from Napa (Lunar green and Wimbledon white as came from the factory). It’s now to the point that it’s driving around town and receiving comments like “I still can’t believe that’s the same truck that was drug up from down the hill” I still have things I want to do to it, mostly little (recover the seat), but some big (install an overdrive trans). But as those get done, the truck continues to be enjoyed by myself and my buddy Gilligan (my pup). Thanks LMC for your help along the way and your continued help.

Casey