This is the only reason i would consider boxing the frame, some genius cut the frame and extended the frame.. other than that I would leave it just the way ford made it.

 

My apologies. I was suffering from rectal/cranial inversion when I first read your initial posting. In my deluded state i thought that you had a 54 truck and a 59 truck. After seeing your pic and rereading what you posted I realise you have a 54 truck with a 59 bed (not to mentioned the lengthened frame.

My bed advice still holds though, there are lots of good beds out there currently being used as trailers. If you're not in a rush and keep your eyes and ears open donor frames come up on a regular basis. Keep an eye on Craigslist and make friends around here and something is bound to come up.

Good luck, it looks like a decent start to a nice project
Bobby

 

I have found a few complete trucks for cheap but I was short 100 dollars on one and the guy wouldnt budge.... I understand the confusion, you should have seen my face when I pulled the bed off, I had the WTF face

 

LOL...I'm always $100 short

 

WTF...
I would definitely suggest a replacement frame. WARNING: Most state use the serial # stamped on the frame as the legal ID for the entire vehicle. If you replace the frame with a new one make sure you get a transferable registration or title that matches the # stamped on the frame. The # is usually found on top the pass side rail someplace between the front crossmember and firewall. It is not stamped deeply and often obscured by a coat of rust or paint.

 

so what would happen if theres no title...

 

Insert can-o'-worms emoticon here!
Worst case, you spend money, time, emotion and it winds up being a stolen vehicle upon effort to register it. Then you could lose it all and have to prove that you didn't steal it on a rainy September's eve back in 1973. .
Keep your receipts!

 

dammit... I might toss this truck up for sale.. I feel I have bit off more than I can chew

 

Hello and welcome to the forum.

I always say to make sure that you have a title in hand...with your name on it before you start dumping money into the project.

Some states can be pretty picky (Kentucky seems to be one of those). Others seem to have things down. I call it the virgin DMV scenario. When somebody walks in with a complicated title question, it's like it is the first time they've ever seen the problem. Could it be that maybe some of us here were the first guys to show up at our respective local DMV's with an old truck that "doesn't show up in the system".

By the way, California seems to know what to do. I can't say how Nevada will be.

On the frame thing...keep your eyes open...you'll find one pretty soon.

Dan