Hello guys. I'm new here and would like to find some help with my latest truck. It's a '49 F1 with a 239 flathead and 3 sp tranny. Mostly all original. It was so called restored 30 years ago but they obviously arent as picky as I am because the resto looks like a backyard deal. I have had many old ford trucks but never an F1. Mine were mainly 54-56 and 65-66 F100's. So I apologize for the many questions.....and I have more...lol. I do all my own work so I'm looking forward to doing the few things this truck needs to finish it off. I'll post some pics of it later. Thanks for all the help ahead of time..


F1 Questions I have.
1. can I find a used hood
2. is there a way to make the hood latch mechanism better...mine pops open on bumps
3. what is the front cross member under the hood (bolted to hood) for and can it be replaced
4. best way to lower the truck to get it to sit similar to this one...




5. any supplier for hidden tow hitches for light towing
6. which flathead engines need lead fuel additive and how do I know. Previous owner said he messed up the stock engine by not adding lead. So he bought a later model 239 from a friend.
7. Best source of info to get truck to 12v THE RIGHT WAY
8. How are the grill bars attached?
9. Can someone show me an exploded view of the front of the truck so I can see what unbolts where....previous owner painted over gaps so everything is stuck together.

ps...no internet in my town...duh...so is there a mobile app I can use to post and read your responses on my phone?

 

Welcome to FTE from a fellow neighbor. I'm not familiar enough to give you advise in the F-1's but there are many here who I'm sure can offer their assistance. Sounds like your quite accustom to the build process with your past projects. This is a great group of members with an enormous amount of resources both written and collectively among the members.

 

Welcome to FTE, a great bunch of guys with lots of knowledge. And then there are people like me that can't even get my engine to start.

I immediately clicked on the picture link and thought, don't touch anything on that beauty. Then I read your posts. Have I ever said we love pictures?

There are hoods out there, shipping will be a bear.
Here is one, but I don't know the exact year...
USED 48-50 FORD PICKUP HOOD 1948 1949 1950 LOCAL PICKUP ONLY FOR PARTS READ AD | eBay
Here is one on our classifieds section I'm not sure what all Scott has left, but he is a stand up guy.:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...rts-f1-f6.html
Classic Haulers is a great site for parts for your model: Classic Haulers F-1 Parts - Home

There is a mobile version of the app, If you go to the site on your phone it should prompt you. I never use it since I'm always close to a computer.

 

F1 Questions I have.
1. can I find a used hood
They are out there. You can post a wanted ad in the classifieds on FTE.

2. is there a way to make the hood latch mechanism better...mine pops open on bumps
Sounds like it just needs adjusted (someone else may know how, I haven't gotten that far on mine).

3. what is the front cross member under the hood (bolted to hood) for and can it be replaced
I think you are referring to the radiator cowling which keeps air flowing through the radiator instead of over it. They can be found used.

4. best way to lower the truck to get it to sit similar to this one...



That truck probably has IFS and IRS. See info on Jag swaps.

5. any supplier for hidden tow hitches for light towing
Don't think so. You'll have to fab it.

6. which flathead engines need lead fuel additive and how do I know. Previous owner said he messed up the stock engine by not adding lead. So he bought a later model 239 from a friend.
Pretty sure they all need lead additive or hardened seats installed.

7. Best source of info to get truck to 12v THE RIGHT WAY See below.

8. How are the grill bars attached?
I don't know, mine were gone.

9. Can someone show me an exploded view of the front of the truck so I can see what unbolts where....previous owner painted over gaps so everything is stuck together.
There is a diagram floating around here, someone will probably point you to it.

ps...no internet in my town...duh...so is there a mobile app I can use to post and read your responses on my phone?
Don't know, I have a dumb phone.

Many questions you have or will have are covered here.

 

Welcome to the forum. It is a great resource.

It would help if you posted where you are from as someone in the area may have some leads on the parts you need.

