just need a push in the right direction...I hope..I have been looking for a cab for my truck as it has worked all it's life rust is winning ,,the problem ..I found a running truck with a good cab and doors....X-fire truck...compleat and nearby.. I need the body to keep the yellow beast on the road ..owning a fire truck...is neet ..but not a practical as a pickup...do I destroy a running restorable truck to protect mine ..or pass an it might end up crushed...

 

Ken - your MH is one of two that we've come across. It's not even a close call to me. Fire engines are the donors of choice for valid reasons. They have no unique value in their own right, are generally rust free, and well maintained. But will help you save your rare beast. Go for it. Stu

 

Hell man if you buy it it's yours. You can do what ever you want with it. If the firetruck was super rare, valuable and needed saving someone else would have bought it. You've got a rare truck don't feel bad parting another out to save it.

 

thank's Stu...just seems a shame to tear apart a good truck ,one that may have helped save lives..made a differance in my mind...

 

So a ex-firetruck is better as a parts donor? WHY? If it runs and is driveable it could be made into a rollback or a flatbed. It wasn't stated how the body was configured either. Some firetrucks have the pump mounted out in front, running off the crankshaft. Others have a midship pump, which runs off the driveshaft. The pump body may be grafted onto the back of the cab, which can be undone. Firetruck buffs are a different breed, just look for them on the internet and you'll find them. Buy the truck, sell it for a profit and keep looking for a parts truck, they can be found.

 

sell ..for ..a profit...don't think i have ever made a profit..nice idea..and back to should it be destroyed...to save mine...

 

Theres always room for more...lol, have you thought of picking up to re-sell it or possibly trade it for what you need?

 

Fire trucks are the red-headed step child of old trucks... everyone thinks they're neat, but over the years we've seen cherry examples go for next to nothing on here. When it comes to putting down the cash to buy one, and especially to ship one, no one steps up.

I'd rather see one of them go for scrap than a farm truck. From a restoration standpoint, their typical low mileage and lots of care (compared to a farm truck) makes them a gold mine of high quality spare parts.

 

Ditto. Not only that, but with the price of scrap metal through the roof right now, you can probably strip off all the sheetmetal and anything else of value and scrap the rest for a profit.

 

15+ years ago I found a low mileage, 3000, '48-50 F-7 firetruck in a town about 30 miles north of me. I bought it for $850, took the cab off to use on my F-2 and sold what was left for $900. I feel I got real lucky because through a grape vine of communication I found a person who collected large '48-50 Ford trucks. With only 3000 miles the cab was mint. At the time I felt kind of bad about tearing such a nice truck apart but I was able to get my baby back on the road and I have over 15 enjoyment out of it.



BTW, if you decide to buy the firetruck maybe we can get a relay organized!
I just had to say it.

 

The doors with the insignia are worth a gold mine alone! I'd build a truck around the doors.

 

LOL! I couldn't bring myself to say it!

 

 

The cab, doghouse, and whole front end will set right on your frame.

 

Looking at his avatar the truck looks looks like a F-250 or F-350 if it is then the front clip from the firetruck might not fit his truck. Most fire trucks that I've seen are usually the larger F-750 and up, that front end is wider than the smaller trucks. If that vintage truck is like the older '48-52s the F-250 to F-650 share fenders. I could be wrong, I don't know that much about the newer trucks.