This 6.0L LS-Swapped 1975 Ford F-100 Was Stolen And Vandalized Mid-Build, But Came Back Harder

When Ryan Kennelly set out to build his 1975 Ford F-100 Custom longbed 4×4, he expected plenty of wrench time, but he never imagined the wrenches that would be thrown into the works along the way. After tracking down the vintage rig he’d been hunting for and making solid progress on the build, the truck was stolen. Eventually, he got it back, but it was vandalized and stripped of parts. Instead of throwing in the towel, Ryan doubled down, pivoted his build plan, and transformed the Ford into the awesome rig you see here.

The Beginning

Newer 4x4s were off the table when Ryan set the criteria for his next project truck. His must-haves were clear, and included: a pre-1976 platform (smog exempt), coil-spring front suspension (for a smoother ride than leaf springs), and V8 power (typically backed by stout running gear).

Ryan tracked down the F-100 on Facebook Marketplace. After talking with the owner and reviewing photos and videos, he knew the truck checked all the boxes. The plan was simple: fly from San Diego, California, to Reno, Nevada, seal the deal, and drive it 600 miles home while camping and wheeling along the way.

In person, the Ford delivered. It still wore its original paint, had just two small rust holes, and retained its factory 360-cubic-inch V8. Before arriving in Reno, Ryan shipped some items including a set of tires and a set of manual locking hubs to a local shop. The owner allowed Ryan to use his shop to prep the truck for the trip home. The F-100’s transfer case was stuck in 4-Hi, so the locking hubs allowed the frontend to freewheel on the drive back to San Diego, while the fresh tires replaced a worn-out set.

Work Begins

The drive back to San Diego went surprisingly smooth. Ryan had to chase down an engine pre-ignition issue along the way, but beyond that, the F-100 hammered out the miles without complaint.

Once home, the wrenching started immediately. Ryan added a deep-cycle marine battery, completed some work on the gauges and associated parts, installed new carpet, and tackled a handful of other upgrades. He also bolted in a suspension system and new tires and wheels.

Thieves Steal The F-100

Work on the F-100 was rolling along smoothly until thieves stole the truck from Ryan’s shop. Four days later, it turned up abandoned on a public street. The truck had been vandalized and, among other things, the thieves had slathered it in black paint, wiping out the Ford’s decades-old patina.

Ryan was bummed but not defeated. Instead of throwing in the towel, he used the setback as fuel to take the build in a new direction that included converting the truck into a shortbed. He chopped the wheelbase from 133 inches down to 117 inches and shortened the bed to match. Ryan also relocated the fuel filler and the F-100’s factory side toolbox, an option never offered on shortbed trucks. “It took a ton of hours to shrink that toolbox,” Ryan says.

Since then, the F-100 has continued evolving.

LS Power, Five-Speed Manual Transmission

Under the hood sits a 6.0-liter Gen III LS V8 pulled from a salvage-yard box van. Ryan specifically hunted down this engine because it doesn’t use Active Fuel Management. Keeping temperatures in check is a Champion radiator paired with a Hayden Automotive motorhome-spec clutch fan. The exhaust is a mash-up of two different systems and flows through a Dynomax muffler.

Ryan also kicked the factory C6 automatic to the curb in favor of an NV4500 five-speed manual paired with a McLeod Adventure Series clutch. Hanging off the back is an NP241 transfer case fitted with an Offroad Design slip-yoke eliminator kit.

High-Pinion Dana 44, Ford 9-Inch

 The F-100’s front axle is a high-pinion Dana 44 packed with Motive Gear chromoly shafts, an ARB Air Locker, and a Wild Horses disc brake kit. Out back, a Ford 9-inch axle brings 35-spline shafts, another ARB Air Locker, and disc brakes to the party. Both axles are stuffed with Motive Gear 4.56:1 gears.

A Skyjacker Suspension 4-inch lift kit raises the front of the rig, while a set of 1978 Ford Bronco-spec Wild Horses leaf springs handle lift duties in the rear.

The Ford rolls on 35-inch Milestar Patagonia X/T tires wrapped around 8.5-inch-wide 4 Wheel Parts wheels.

Back To It’s Original Color, Loaded With Mods

Ryan returned the truck to its original Wimbledon White finish. Exterior upgrades also include a custom rear bumper, front recovery points, and plenty of KC Lights firepower. They include forward-facing 6-inch Gravity Pro6 LED lights along with rear-facing Gravity LED G4 Jeep Wrangler JK-application lights.

Inside, the truck packs a solid list of upgrades, including Dakota Digital RTX gauges with tire pressure monitoring system, an ARB Twin Air compressor, J.E. Reel driveshafts, and custom switch panels. Ryan also added sound-deadening insulation along with carpet from OC Auto Carpets and new door panel material.

Driven 33,000 Miles Since Completion

Having his 1975 Ford F-100 Custom 4×4 stolen mid-build could have killed the project, but Ryan refused to let it. He regrouped, reworked the truck, and transformed it into the killer machine you see here. And this F-100 is far more than a garage queen. Since its completion, Ryan has piled more than 33,000 miles onto the truck proving it was built to be driven.

Photos by Ryan Kennelly