My 1961 F100 Unibody Shortbed finally gets an engine R&R! And then we bury it in a snowdrift... (2024)

In this video Mortske lovingly strokes his shaft, Duff dives nose first into a mountain of white powder and a guy named Pookie.

I love that you do not immediately toss the in-line sixes for a bent eight with a floor shift. Trucks are tools not ego extenders!

The trick to floor dry is to just cover the entire floor in a generous layer as a preventative measure...

I’ve often thought sourcing a new “will it start” every week must be a pain in the rear, I’m just happy to see a new vid, you have enough on what with losing the shop 😁 keep up the good work 👍

What a great truck! I was proud of you for pressure washing that engine. Getting stuck made it an adventure. Great video!

Mortske you have one of my favorite channels on the RUclips! Keep the content coming, my friend!

The flywheel from a Y block will fit and balance on a 223. The advantage is you can get the larger 11 inch clutch. Also if you get the Y block flywheel from the larger F 600 truck its heavier. It stores more energy and helps with that first gear take off.

I appreciate these videos, it’s good to see projects being followed through. It’s easy-ish to get some thing running poorly, it’s another to see the project through. Many content creators drag them out of a someone’s field, only to park them in the yard. Glad you are releasing some back out into the wild. This seems like one you should put a price tag on and send it on its way.

As a Ford guy you just have to remind yourself... for every dig ol' Mort gets on Ford, he gives it to Dodge.. and Chevy.... and everything else too just the same... we can live through the vids with a few cold snacks and no hurt feelings LOL

Still lovin' the Duff cam! I was plowing through snowdrifts in Washington state in my 77 Dodge Aspen about 20+ years ago and I hit a really big one. I had enough momentum to get through it but as soon as I hit it the engine compartment was stone dead quiet! Pulled over and to my surprise the engine was still running, popped the hood and it was packed up to the hood! The only thing you could see was the fan blade turning. The old slant 6 never missed a beat though, and that car went through anything I could throw at it! Winter shenanigan's, always entertaining! :-)
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this truck. Keep the great videos coming!

pro tip- to make any vehicle go faster cut a hole through the floorboard (unless it already has one) so you can push the pedal down further and not be restricted by the floor, also works on brakes

You're showing that Ford some love and I can see why she's a beauty .

Love the concept to use the front axle as a snow plow! Definitely keep it as an inline 6. You and Duff keep up the good work 👍

A 4.9 and a 5 speed would be fun in that rig. Nice truck either way. Nice seeing the old trucks used lol

Morning Duff! Morning Mortske! I like anything built before 1980. I really dig those unibody trucks. I do hope u take us along when u build it. Cheers My Midwest brother from another mother.

Man I can't get enough of you and Duff Dog . Keep pumping out the great videos. Would watch everything you put out . Also I know most people don't put out videos as long as you do but it's the way to go . I watch you and Duff like a TV show . Every time you release content I'm glad you don't try and break it up like most RUclipsrs. It makes for a better experience seeing a start to finish job. 👍👍👊👊

I really like those unibody short beds. Today is the warmest morning we've had in 3 days. Only -10°. Been a long cold winter. Great video 👍

Great job mortske! I love these old trucks. There is nothing to them. Just basic machines to haul stuff and get you from a to b. Stick with the six banger. It's the perfect motor for such a basic truck.

Man Mortske, watching you and Duff work on stuff is fun, Must say, Duff looks like a Great Buddy!, I miss my dog Yuki, a border collie, She blessed me and everybody else (except for rodents!) with 18 years and 9 months of life! Great looking Truck Man!

Love these kind of "project" videos need more of them . I'm "jonesing" to see what's going on with that 6 cylinder green Chevy you've been working on ! Miss the old shop days:( but glad you have more room and a lift! What a video

Love these old fords, agree they missed the mark on the tailgates.
Look forward to seeing what you do with this rig, no matter if it's a restoration or wild suspension and drivetrain conversion.
You and ol' Duff keep up the good work 😎👍🇺🇸

Scared me there for a moment Mortske. Don’t know what I would’ve done with out Mortske Monday.

Another great video. Those freeze plugs DO add up! Just signed-up on Patreon - it should cover the plugs for this block, plus a few spares. Love your channel - I can (and do) watch for hours at a time … and Duff rocks!

