Once upon a time, pickup trucks were honest vehicles. They were cheap, rugged, and were designed to do one thing: Thrive in work environments under difficult conditions. Many didn’t even get carpeting, let alone a radio, power everything, and navigation. Such is the case with StreetMuscleMag’s newest experiment, Project F-Zilla, a 1969 Ford F-100 farm truck dragged out of a barn. It was born with little in the way of niceties, but was chock full of ruggedness and virtue.
Introducing Project F-Zilla, our latest how-to vehicle. Born as a 1969 F-100 in two-tone green and white paint, we dragged it out of a barn as a non-running, FE-powered patinamobile.
Like any proper street machine, Project F-Zilla will receive all kinds of upgrades that will transform its capabilities, but it will retain its classic good looks and virtue. Yes, it’s farming days are over, but don’t expect to find a 1960’s version of a King Ranch truck interior when we’re done. (We are deciding if we should keep the factory hat rack.) The powertrain and chassis will be as up-to-date as Artemis II, but the interior and exterior will have the spirit of an old Apollo mission.
The body on our Custom Cab F-100 doesn’t look too terrible, but the bed of the truck is in need of a lot of attention. All things considered, it is pretty straight. How do you like that rear bumper? Perfect for people who do a lot of parallel parking and need to move the cars behind them!
The Plan
Project F-Zilla will be the recipient of a 750-horsepower Late Model Engines Godzilla powerplant, a full Art Morrison Enterprises chassis and manual transmission. There will be no 100-point restoration. The exterior will remain exactly as it sits today, with the patina carefully cleaned and sealed to preserve its character without trying to improve or recreate it. Floors will be repaired where needed, but otherwise the body stays stock and honest (there’s that “H” word again.
The F-100 was available with a couple of six-bangers, a 302, or your choice of FE powerplants: A 360 and a 390, both with two-barrel carbs. The long-forgotten 360 was essentially a 390 block with a 352 rotating assembly. Stroke was 3.50 vs. 3.784 in the 390. The person we bought the truck from wasn’t sure what it was. No four barrel was available.
Underneath, F-Zilla gets a complete modern foundation. The factory frame is being replaced with a custom Art Morrison Enterprises chassis designed for 1967–1972 F-100s, bringing modern suspension geometry, precise steering, and the strength to handle serious power. Out back, a full IRS is being fitted, while ride height stays low — but still usable for real street driving.
The goal isn’t a 100-point restoration. The exterior will remain close to as it sits today, with the patina carefully cleaned and sealed to preserve its character without trying to improve or recreate it. Floors and sheetmetal will be repaired where needed, but otherwise the body stays stock and honest.
The F-100 came with Ford’s legendary twin I-beam suspension in front. It was some pretty rugged stuff, and at the same time pretty elementary — the complete opposite of where this truck is headed with its new Art Morrison Enterprises IRS-equipped chassis. These trucks were no joke out back, either.
The original automatic gearbox will be replaced with a modern TREMEC manual gearbox from Silver Sport Transmissions.
Adios, FE engine and C6 trans. Coming soon: 750-horsepower Late Model Engines Godzilla power. The original engine was given away; hopefully, it will be rebuilt into something with some serious horsepower. The top engine in ‘69 was a 255-horse 390 2V.
The end game is to create a truck that looks similar to its as-found barn appearance, is fun to drive, and docile enough to take for ice cream, but wild enough to participate in Australian-rules burnout contests, autocross competition, and still shake up the neighbors and burn up the quarter-mile.
Two area of serious concern: The floor and the bed.
Stay tuned to this space every couple of weeks for project installments. We’ve got some absolutely great tech coming your way.
The transformation has officially begun! Soon there will a full AME frame with an independent rear.
