I've been browsing this forum for quite some time and love checking out the build threads.

Now for some history. I will try not to bore anyone to much

I have a 55 f100 that I have owned since I was 18. I'm 58 now, (damn 40 years!)
Bought it in '72 from a used car lot for $500 to haul my dirtbikes. Someone had put a 62 pontiac 389 & auto trans. Well it didnt run for very long so I pulled the motor trans & rear end and installed a chevy 396/400 turbo & camaro 12 bolt rear end. ( I worked at a Chevy only wrecking yard at the time and got them for free)

I drove it like that for a few years and then I had a shop in Burbank, Ca. install a chevelle disc brake frt clip in it. If I remember right, the owners name was Ronnie Baughn. ( I think). I believe he was a member of the burbank chapter of pickups limited.

A long story short I drove it off & on for a few years after that, but when the motor went south it got parked. It has been sitting on the side of the house for the last 24 years mostly torn apart. I started to rebuild it at 1 point but then my daughter was born and there wasnt much time or money . ( priorities you know & I still had the dirt bike habit)

Well its time to get it back on the road, but with a tight budget. So I am going to keep the frame w/the chevelle frt clip and & flip kit for the rear end. And since it is already setup for a chevy drivetrain I will stick with that also.

So I look forward to the rebuild and visiting this forum for the great info.

John

 

Nice story. I'm glad you kept it all these years. I'm sure it means a lot to you. As always we like pictures. Welcome!

 

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your truck went from the dark side to the black hole (chevy) but hey, we all make mistakes.

 

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you probably know that old truck pretty well.

 

here are a couple of pics..sorry for the quality, they are pictures of pictures.
Yes it has a 53 grille, I think it was wrecked at one time, the underlying colors were different between the fenders and cab

1st one is from 1976. Right after it was painted


2nd one as it has sat for a long time

 

At the time I thought it was a GREAT improvement. But if I were to start over I think I would use a modern ford drivetrain.

 

Ah, another long term owner! I bought my F1 in 1975; it is like a part of me.
Yea put it back to Ford power! Enjoy

 

Another dream that didn't die. Excellent! Welcome.

DW

 

great story, welcome

 

All Fords are welcome here and it looks like a ford to me. IMPO, as long as you dont ask how to tune a Chxxx, I think youll be just fine. Welcome and thanks for the history. Lots of new members lately, I think thats very cool.

 

May I ask how to tune a fish?

 

I know it could be anywhere but I see your in CA and the street looks like one I used to live on in west San Jose (not far from Westgate) and a guy down the street had 2 or 3 mid-fifty trucks.

 

You can tune a piano, but you can't tuna fish.



Sorry for the hijack. Welcome to the forum, John. Nice truck and an even better story. Congrats on holding onto the truck for so long.

 

Great story! Keep us posted with new pics as you go along. Are you sticking with a 396?
Dan

 

That first pic is when I lived in Arleta, Ca.....A suburb north of L.A.