Sure brought back memories of my first truck. 13 years old and bought a 61 with a 223 that had a broken piston. I lifted the hood and stood next to the engine and R&R'd the piston,rings and bearings. 50 years and 100 lbs heavier I recently bought another 61 f100.

Duff is creeping up on 1 million subscribers. Great show. Thanks for the entertaining content

Haha, with a name like Dick Loobe high school had to be a living hell everyday. Glad to see you working on this oldie but goodie!

I'm a Ferd guy, so don't think I am bashing them, but the Unibody was a bad idea. When you put weight in them, the doors don't work right. Some times won't close, and some times pop open while driving. There is a reason they stopped making them.

Son of a biscuit..! That snow reminds me when I lived in Kansas in the 1970s. That’s exactly why I live in California & Florida🍾

I like how there's no bed/cab line, Just the door. Beautiful truck.

You're not the only one that hates them all 🤣 I really enjoy your content 😉 Hi Duff!!!!

Another classic, love that you showed that you got stuck on the test drive. And I totally agree on the "keep the 6 since it still works" approach. I'd also love to see that LS/front end swap for $5k or less. Even starting with a $500 5.3L I'd guess it would be closer to $10k without breaking a sweat. And imagine all the salty Furd purists...

Gosh I felt for ya Mortske with that cold. We had a high of 76 here today(2/17/) but storms moving thru, bringing us back to 40s and 50s for a few days. Then back up to 60s and 70s. I love the south 🙂. Love the videos as always.....🍻

I had 1961 Ford Econoline pick up It had a 6 cylinder in it not sure what the engine size was a 2 something. Long wheel base unibody. Loved it. The 61 Truck looks pretty good. Mortske Duff loves digging where he feels it’s important! Lol! Always good to have friends. Home again yea! Thank you for sharing

I vote to name this pickup "Jesse".
Unibody - "the body" - "Jesse The Body"

Cool old truck, I used to be a caregiver for a quadriplegic man, who still had his Dad's 1964 Chevy stepside, straight six, three on the tree, 30,000 original miles. They bought the truck and a Ford tractor, the same year and they used the tractor more than they used the truck. 😂🤣😂 He died this past October. I sure miss him. He was a central Texas farmer and minor league baseball player and then a teacher. Awesome man. Thank you for the awesome video!! Stuck in the snow, hilarious!! Yeah, that doesn't happen here in the Cowboy Capital of the World.

Best part of Monday night- Mortske drops a new video.

Those unibody pickups looked much better than the 61 fleetside with a seperate bed. The bed they used on them came out in 57 . and never really looked correct. I call them wrongsides. In 65 they finally changed to a bed that matched the cab style.

Nothing against an ls swap. Definitely some awesome builds out there. but will it run 65 years?

Thanks for including the part where you got stuck AND when you got pulled out! Looked like a fun time!

That’s awesome Mortske, you really keep those oldies but goodies goin. Negative temps and your out bustin drifts with no heat and bald tires??!! You ain’t scared love it! My truck is an 80 F100 and its got a floor shift three speed overdrive. It originally had a 300 six cylinder. First and second low third much taller, fourth very tall.

Nice truck! I have a 62 short bed uni. The rare ones are the mercury uni’s. Very rare. Wish I had one. Put a crown Vic frame under it. The 02 and older are a bit narrower. I have a 95 frame under mine. 4.6 with OD. So good

6:29 My 9 inch and rear are also super sloppy but I can't help it, I'm old like that truck (53 yr old) 🤣Joking aside, Freeze plugs and starters in these old rigs need to give you a break! Gonna train Duffster to sniff out these things. Oh and to Ford and other ''brand fan boys'' These rigs are Mortske's for him to do as he pleases with, not YOURS...and he's saving them from the scrapper so quit yo whining!

I had a 56' F100 for a few years with a 223 6cyl w/4spd. Ran so well I couldn't change it, didn't have the heart to molest it.

We had a low maintenance road near the farm in NE SoDak. We’d get random knocks on the door from cold drivers who got stuck trying to find a shortcut. Dad would fire up the tractor and go off to pull them out. Now I live in California where we cool our cars with positive energies and happy thoughts. Great video.

I’d watch you fix that ford up nicer

Lowered Ford coyote motor with a 9 inch rear would be a nice new thing. everyone does those ls swaps with crownvic front ends.

