Preserve it! You can find a flatbed anywhere but not an old fire truck in the condition you describe.

 

Interesting. But, I studied the pictures. I agree with your suggestion.
Regards,
John T

 

What suggestion?

 

^^^ Here it is....I seam to be able to load a picture of it in my avatar....

 

To use pictures on the forum it is best to host your pictures on Photobucket.com, then copy and paste the image link into your post on FTE.

 

The pictures you sent me are much better. Thanks,
Regards,
John T.

 

You suggested that you seriously considered scrapping the red body and pump.
You mentioned a flat bed and hoist. I suggested a car carrier/ hoist and winch.
Regards,
John in Waukesha Wi

 

I stand behind my suggestion. Enough old specific job Fords get modified. Maybe try to sell the complete unit as is and buy an older flatbed or wrecker model. I'm 60, my first vehicle was a 1956 Ford pick up. Had nothing but Fords since. ( well, one 2008 Dodge 3500 but not for very long).

 

Lets give this a try....

 

That truck looks much like my 57 F600 it started out life as a firetruck, when I got it it was still fully operational. I pulled the bed and pumps and sold them to a local dirt track as a water supply truck -- firetruck combo. They mounted it on a diesel chassis, I turned mine into a wrecker and am well satisfied , I think the advice to turn yours into a flatbed dump is a great idea. In the end it's up to you what happens to that great old truck,, but remember old trucks should be worked not museum pieces. My 57 now has a 390/5spd/2spd rear powertrain and works very well, I swapped in a later model 2spd rear axle to get better brakes and a 2spd rear. When It needs kingpins in the front axle I will swap a later model axle with disc brakes as an upgrade.

Have A Great Day ----- Hotwrench

 

Hi,
What was the final consensus? Will your Ford become a flat bed car hauler or stay
as a fire truck?

Regards,
John Thomas
Waukesha Wi

 

If it were me, I would keep it as a fire truck. You can always find a cheap old truck. But to own your own fire truck. Man shine that thing up and put it in the parade or better yet find a local country fire department. That would love to own this thing. Our local fire department just got a crew cab pumper. They have a pair of the late 80's fire trucks if the sell one. I will sure be bidding on one. Anything else have a backup motor for my F800.
Pete

 

No way could I bring myself to decommission an old fire truck in that good of condition. Go to a city or county auction and pick up and old flatbed if you need one. I just bought a 1988 Ford/Boardman pumper....I've already had half a dozen requests to use it in parades for homecoming queen nominees, Christmas, etc...

 

Question for John Markl; Is your Ford/Boardman pumper a conventional pumper or an
ugly bumper pumper? I owned a real pumper. 1955 Peter Pirsch built in Kenosha Wi.
It was an open cab, Waukesha 6, ROSS cam & roller steering, hydrovac brakes,
Spicer 5 speed, Hale 1000gpm pump, 5oo gal. booster tank etc. A chromeless Ford
with the pump on the front bumper is not worth saving. A fire buff will buy all the fire
equipment. If he was a real fire buff, he would not have bought it in the first place.

 

No, it's a "real" pumper. 9 outlets, counting the deck gun.