F100 Marquis Build Questions

[@rivercity3908]

Hey thanks for the shout out! I have restored a couple cars and I'll tell ya, 80 to 90% of the labor was in paint, bodywork, and panel fit. If you can get away with keeping the patina I'd totally go for it, especially if you are selling it on. It's still a popular look. I've also restored both A/C cars and non A/C cars. The big question should be does the vehicle have vent windows. Most classics do and so does your truck. You can get away with vent windows to stay cool, and especially if you get a sliding rear window to circulate the air even more (if you're okay with that look). Personally I want A/C for my truck as I plan to road trip a lot and the wife probably wouldn't come along (or let me go haha) without it. Keep up the great work!

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks for your input Matt. This is the first time I have built something that I had no intent on making perfect (in appearance anyway). I've got some solutions bouncing around in my head so only time will tell. Also, I sent you a couple of questions on your episode 7. Can you please shoot me a reply when able? Thanks again!

[@daddysbluetruck]

Hey! Like watching the videos and I am following along intently as I plan to do this build my self. Now for the opinions, Heating and A/C. Since you are selling this one I would say yes put them in as it will be a good selling point. If it were for me, I would probably say no big deal onthe A/C, but as much as I drive things, Heat would be a must! As far as the body work and paint. If you bought a complete truck where the bed and cab all matched and it wasn't completely gone, I would say leave the patina and clear it. Since you have the just the cab and the bed will most likely not match, I say paint it, or even Faux - Tina it. Hope the helps. Arin

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks Arin for your input and support. The bed I'm getting is white so I'm going to have to do paint in one form or another. I thought about clearing what I have and faux-tinaing the bed. Only time will tell......

[@motecalevol]

I am building a 53 F100 street rod style truck that I plan to use as a daily driver. I do plan to run AC. I spent $625 just for the interior parts from Speedway Motors. Total bill will be over $1,1OO by the time I have everything. So, that's a pretty big investment for a truck you plan to sell. I live in the south, so AC is a must for a daily driver. But if your buyer wants it as a rat rod or a "toy", they may not care about AC. Very few of the classic trucks I see for sale around here have air, so I don't think you'll get your money back. It might make it sell faster. I know River City Matt said in a video that the stock cv compressor won't work with an aftermarket evaporator, but I'd like to hear more about that. I know a good bit about air conditioning and although mixing and matching may not make for the most efficient system, it usually will work. That is what I plan to do. My truck has a 1989 engine with F150 brackets, so I will run the stock F150 compressor and everything else will be aftermarket. I will have to purchase an adapter block for the compressor to adapt it to the aftermarket refrigerant lines. As far as paint goes. Are you planning to paint it yourself? Have you ever painted before? I am painting my truck and right now I hope I never paint another vehicle!!!! If you're planning to get a cheapo paint job, you're probably wasting your time and money because a truck of the age of yours will need a lot of bodywork, and that is where the cheap paint jobs fall short. Paint is far less "black and white" than the AC (pardon the pun) because you can spend a little bit of money or a lot. Me personally, I did not want to buy a painted truck because I wanted to know EXACTLY what had been done to it. It was primered and even that hid a lot of sins. I thought I had good cab corners - NOPE - they were bondo. I even had some crappy lead repairs. The driver's side B pillar was also a bondo job and it fell out in a big chunk.

[@rivercity3908]

Yours being a '89 engine and compressor I bet you can make that work. I'd love for Vintage Air and Classic auto Air to be proved wrong when they told me it won't work. That would make it a little easier on the wallet for all of us. But they both told me my 2008 has a computer controlled compressor with female fittings that won't work with their kit. Vintage Air did send me a part number for an adapter block but it was the wrong one for my particular compressor, and when I pointed out which compressor I have they said they don't make a adapter block for it because it's a computer controlled compressor. Not sure if they were blowing smoke up my rear in an attempt to up sell me. I'd love it if you could keep me in the loop on if you are able to figure something out!

