Old pickup as a daily driver
Discussion
Latest update, the truck is in the UK!
Only problem is I go on holiday tomorrow so wont be collecting for a week or so.
I have everything ready to get the lights converted and the MOT done so hopefully wont take to long before its road legal.
Then its just getting it registered which i'm sure will be pain, as is everything the DVLA are involved in.
Only problem is I go on holiday tomorrow so wont be collecting for a week or so.
I have everything ready to get the lights converted and the MOT done so hopefully wont take to long before its road legal.
Then its just getting it registered which i'm sure will be pain, as is everything the DVLA are involved in.
So I finally collected my new truck yesterday!
Have to say at first glance I was a little under whelmed but the more I looked round it the happier I became.
It is a beast!
Still not been able to drive it as its not MOT'd or registered but a little ride around the drive has showed me a bit about it. All seems healthy so just need to convert the lights and off to MOT.
Oh and needs a good clean, kinda like it dirty sort of suits it. lol
Have to say at first glance I was a little under whelmed but the more I looked round it the happier I became.
It is a beast!
Still not been able to drive it as its not MOT'd or registered but a little ride around the drive has showed me a bit about it. All seems healthy so just need to convert the lights and off to MOT.
Oh and needs a good clean, kinda like it dirty sort of suits it. lol
Excellent - looks nice and straight - and a single cab, short-bed, so what's not to like.
Hoping it's all good under the skin.
Unfortunately my transmission s
t it's pants the other week - required a total internal rebuild, plus a new converter and transfer case. Ford's E4OD is not considered unreliable, but mine let go in a spectacular fashion.
I'm guessing yours will have a TH350, so hopefully bullet-proof.
Hoping it's all good under the skin.
Unfortunately my transmission s
t it's pants the other week - required a total internal rebuild, plus a new converter and transfer case. Ford's E4OD is not considered unreliable, but mine let go in a spectacular fashion. I'm guessing yours will have a TH350, so hopefully bullet-proof.
Oh no mate that blows, hopefully will be back on the road soon!
Well mine was supposed to have a TH400 but after poking around underneath it looks to me like a TH350. I am no expert though.
Gave it a good wash last night and had a bit of look underneath and all looks well just a bit of surface rust here and there but happy so far.
Just need to find time to tackle the lights and prep from MOT hopefully will get chance on Sunday but may have a hangover! lol
Well mine was supposed to have a TH400 but after poking around underneath it looks to me like a TH350. I am no expert though.
Gave it a good wash last night and had a bit of look underneath and all looks well just a bit of surface rust here and there but happy so far.
Just need to find time to tackle the lights and prep from MOT hopefully will get chance on Sunday but may have a hangover! lol
It's back on the road now, all fixed up with a warranty and everything. The 4x4 transfer case was the spendy item. I'm not sure what caused it but the input shaft de-splined and FUBAR'd the innards (gears, chains, the lot) It had just spent an hour and a half cruising around 70mph on the interstate, it all became unravelled on the off ramp - no idea why.
Your truck looks very cool - they fetch good money over here - which state did it come from?
I do my best to help folks out with small - mailable items (trim parts and literature mainly) - let me know if you need anything sourcing/sending that might be difficult in the UK.
Your truck looks very cool - they fetch good money over here - which state did it come from?
I do my best to help folks out with small - mailable items (trim parts and literature mainly) - let me know if you need anything sourcing/sending that might be difficult in the UK.
Glad to hear you're all sorted Matt, you that fixed up quickly.
The truck came from Florida. Which I guess you would call a dry state? But all seems to be well rust wise.
I've had chance to spend some time on it over the weekend and got all the front lights sorted out. Needed all new headlights and the last owner was using tail lights as the front indicators hidden behind the grill. He had dusted them with black paint so they would't show through unless the were lit up. Any how got some indicators for a kit car and I think they look good. Checked with my MOT friend and he said they should pass ok. Rear lights are this weeks project and sort a PS leak.
I also discovered the torque converter/flywheel is missing a cover from the bottom meaning its completely exposed! Was an easy enough part to find, just got to jack it up and get that fitted while sorting the leak.
Thanks for the offer of help Matt but so far I've been able to get most of the bits from RockAuto or Ebay... so far that is.
The truck came from Florida. Which I guess you would call a dry state? But all seems to be well rust wise.
I've had chance to spend some time on it over the weekend and got all the front lights sorted out. Needed all new headlights and the last owner was using tail lights as the front indicators hidden behind the grill. He had dusted them with black paint so they would't show through unless the were lit up. Any how got some indicators for a kit car and I think they look good. Checked with my MOT friend and he said they should pass ok. Rear lights are this weeks project and sort a PS leak.
I also discovered the torque converter/flywheel is missing a cover from the bottom meaning its completely exposed! Was an easy enough part to find, just got to jack it up and get that fitted while sorting the leak.
Thanks for the offer of help Matt but so far I've been able to get most of the bits from RockAuto or Ebay... so far that is.
Lovely truck! Tastefully customised.
Cheeky question, especially as you have the Mustang there too; was it a conscious decision to import your own or did you look at buying something already here?
I ask because I have been looking to get a yank truck for a while but when I do the maths it seems that buying one already in the UK works out vastly cheaper than paying for shipping, duty, tax etc, but also limits me to a handful of trucks which either have *ahem* heavy patina or are show trucks at £30k and upwards.