Ha!, Shades of 1970, high school. Street drag wars, kids from families with money vs us farm kids. We were hopelessly outclassed by local GTO's and such, but did have some success after my Mom's LTD got rear ended and we swapped its 429 auto into an identical little Ford pickup. Right out of the gate we learned the true meaning of wheel hop, cured with a set of home brew traction bars, which led to lots of tire smoke and not enough hook up to hang with the big kids. Traction issues quickly cured by adding duals to the rear. The quick and dirty fix worked, the farm kid way, by welding two stock rims together rim to rim. Then that beater truck hooked up big time. After a week or two Jimmy wadded the truck up though. It got pretty squirrely over 100 or so, but at least we did get some respect. Wild times.

Really digging the maintenance videos. Represents the reality of owning affordable old things.

Needs a 351c and an AOD/4r70w

The blower probably starts on hi so as the blower slows down from age and lack of oil it still spins a little and doesn't burn up. Also, a squirrel cage blower will move air even when running backwards, the air flow will be lower though. Sorry, I'm late to the party you are number one on my list and I always save the best for last ;o).

Afternoon Mortske!! I really like that 61 unibody......I commened you for power washing that motor when it was 4 degrees out!! Don't do the LS swap, it would be cool, but as you said, 8-10k is alot of money..that thing runs to good to do a swap...just fix the mechanicals...
Be safe!! God Bless!!!

I grew up about 100 miles East of you, plowing through the drifts in a 68 Plymouth Satellite with the leaning tower of power up front, and a 150 pound manhole cover in the trunk for traction. Somehow never got stuck, but I filled that engine bay full of snow many times.
Also, thanks for cheering up Greta. She needed it.

Thanks for keeping her simple. 6 in a row and ready to go!!

She is a keeper. It has a great look. Thanks for sharing. I've had alot of ford truck of this vintage fun to see on your show.👍

Thank you for this episode Mortske! I learned some new things about my new 1960 F100 with the 223.

Good video with a lot of snow. Keep on going. Good times with duffy . God bless

Hey Mort. Just wanted to say, your camera work is awesome. I love how you always setup the camera right up close to the part your working on. Drive shaft, transmission mount bolts, flywheel and clutch bolts. Just everything. You show it all and I'm here for it. Also, if you do decide to get serious with the LS 4L80 swap, I'd love to see videos on that so please take us along with you! Keep up the good work my man 👍

Well since you baptised it THAT hard in the snow id say it deserves a new name now more then ever. The Snow Grader or The Snow Plow. Plowin Pete? nice one as always Mortske.

Cool! I drove a short bed '62 for years. 292 with 3 on the tree. Loved it!

I had no idea they made unibody pickups. I thought "unibodies" came about as a cheaply built alternative to try to keep up with foreign imports in the late 70's when Chrysler came up with the "K" car and a bunch of crappy cars with bad motors followed. With that being said, this truck is SWEET! The body lines are great. You should throw a paint job at the thing and do that for a video. "That other guy on RUclips that used to live in Minnesota and now lives in Tennessee" painted a square body with a kit that cost $119 on Ebay. The same thing could be done to this truck using Bobcat white as the base color and Bobcat orange as a trim. Maybe just paint the tailgate the orange with the "FORD" in white and/or go with steel wheels painted orange with chrome halfmoon hubcaps to set them off. Nothing to crazy would make a lot of difference with this beauty. A simple 2-tone with the white above the hoodline and the orange below the hoodline would be another option. I did some research and found out Chrysler moved from the "body on frame" construction to "Unit Body" cars clear back in the '60's, so I learned something today. Anyhoo, I had a 5-digit offer in mind with the stipulation that the key is transferred to a Puddin's Fab Shop key chain, the engine stays a straight 6 and I get custody of Duff on weekends, so it might be too low, although I wouldn't require it have mirrors, I don't use those anyway. For those that read this whole comment, I commend you on your literacy. Thank you for your time.

Pookie with his 9th gen Suburban to the rescue! Keep doing u Mortske! Love the content!

Nice one! 'Frosty' was in deep!
I live out in the sticks too, and a tow is never far away- Duff didn't seemed bothered none.
Respect, Ian.

