1962 Ford F-100 Unibody

FORD’S FOURTH GENERATION, ONE-PIECE F-100 AND F-250 UNIBODY STYLESIDE PICKUPS WERE IN PRODUCTION FROM 1961-63. THEIR NICKNAME, “UNIBODY,” WAS ACQUIRED BECAUSE THE CAB AND BED WERE MADE FROM ONE CONTINUOUS PIECE, WITH NO GAP BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED. The back of the cab was also the bulkhead of the bed, and the single- wall bedsides were spot-welded directly to the cab’s door sills and jambs. The one-piece pickup body was mounted on top of a traditional frame. It was the same combination as the Ford Ranchero when it was mounted on a Falcon frame.

Wayne Gum from Phoenix has been collecting 1961-63 Ford F-100 unibody pickups for several years. He was attracted to them because of their unique one-piece body styling. He had hopes of creating a timeless, simple driver that would also help promote his business.

After delivering his ’62 to Mike Scott at Big Mike’s Customz in Lindsey, California, Wayne and Mike collaborated on what to do with it. Mike and his crew were responsible for the frame modifications and suspension. After removing the factory front straight axle, the front frame rails were Z-notched then fitted with a Mustang II IFS with 2-inch drop spindles, Scott’s Hotrods Super Slam airbags, Bell Tech Toxic gas-filled shocks and power steering rack. A pair of Mustang II disc brakes with 12-inch rotors and four- piston calipers provides superior stopping up front. The rear frame rails were step- notched to allow ample suspension travel of the Chevy 12-bolt rearend housing when the Scott’s Super Slam pneumatic ’bags are deflated. The rearend housing was anchored with a wishbone 4-link and pan hard bar. A pair of Bell Tech shocks dampens the rear suspension action. The Chevy factory rear drum brakes received new brake cylinders, seals and shoes. Spinning style and grip are from a set of Bonspeed Crokus, polished aluminum, five-spoke wheels—front 18×7 and rear 20×10—that were wrapped with Falken Azenis rubber: front 225/45R-18 and rear 275/40R-20.

There was no question, Wayne was going to keep a Ford in a Ford, so he selected a 1987 Ford 351-ci V-8 Windsor. The engine was delivered to 5-Star Engine & Cylinder Head Exchange in Glendale, Arizona where it was disassembled, cleaned, measured, machined, balanced and assembled using all of the right components. The factory block, crankshaft, connecting rods and cylinder heads were all Magnafluxed to check for any cracks or imperfections. A set of Speed-Pro flattop pistons were mated to shot- peened connecting rods and fitted with Speed-Pro rings. To achieve some attitude, a Lunati Bootlegger camshaft was carefully inserted into the cam bearings. A Ford factory timing set was installed to sync the rotating crankshaft, camshaft and valve assembly. Lunati intake/exhaust valves, springs, lifters and rocker arms were assembled to the Ford factory cast iron cylinder heads that were covered with Summit Racing chrome valve covers. A Weiand Stealth aluminum intake manifold was mounted between the cylinder heads with an Edelbrock 650-cfm carburetor and air cleaner. An Edelbrock aluminum water pump provides coolant circulation throughout the engine. Dual Spal electric fans and shroud draw and direct cool airflow through the 1988 Chevy aluminum radiator. A pair of Hedman Alumicoat headers draws the burnt gasses into a 3-inch-diameter exhaust that flows into a pair of Flowmaster dual-chamber mufflers. A fully rebuilt Ford C6 Select Shift Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic transmission was stuffed with a Hughes valve body and Hughes 2,800- rpm stall converter, and then bolted up behind the mighty 351 Windsor.

Wayne wanted to keep the patina exterior that took Mother Nature decades to perfect; however, the original rusted doors were swapped out for a pair of fresher, 1962 patina’d white doors. Gary Crisp lettered “Salt-Flat-Rat Flat-Out Freeway Flyer” on the doors.

The factory Ford bench seat was freshened up by installing new foam and cup holders, and then covered with genuine simulated red leather. The interior door panels were given a couple of coats of Sikkens Red to match the body’s exterior. The factory Ford gauge cluster and gauges were cleaned up and reused. To personalize the dash, Gary laid down some awesome vintage white pinstriping. A CPP tilt steering column with column shift was capped with a Grant Classic Series chrome three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Wayne’s timeless ’62 Ford draws attention wherever it’s cruised or parked completely laid out on its rockers. ST

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TRUCK SPECS

OWNER

Wayne Gum

1962 Ford F-100 Unibody Styleside
Phoenix, AZ

BUILDER

• Mike Scott at Big Mikes Customz Lindsey, CA

ENGINE

• 1987 Ford 351-ci Windsor V-8
• 5-Star Engine & Cylinder Head Exchange Inc. Glendale, AZ
• Factory crank reground .010
• Factory rods
• Speed Pro flattop pistons
• Speed Pro rings
• Lunati Bootlegger camshaft
• Factory Ford timing set
• Lunati lifters, push rods, springs and valves
• Ford Windsor cast-iron cylinder heads
• Eldelbrock aluminum water pump
• Weiand Stealth aluminum intake
• Edelbrock 650-cfm carb
• Summit Racing valve covers
• Chevy pickup aluminum radiator with dual Spal electric fans and shroud
• Hedman headers with alumicoat finish
• 3-inch custom exhaust
• Flowmaster dual chamber mufflers
• JAZ 12-gallon fuel tank

TRANSMISSION

• Ford C6 Select Shift Cruise-O-Matic three-speed automatic
• Hughes 2,800-rpm stall converter
• Hughes valve body shift kit

FRAME

• 1962 Ford F-100
• Front frame rails Z-notched and step- notched
• Front cross member by Scott’s Hotrods

SUSPENSION

• Mustang II IFS
• Scott’s Hotrods front cross member
• Scott’s Hotrods 2-inch drop spindles and Super Slam airbags
• Bell Tech Toxic shocks
• Rear wishbone 4-link and pan hard bar
• Chevrolet 12-bolt rearend
• Chevrolet third member with posi Eaton Trutrac
• Chevrolet stock axles
• 3.73 gears
• Viair compressor, valves, switches and air tank

BRAKES

• Wilwood 12-inch front brakes
• Wilwood four-piston front calipers
• Chevrolet rear drum, brake booster and dual master cylinder

WHEELS

• Bonspeed Crokus polished 18×7 front, Crokus polished 20×10 rear

TIRES

• Falken Azenis 225/45R-18 front, Azenis 275/40R-20 rear

BODY & PAINT

• Paint, pinstriping and lettering by Gary Crisp
• Natural patina and Sikkens Rangoon Red and White

INTERIOR

• Big Mike’s and Phoenix Upholstery
• Genuine simulated red leather
• Marine black carpet
• Rhino bedliner
• Factory bench red vinyl with custom cup holders
• Red steel door panels
• CPP steering column and billet aluminum column shifter
• Grant Classic Series chromed, three-spoke steering wheel
• Factory gauges

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