Hey guys

I may go look at a 55 f100 on thursday was wondering what the major issues to look for

Thanks Dan

 

Hey Dan,

Im sure others will chime in. First welcome to the forum. I would check the complete floor and the roof driprail. Then proceed out to Cab Corners. On the cab corners it is sorta kinda a given one or all may have to be replaced. Seems the corners sure like to rust. Then on the front edge of the front fenders right above the headlight check there for rust or excessive filler. Also where the running boards mount to the front and rear fenders check there for rust. What are you planning to do with the truck? Stock restoration or customize it?

 

Hey Dan..

welcome to FTE and your premiere source for info on these old beauties...

Donald gave you some good info and this might help...

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CLASSIC FORD TRUCK

go look at and get ya some !! then come back here

john

 

Thanks guys I plan to get it running and then use it for a couple of years do a little bit each year

 

IMHO smartest thing you could do. Get it running and drive it. Get the smell of the exhaust in you and grip of the steering, tension in the clutch if manual. RIpping into it making it inoperable normally is a path to a sell for much less than you have it. When you can utilize the search there is likely no question you have that hasnt been approached. You got a bunch of good folks here not just truck related topics we are sorta like a big Ford family. Welcome again

 

Welcome to the asylum...errr, I mean forum! Lots of good info here and the one who best documents what he knows and learns is John Niolon. Take some time to read his writings and you will be ahead of the curve in no time.

The only thing that I would add is that you must be the judge of what you can afford when making the step into an early F100. There are a wide variety of aftermarket parts for these trucks so there is little that you can't find in the way of replacement parts. If you are good with bodywork then your first truck can probably have bit more rust/dents than what someone else would be willing to buy into. 302s and C4s are abundant so a reliable driveline could be purchased with small cash if necessary. The only thing that I would caution against is buying someone else's project truck...if they are tired of messing with it then more than likely you will be too before it's all said and done. Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

 

Welcome "new guy". definately ck. the drip rail area. Like they say cab corners are usally gone, but....Drive it and enjoy the ride!

 

Title. It's possible to get one if it doesn't have it, but it's a major PITA, and you don't want put any work or money into it without it. (because the who has the title owns the truck, and if you finish it and the title owner pops into the equation, he then owns it and all you've done. Seen it happen)



The other issues sorta depend on whats an issue to you. Rust wasn't an issue to me as I'm a blacksmith and love metal work (the irony is my truck is rust free, lol). Floors aren't so bad in my opinion, things that tend to get difficult are places where it's a corner or a meeting of things. Like a drip rail.

Issues around the cab seem to be the big problems. Fenders, hoods, grilles, doors, beds (they are basically the same from 53-72) and other parts can be swapped out if too bad. The cab has to be fixed. It's the only thing that HAS to be fixed, everything else has the option of being swapped.


Take some pictures and bring them back here, you'll know exactly what kind of a deal it is that day and any possible problems with it. If nothing else, we all seem to have a thing for pictures, lol

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ What they said. For me it was a frame that was so badly bent that I went ahead and bought one from TCI rather than hauling home another carcass with a bent frame.

 

Glad you are looking at a great truck. Enjoy your journey!
Welcome to FTE!