Excellent video Mortske Repair :) what do so frost plugs don't leak or blow out is change antifreeze also thermostat plus water pump every 5 years and put in every 3 months to 100ml of Differential fluid in rad let circulation too ! Also help the engine oil cleaner plus gasket from leaks too also crud in behind frost plugs to oil pan when change or antifreeze too! I only had one frost plug come out on me in one vechile because guy rebuilt motor did put in right and long time before starting rebuilt my own engines plus others too! When lost frost plug was one below head and blew rad up to same time and big cost and frost plug on side of engine on back side ! Plus had do new thermostat too ! Car was 1995 Ford Taurus GL 3.0 litre V6 on right side last year of cast iron block plus heads too and crap transmission Electric 4speed Overdrive Automatic transmission and transmission lines not fun to change to!

I had a 61 unibody it was rough the bed side wiggled a lot awesome looking old trucks would love to have another one

My cat woke up from a dead sleep,the instant you fired it up..He was shocked how nice & smooth it was running!!

41:50 Love the homage to Paul Harrell with the background music. Was waiting for the Pop Tart/Where a Man Belongs add to pop up 😃.

Just to let you know a long time fan of your channel, my father passed away on Wednesday. We both enjoy and enjoyed your videos.

I remember wiping out just outside of Winterpeg { Winnipeg } -50 below ,winds blowing at 60 in a leather coat that was freezing and cracking from the cold.Engine compartment filled completely up and frozen,boy the good old days LOLOLOL

I Like that you kept it simple .... Preserved it's driving "Feel patina"

You really sent her there eh bud!! Pretty hard to get snow on top of the air cleaner. You can tell Mortske is keeping this one, he has a list of things to fix that annoy him, plus he's not worried about losing the shop over the cost of the upgrades. Duff is probably digging in the snow because he caught a scent and is trying to track whatever critter left it. You are gonna spoil him with 3 rides in a week. That is now the new normal. Awesome job!! Can't wait til next Monday already.

Great video when I look at the back of the cab and the box looks alot like my Ford Ranchero be safe and thanks for taking us along on a nother video

A winter wonderland adventure. Lol. Thank you sir. Be well and stay safe. UK.

Looks like Duff is the brains behind this enterprise...... seriously, I enjoy your channel.

I'm with you ,keep the six. That's his home.

How'd I manage to miss this video? Glad I found it on here today! 😁👍 That was a great video.

I like these models. I have 2 1963 F600 tippers. I'll get around to them one day. One day! Thanks for the vid. 🇦🇺

I'm so glad you got that project done. It came out real good. I'm voting for the front seal on the Ford next week.

I got my '66 F-100 stuck in my alley in the mud. Had to pull it out with my '76 impala. Got my '67 F-250 4x4 stuck in my backyard in about 10 inches of snow. I just had new Kelly Springfields put on it. Had to shovel my way down to the house, and drive down the front yard to the street. The clutch was not happy, it was stuck in gear. Good times !

Great video! Try to stay out of the snow banks! Always enjoy watching and listening to you and Duff!!

Great video!!!! Loved seeing Duff digging and playing in the snow when you got stuck!!! Super cute!! Looked a bit chilly..nice of your friend to come to the rescue 😊 cheers 🍻 🍻

Never a dull moment with you and Duff! Thanks, for taking us along with you!

Let me tell you a little Ford story. Back when we went to a dealer looking for a truck. They had a 92 F159 SC and a 93 Chevy regular cab.
The Chevy was V8 Auto. The Ford was 300 Six and 5 speed manual. We ended up with Ford as it just drove better.
We had that truck for a long time and I would like to find one even now,

Vinegar! Fill the coolant passages with vinegar, I use apple cider vinegar. Wait a few days and pressure wash. Eats rust like no other! Learned that from all my fuel tank cleaning days

I can relate to the winter conditions. Pulled many people out of the snow here at the end of the world. Always carry some form of traction device/sand/gravel/kitty litter and a shovel. You want to experience winter 6 months out of the year come up to Alaska for a visit!

