A 1953 Ford F-100 pickup is part of a very popular era for Blue Oval trucks because of their timeless and classic design.
This generation of F-100 trucks had all the right curves in all the right places and are still rock stars in the vintage vehicle hobby.
Jim Sutherland
Many car guys choose to resto mod a classic F-100 pickup because they want to improve the performance and keep the truck’s good looks in the bargain. A number of F-100 owners choose to step outside the Ford family and use another company’s powertrain for a resto mod project.
Common engine swaps include small block Chevy or Cummins diesel transplants, but some car guys are loyal to the Ford brand and use a Blue Oval engine under the hood.
Jerry Lawson is the proud owner of a stylish 1953 Ford F-100 resto mod pickup, as well as a loyal Ford fan, so it should come as no surprise that Jerry used a Lincoln 460 big block in his project truck.
The engine provided a much bigger herd of horses for the 73-year-old pickup and was bolted up to the donor Lincoln’s C-6 automatic transmission, along with its Ford nine-inch rear end.
The entire project became a teaching and learning experience for Jerry and his two sons during the process. Jerry wanted to build a truck as part of a family team and was willing to tackle every element of the project’s challenges. “We did everything”, in Jerry’s words.
Jerry’s ‘53 F-100 now sports a front end that tilts forward as a complete fender-and-hood unit allowing full access to the engine compartment while taking the cool factor up to outrageously high levels.
The F-100’s original truck bed was replaced with oak wood and is a testament to the Larson family’s wood crafting skills. Jerry also built style and comfort into the truck by using seats donated by a 1983 Pontiac Grand Prix that was the right price and fit for the old truck.
The truck still has its original frame, but Jerry added power steering and disc brakes to handle the extra load of the heavier Lincoln powertrain and its big horsepower boost.
The project took a couple of years, but it only took nine months to get it running, according to Jerry. His hands-on approach to the project even included the mufflers after Jerry was able to install a custom exhaust system with the shop owner’s approval and mentorship.
The family project F-100 is now officially on the road, and Jerry has enjoyed every minute behind the wheel. The only notable issue left is an overheating problem whenever the truck is in slow-moving traffic, despite the dual electric fans on the engine. It’s a situation that does not occur when Jerry hits the highway in his F-100, but he believes the issue is rooted in an engine compartment that was never designed to handle the heat of a big block engine in slow-moving traffic.
However, we at MyStarCollectorCar are confident that Jerry and his boys will solve this final problem in their family truck project.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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