WHAT IT TAKES TO REBUILD A 1973 FORD F-100
This site is about what it takes to rebuild an old truck using my current project—a 1973 Ford F-100—as an example.
At the very least, rebuilding an old truck requires time, patience, a good set of tools, and about 3X the amount of money you think it will cost.
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The Basics of a Rebuild Include:
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Assessing the condition of the truck and creating a plan for repairs and upgrades.
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Disassembling parts, cleaning and replacing worn components, and making the upgrades.
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Reassembling the vehicle correctly, paying special attention to critical specs, and not having any mystery parts or fasteners left over.
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Afterward, you kick back with a beer and pat yourself on the back for a job well done, believing the project has come to a successful end.
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Oh, If Life Was Only That Simple...
Closer to the truth is that although you may get the project back on the road, your project is never really done. Future repairs and changes will always be made to the original plan (during and after), requiring your attention and money.
An even bigger truth, however, is that each rebuild is unique and will require creative problem-solving, compromises, learning about the minutiae of your model, and adding additional automotive skills to your mental toolbox beyond being able to take something apart, clean it, and reassemble it.
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Where This Website and Blog Come In
This is not your typical "How-To"; rather, it is an automotive rebuild journey with a Zen-like learning approach perspective based on what I learned during a successful rebuild that I believe can help others tackling a rebuild/restoration project.
More specifically, I will discuss those "The-devil-is-in-the-details" aspects of a rebuild you will not always find in a repair manual including some mistakes and near-mistakes I made in this never-ending project.
​Furthermore, interspersed within this blog will be DIY car repair-related content as well as links to relevant articles.
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FE Engine Before Rebuild