I use a 3’x3’x6” concrete mixing tub when I know I’m gonna spill oil, but I do enjoy the Greta and Exxon Valdez clips! Keep it up Mortske! My wife even enjoys your videos

Death Metal Greta was hilarious! Love the truck, fix that heater core so Duff can defrost...
Great videos Mort👍🤘

I like you're 61 Ford truck. Don't forget the taller tire's changes your gear ratio. Thanks for sharing your videos

Me being a third generation Ford guy all I got to say is it's yours do what you want anyone say different can go kick rocks 😉 love a unibody if it was mine it would be getting a 460 lol only because I have one

Its about time you got started on that badass truck !!!! I love it already.

hahahah "we could screw anything up!" is the best comment for a crappy situation! awesome video... I HATE getting stuck in snow

Nothing like those concrete snow drifts! I remember those as a kid in Minnesnowta🥶! She may be a little low to get through the drifts but she’s still a nice truck! Thanks for the video 👍

I love the 223. I have a 57 fairlane with that exact same drivetrain (223 with a 3 speed and a 3:70 9 inch) and I adore it.

Never talk bad about any make of vehicle on the interwebs. How Dare You!!
lol Ty as always Duff

Now that was an adventure Mortske. Nice to have friends to bail you out of the snow. Duff sure had fun though. Hate to say it but it's 80 degrees here in Mesa today. About a 1% chance of rain this week. Definitely Chamber of commerce weather. I' have one of those freeze plug installers but by the time the thing stops trying to install the plug crooked The old tried and true half inch drive socket and extension comes through every time. I picked up a Swedish pattern pipe wrench today. A buddy uses one all time on hard to reach stuff. If you have not heard of it Google it. Might be something to ad to your tool collection. That old Ford unibody is cool as is. Robin egg blue. Three on the tree and all. How many do you see these days without an engine swap to a huge V-8? I know every pick up like that here has been all chopped up and not in a good way. That truck is surprisingly void of body rot. Great patina. Everybody get Duff approved. Have a great week my friend.

Will it runs, project videos, doesn't matter. Enjoy watching you and your supervisor duff work on stuff!

Love the videos and all the work you put into them. Appreciate the knowledge and explaining what your doing as well as the humor. Just wanted to say thanks and look forward to future projects! Thanks again for what you do!

Job well done as always Mortske…
I found one of those unibodies some years back, but it was pretty hammered…….
Don’t you just love those old 60s Fords when you’re as tall as we are it seems like the steering wheel is always right up in your grill.
Waiting for the next one.
Carry-on….

Lousy Monday just got a great improvement. Been peaking at this episode since this morning. Thanks you two!

Great job getting her going again. Have fun playing in the snow ❄. I'm tired of winter and ready for the spring.

Hello Mortske, I was in high school in the mid seventies. Probably the best time of drag racing and you're right most of the Ford guys were pissed off all the time except for maybe one guy I knew John that had a Torino GT Fastback with a 390 that was actually pretty fast but could not come close to beating my 68 Roadrunner big block 440 which was built to the hilt. All in all though we remain pretty good friends even though he was a Ford guy, LMAO. But then there were guys like Robbie who was a big Brute had a beautiful 65 Mustang 289 but when he rebuilt it he put the rods in backwards and the caps on backwards so by the second or third piss and you couldn't even turn it over and the worst part of that was is he was a certified diesel mechanic so was his father and when he did that his dad came up who was even bigger than him and slapped him right upside the head period which actually made Robbie even more pissed off even though he was wrong totally. Most of us in that neighborhood and it was a big neighborhood were Mopar guys and we held it down pretty damn good too. I also had built a couple of V8 Vegas and I had one Pontiac a72 BFGoodrich Trans-Am which according to my brother who I got it from was a Indianapolis pace car at one time and of course everything that bolted on that sucker was severely expensive but the motor was fairly good and so was the 4-speed and literally that car could hop beer cans when you dump the clutch. He needed a work truck and I had one and I didn't mind owning that car seeing how all the work was already done. LMAO. So yes the whole moral to this story is is I have to agree 100% with you about the Ford guys. No offense fellows! There are a few forwards that I actually like the whole lot in my day I won't mention them because I really freaking hate Fords and I've only owned one and that was a really great car a 2001 ZX2 that I paid a whopping $500 for from a sincere neighbor in Texas. But the biggest ball buster of all as my son my one and only son has been a Ford certified technician for the last 15 years but he's a Chevy guy and he said he would never ever tell anybody to buy a Ford. Anyway my friend you know how I am I like telling stories to my friends on RUclips so many blessings to you Mortske. Oh yeah and I won't hold it against you because you have a bunch of Fords. Actually that truck is pretty damn cool.