[@motecalevol]

I am not sure what they mean by a "computer controlled compressor". As far as I know, the compressor has a 12V clutch and it doesn't care where the 12V comes from. . .computer, toggle switch, 8 triple A batteries in series, solar panel. . .it doesn't care. I know you're just the messenger here, and I'm not trying to shoot you! Ha Ha. The big problem is the adapters. If they don't exist, it would probably be easier to fabricate a bracket for the standard sanden compressors that come with the Vintage Air kit than it would be to machine the adapters for the CV compressor. But. . .I bet the factory adapter block(s) could be used with enough creativity. It might be possible to cut the factouy hoses and re-crimp ends on them.

[@Weldangrind]

Excellent questions. First, I need to be educated; why won't the CV air work in the truck? Can't the HVAC box be chopped and modified to suit? Idle Garage has done some of that (he's not yet finished, so the end result is unknown). To me, AC is important. I'd pay more for it for two reasons. Cooling in humid areas is obviously a benefit, but AC air also clears a foggy windshield much faster. I'd try to force the existing AC to work, rather than invest in an aftermarket solution. Paint is a tough question, since you don't yet have a box. If you had a matching box, I'd say leave it alone. If you find a good box that is a different colour, you'll need to make a decision based on the condition. I know that's not very helpful. I'll say that original paint would be worth more to me if the metal is in decent shape. Thanks for inviting questions!

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks W&G for the input. The guy on Idle Garage has come up with a brilliant solution for his and I hope it works. I have both the Grand Marquis heat/air assembly and F-350 hear sitting on my shop floor next to each other and its mind boggling. For now I might put the F-350 heater back in just so I can have defog....until I go aftermarket or just do without.

[@brianswanke4639]

I hope the pulley works for you...it does say made in China on the bottom of it.. so I think its a craps shoot if it works or not! I would bed liner the underside , por 15 the floors and clear coat the original paint to keep the patina...if you can find a bed to match the cab otherwise I would paint the truck if the bed doesn't match. I think most people want it to look original but perform modern day.

[@motecalevol]

I was your first viewer! That's a first for me!

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

First view and first to comment. You are on a roll! Thanks for your opinions. I think for now I'm going to continue mocking things up and address AC later. I'm still torn on the paint. I have some experience with it and figure this might be the perfect mule to refine my skills. It is a can of worms though. I think I might go single stage and get this... only do paint....no body work. That way I'm not hiding anything and don't lose the trucks 45 years of identity. Even now I laugh because I never thought I would do something so goofy such as painting over a dent! lol I guess the idea is coming from two things; I have a lot of bare metal that needs to be covered, and more importantly, I don't want this truck to be perfect because I want it drive. I have two cars with perfect paint jobs, and they rarely get driven. I don't want this truck to be like that. However, I cant stand "orange peel" so it has to be good...but not perfect. Lots to figure out here.

[@motecalevol]

Summit Racing sells single stage paint. They used it on Trucks! to paint the super dually project. They said it was good, but Summit is one of their sponsors.

[@carcrazycansgarage3073]

Hey man here are my 2 cents go as far with the build as you want and then sell the truck. That way a buyer can do as they please with it. It boils down to what is it worth. From my experience with vehicles you can drop thousands on a project doesn't mean your ever going to see it back.Vehicles are strange that way unless you have some super rare vehicle in original state or restored to original condition then you'll get every dollar back.So do as you please man its your hard earned dollars. Also on the heat or a/c well depends on your taste .

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks Crazy Canadian for your opinion. I think you are right, I'll build it the way I want and like, and let the buyer continue to build it to their taste.

[@joeficsit]

A/C yes, paint no. The patina on the cab is great as is. A/C justifies truck to the significant other.

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks for the input. It's funny how many people have recommended to run A/C to keep the wife happy. ha ha

[@terrykeithley6183]

A/c myself no, my wife yes. Do Not paint!!!! Leave body as it is.

[@CarlsonsCustoms]

Thanks Terry! I like the idea of keeping the trucks 45 years worth of wear. Funny about the AC. I'm fine without, but my fiancé thinks its mandatory. If only I could get her to crack open her wallet! lol