Skylight Blue 1964 Ford F-100: A Farm Find Turned Classic Custom Stunner

Skylight Blue Stunner Saved from a Farm

All of us get into custom vehicles in many different ways. Shane Hall from College Grove, Tennessee, did so by building a custom mini-truck that was featured in Truckin’ magazine in 1992. It wasn’t long after the mini-truck bug bit that Shane shifted to fat fender Chevys. Then, moving onto his next project, Shane decided it was time to build what his grandpa and dad loved. They all appreciated the lines of the ’60s Ford trucks. So, the search was on for a ’60s model Ford.

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“After my first build, it moved to classics with an appreciation for the lines of ‘slicks’ and I wanted to do something different,” Shane says.

After several months searching the internet, Shane came across this 1964 F-100 in Central California. Being it was a well-used farm truck, it had 66,000 miles on it. The buyer and seller made a deal, and Shane took it home. Minimal things were done in the beginning with bigger plans for the future.

Credit for the interior refurbish goes to Bob’s Custom Upholstery of Roseville and Haskins Performance Coatings of Auburn, CA.

BUILD ON

Once Shane decided it was time to do a full build on the ’64, he begin by taking the truck to Josh Ford with No Limit Muffler and Fabrication for a one-off 2×4 full frame with a tubular support crossmember.

“The full custom one-off chassis, which is unique to my F-100, is the most one-of-a-kind feature of the truck,” Shane says.

They used a Mustang II-style front suspension with Airlift bags in the front 6 inches. Custom fabricated upper and lower control arms were made to make the front ride perfectly. Moving on to the rear, they placed a monster notch of 17 inches to make sure the Ford laid down. A 4-link was used to hold everything in place. After the frame was powdercoated, all the fuel and airlines were run inside the frame. Completing the suspension are 20×10 Detroit Steel D-Town Smoothies with Lexani LX-Twenty 245/40ZR20 rubber.

The powerplant comes from a 1974 302 V-8 rebuilt with a small cam and a Holley 650 carburetor. Custom motor mounts and a new Champion radiator and cooling fan were placed between the new frame rails. Valve covers and the air cleaner were powdercoated to match the frame rails and installed. An HEI Distributor was installed, and Hedman headers were matched with a 2.5-inch dual exhaust. He also relocated the battery to below the wood bed floor. Shane completely rebuilt the Ford’s transmission. The original three-speed column and trans linkage were modified to shift automatic and join the power steering rack but retain the three-on-the-tree original factory look. “People look for the clutch,” he says with a laugh.

For stopping power, Shane added a disc conversion (Mustang II kit) in front and stock drum brakes in the rear. The master cylinder is Wilwood with a booster. All brake lines have been replaced.

The custom one-off chassis is unique to Shane’s F-100.

SKYLIGHT THROUGHOUT

Although this used to be a farm truck, the exterior was in great shape. Shane decided to keep the original look. To brighten the paint, it was wet sanded and given a compound polish treatment. The engine bay was painted to match the frame. He had custom built inner front fenders and wheel tubs fabricated. Other custom bodywork includes a shaved stock radio opening and speaker location and flipped hood hinges.

To complete the build, the interior was finished to look original. The rebuilt original stock bench was recovered in white marine-grade vinyl to match the original look. Bob’s Custom Upholstery of Roseville, California, gets the credit for interior and refurbish, while Jason Haskins of Haskins Performance Coatings in nearby Auburn did the interior bodywork and paint—the same Skylight Blue as the exterior—to refresh the inside of the cab. Bob’s added a full carpet kit in black, and he then matched the seats, door panels, and headliner. A Pioneer head unit that powers the Phoenix gold amp and Rockford Fosgate 10-inch sub is located in the glovebox.

Shane regularly attends car-and-coffee events and local shows in Northern California and Nashville areas. He has also been twice to the Grand Nationals in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

Shane says that it took only 11 months from start to finish as it currently sits. He would like to thank his wife, Cheree, for supporting his hobby, son Jake, Josh and Jason for letting him help on the build, Bob’s Custom Upholstery, Jason Haskin of Haskin Performance Coatings, and Josh Ford with No Limit Muffler and Fabrication.

“It’s great having a supportive group of friends who were always willing to lend a hand,” he says. “Huge thanks to Josh and Jason for letting me be an active participant, teaching me a ton through the process.”

As for his word of advice: “Expect the unexpected,” he says. “No matter how well you plan, you are going to encounter curve balls.”

TECH SPECS

Shane Hall
1964 Ford F-100
College Grove, TN

EXTERIOR

Stock grille and bumpers
Headlights upgraded with LEDs
Custom inner front fenders and rear wheel tubs
Shaved stock radio and speak openings
Flipped hood hinges
Paint: Ford Skylight Blue by Jason Haskins, Haskins Performance Coatings, Auburn, CA

ENGINE

Rebuilt 1974 Ford 5L 302 V-8
Fabricated motor mounts
New Champion radiator and cooling fan
Battery relocated to below bed wood floor
Holley 650 cfm carburator
Hedman headers
2.5-dual exhaust
HEI distributor
Powdercoated valve covers and air cleaner to match chassis

TRANSMISSION

Ford AOD
Complete rebuild
Fabricated trans mount and tunnel for clearance
One-piece driveline built by Drive Line Services in Sacramento, CA
Disc conversion front brakes; stock rear drum brakes
Wilwood master cylinder with booster
Brake lines replaced

CHASSIS

Shop: Josh Ford with No Limit Muffler and Fabrication, Roseville, CA
One-off full custom frame
Full length 2×4 boxed rails, front to rear, with tubular support/crossmembers
Airlift suspension with 3H right height sensors
Airlift bags, front
Slam Specialties bags, rear
Z’d 6 inches in front and notched 17 inches in rear with Mustang II-style front suspension
Fabricated upper and lower control arms
Early ‘60s Mustang 16-gallon fuel tank
Rear 4-link setup
Fuel and airlines all run inside the frame
Powdercoated Cadillac Gray by All Star Powdercoating, Roseville, CA