Cheeky question, especially as you have the Mustang there too; was it a conscious decision to import your own or did you look at buying something already here?
I ask because I have been looking to get a yank truck for a while but when I do the maths it seems that buying one already in the UK works out vastly cheaper than paying for shipping, duty, tax etc, but also limits me to a handful of trucks which either have *ahem* heavy patina or are show trucks at £30k and upwards.
Thanks I'm really happy with it! Can't wait to get it road legal!
I'm pretty sure I saved money by importing the truck, I'm confident I could sell it for a profit if I wanted.
I bought the Mustang from the UK and paid more than I would of done importing it.
HOWEVER it has taken a long time to get the truck here and its still not road legal so while I have saved money its not quick or overly simple. I paid for the truck in Feb and not expecting it to be road legal until July, maybe later.
I couldn't find the truck I wanted in the UK as you have found either poor condition or too expensive. I just made an inquiry about importing one and before I knew it I had bought a truck! If you have Facebook check out Collins Auto Exports he will give you a price landed in the UK so you have an idea.
What kind of truck are thinking? I'm no expert but if you need help or advise please shout.
I'm pretty sure I saved money by importing the truck, I'm confident I could sell it for a profit if I wanted.
I bought the Mustang from the UK and paid more than I would of done importing it.
HOWEVER it has taken a long time to get the truck here and its still not road legal so while I have saved money its not quick or overly simple. I paid for the truck in Feb and not expecting it to be road legal until July, maybe later.
I couldn't find the truck I wanted in the UK as you have found either poor condition or too expensive. I just made an inquiry about importing one and before I knew it I had bought a truck! If you have Facebook check out Collins Auto Exports he will give you a price landed in the UK so you have an idea.
What kind of truck are thinking? I'm no expert but if you need help or advise please shout.
Geo22 said:
If you have Facebook check out Collins Auto Exports he will give you a price landed in the UK so you have an idea.
What kind of truck are thinking? I'm no expert but if you need help or advise please shout.
Nice one, I'll look him up.What kind of truck are thinking? I'm no expert but if you need help or advise please shout.
I am looking at late-50s/early-60s Ford F-150 or 250... Ideally I want something with an 8 foot bed for occasional load-lugging (hence the F250 but a lot of people in the U.S. get by through dropping the gate and strapping things down. Bench seat is mandatory though
I would of thought a long bed F100 would suit. This one has been for sale for a while, looks decent for the price maybe a bit newer than you want though
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Ford-F100/26370401...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Ford-F100/26370401...
Finally I have my truck registered and on the road!!!
Went out for my first proper drive last night and it’s great, love it!
Drove to work today and it all went a bit wrong, I took a knock from a lorry that crossed the centre line coming the other way. Head in hands.
smashed wing mirror, scratches all down the side and the front wing and door are pretty badly damaged. Oh dear!
I haven't dared to open the door yet in case it wont close so I'll leave that until I get home. What a start to day!!
On the up side, decent guy driving lorry took the blame and got all his details so hopefully can get it sorted on insurance. Fingers crossed.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/eUFJTUeH[/url]
Went out for my first proper drive last night and it’s great, love it!
Drove to work today and it all went a bit wrong, I took a knock from a lorry that crossed the centre line coming the other way. Head in hands.
smashed wing mirror, scratches all down the side and the front wing and door are pretty badly damaged. Oh dear!
I haven't dared to open the door yet in case it wont close so I'll leave that until I get home. What a start to day!!
On the up side, decent guy driving lorry took the blame and got all his details so hopefully can get it sorted on insurance. Fingers crossed.
[url]|https://thumbsnap.com/eUFJTUeH[/url]Sorry to see the truck get damaged... good looking truck. Hope you get it all sorted soon - not the best of starts, but should be an easy enough fix. I use all my old stuff as "dailies", but I don't actually need to be anywhere so that's more that they go out whenever needed, rather than commuting everyday. They all get used for what they are designed for tho' and one of my concerns is accident damage as it could be a difficult one to sort on a '64 A100. It'll be delivering a bathroom suite next week tho', bed's plenty big enough to take a bath. Thankfully I don't have a tip permit for it, so I can avoid the temptation of the local landfill from where I doubt it would return unscathed. Best of luck with yours. 
Yeah its in the body shop now so hopefully wont be too long until its sorted. Love the Dodge by the way, cool truck and a rare sight in the UK I would imagine. Its amazing how much you can fit in the bed of the US trucks compared to Euro/Jap ones. I moved a garden table and chairs at the weekend and it just swallowed it with loads of room to spare!
Its taken a long time but my truck is finally back!!! Only took 6 weeks or so but they have done a great job and looks as good as new.
I seem to be collecting US trucks at the moment I have my sisters for a few after its been repaired then its off to Belgium and another one just arrived from the states will be up for sale once its road legal!
I seem to be collecting US trucks at the moment I have my sisters for a few after its been repaired then its off to Belgium and another one just arrived from the states will be up for sale once its road legal!
I had a 73 GMC long bed. They're nice cars, easy to drive , super light steering and with the long bed, quite comfortable to drive. GM parts are available off the shelf and dirt cheap but don't expect anything more than the low teens for fuel consumption. If you're planning to use it as a pickup, get a long bed because you can comfortably put 8x4 sheets in it and shut the tailgate. The D250 in the picture is a 3/4 ton truck which has heavier duty axles. Great work horse but is going to be a bumpier ride.
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