LMC has a great catalog for free and it is a great resource for exploded diagrams of various assemblies.

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fa/t.aspx?Page=22

On the grill bars, mine look like they were spotwelded to the outer headlight panels.

 

Welcome, I have a 49 F1 v8 239 3 on the tree.

I am working on the bed on mine. Can't help you with the front end.

But will be watching your progress.

Neal

 

BIG PIG DADDY, what a beautiful truck you have.What color red is that?

 

Thanks for the replies so far. For some reason I couldn't get the image link to show up in the post so I put the regular link. I live in Cuba, Alabama.
Smitty: where ya from?
BIG: I've taken the lower latch panel down to bare metal to refinish and adjust... No luck. Taking upper off tomorrow.
Ward: I also have the bed wood out and am renewing that whole project. Wasn't converted correctly so I'm gonna.

Can someone give me an educated guess on the truck pic I posted as to amount lowered?

 

Ha Ha! I wish that was mine. I was just posting the pic that did not show up for Wayne.

 

Hey Wayne,
Welcome Aboard! Our 1950 F1 truck below has a Mustang II IFS with - No drop spindles. This lowered the stock truck about 5 inches in the front. Judging from your red truck pic - I'd say they dropped it another 3 or 4 inches up front. The back of the truck is pretty low too - airbags?

Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin

 

Welcome to FTE. If, by grill bars, you mean the stainless strips, they are attached with clips that are bolted to the grille bars with retaining nuts on the back. On the other hand, if you are talking about the bars of the grille they are spot welded to the rest of the grille from the factory.

Your hood latch mechanism is probably out of adjustment. You can probably eliminate the hood popping open with an adjustment.

My 48 shown below has an IFS and the rear end has been moved above the springs. I think this dropped both the front and rear about 4-5 inches. It's not super low but it is as low as I wanted it for the roads I drive on...

 

Hey Wayne... greetings from your Northern neighbor.. I'm John...reside in Hueytown, Al. About 15 miles SW of B'ham. I'll bet I'm the only one on FTE that knows where Cuba is. Our family used to own a plantation down there a hundred years ago (and no Bobby... I wasn't around then).. Work with a good buddy that is from your 'hood' actually Epes... Bout the only question I can help you with is the hitch (I'm a 53 guy) I searched high and low and couldn't find a suitable bolt on so I bought as close as possible and did a 'field fit' adjustment... here's a link to the article I did on it...

installing a trailer hitch in a '53 f-100

probably not much help but you might see something useful. It was a bear to fit it between the rear mounted tank and the roll pan. I had to leave one shoehorn in it.

there's lots of your vintage builders on here and can guide you with your questions... there is no better site or group of people on the internet. Your severely hampered with no internet... there is a ton of info out there...vendors with great sites and infomation just for a click... you'll just have to use the phone and talk a lot. When I started my truck this forum was an email list and I was like you except there was very little on what internet there was... it's so much easier now. Good luck and keep us posted and if you get up to Hueytown let me know and we'll swap lies.

You might as well go on and post pics... even if it's a picture of the barn the truck is in... these guys love pictures... heck... they'll go crazy with a picture of your dog(s) cows... mailbox... a lugnut laying on the ground... it's that much of an addiction..

later
John

 

Welcome Wayne!

On question 6 (collect them all!) - the smart folk here have generally suggested that unleaded fuel is just fine for the flat heads. I try to listen to the smart folk.

Question 9 - the front end sheet metal and grill is the most complicated and over engineered collection of steel parts,bolts, and nuts on the truck. It is often best to take the front clip (fenders - both inner and outer, grill, and front valance - where the FORD letters are attached) off as a single unit. Getting to all the oddly placed blot locations for the grill and fenders is much easier if you don't have to shrink and defy gravity.

Happy Motoring!

DW

 

Welcome Wayne. Glad you found FTE. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your project!

 

I will get some pics up this week and also share a little more info. I've enjoyed all these responses and look forward to more. Thanks!