Hi ! New member, have owned my 1955 F100 about 20 years, have owned a 1953, 1954, and my current 1955. Built it as a "Pro Street" type hot rod, then a few years ago got the bug to race at El Mirage and Bonneville, so I have begun making changes in that direction. It's a very unusual truck in that it has 2 engines, up front a supercharged 460 , and out back a fully functional, full scale pulse jet engine (The same as used in World War 2 by the Germans on their cruise missile, the V-1 Buzz Bomb.). My father worked on missiles for Douglas, and my cousin is a lead engineer at NASA in Florida, so that's where the pulse jet influence came from. We are trying to do this in a "Old School" way, no chopped roof, drop axle front end, etc. Truck has had a complete frame off rebuild, with subtle changes using almost all Ford parts, it's actually very easy to service and work on. I used a factory 351m-400 bellhousing which bolt directly to the 460, and it allowed all the factory clutch linkage to be used, all that had to be fabricated was the adjustment rod to the fork, I used a 1967 Ford Toploader 4 speed , then switched to the later overdrive Toploader from a early 80's truck, the .79 od is fantastic for the freeway or for top speed. Rear end is a 9 inch from a 1957 F100, I use 3.50 gears for the street, and 2.47 gears from a 1979 Ranchero for top speed runs. I just started testing with the 2.47's, talk about scary top speed, with that .79 od on top of the 2.47 gear you run out of road quickly. Going to try & post a few pics on here. Still more changes to come, looks like the Toyota box next.

 

Lol. I need to get out of the sun. I was reading your post and I thought it said you were putting a JET ENGINE in a truck. Time for a glass of lemonade and then read that again.Welcome to FTE.

 

You might find John Maffucci's '55 F100 interesting. He holds some F100 ECTA land speed records..and has a super nice '55 with a 4.6 DOHC Cobra engine and 5spd. I've known him for several years and he is very interesting. Check out one of his websites.

1955 ford f100 for sale

 

I will & thanks ! I see you are in the Atlanta area, I used to live in Acworth up by Kennesaw, lived in Georgia for 3 years & loved it, might retire there. My old job transfered me all over the country & I eventually wound up back where I started in California. I'm trying to post some pics, I need to reduce them first so the forum will take them.

 

I will & thanks ! I see you are in the Atlanta area, I used to live in Acworth up by Kennesaw, lived in Georgia for 3 years & loved it, might retire there. My old job transfered me all over the country & I eventually wound up back where I started in California. I'm trying to post some pics, I need to reduce them first so the forum will take them. I own a Lightning too, a 2004 that I have kept stock, love it.

 

Posted 3 pics to my garage.

 

Ed's, I took a look at your pics, you have a fantastic truck ! Black is my favorite color too, too bad when I went shopping for my Lightning all I could find left at the dealers was red or white, so I choose the white, it blends in with all the work trucks out there, nobody notices when I'm going fast! I look at the other land speed record truck, it's a very beautiful build too. Hopefully I can get mine in the record books out here. Thanks for the info! How does you Volare front end ride & handle?

 

Welcome to the board!!

Good looking truck and an interesting project. Looking forward to hearing more about it

Bobby

 

Thanks Bobby! I bet that F-1 of your runs strong with a 500 Caddy motor in it! Have seen quite a few builds out here using the 500 in them, big power in a lighter than most big blocks package!

 

Welcome aboard! Great pictures of your truck! And I thought I had plenty of engine with my 5.0 NA. So, what's your top speed to date(Dale are you paying attention? ).

 

OK i guess i'll have to go to Tyndell airforce base [about 45 miles away] and steal a F-15. lol See yall in the NEWS !!!! Sweet truck DUDE !!!!

 

Thanks and welcome to FTE! Black is hard to beat when it's clean..keeping it that way is the problem! I'm in Conyers..just east of Atlanta.

I have no complaints on my Volarie IFS..rides and drives pretty good. Of course, it drives nothing like my Lightning truck though.

My 56 was already built when I got it. I bought it a year ago from a guy in CA and had it shipped to GA. The previous owner had owned it for over 40 years. The paint was good but was 15 years old so I had it re-painted over the winter and just got it back a couple of weeks ago. Turned out pretty well.
I took this picture at the Memorial Day car show last Monday.

 

Quite a truck you have there for sure. Keep us posted on your speed record endeavors. Very interesting!

 

i want to ride !!!!!!!!

 

LOL, you are not the only one...