This project idea hatched back in 2006.
I found out through pictures that my great grandfather owned a
1948 Ford F-1 for a work truck around the family dairy at the time in the 50's.

Any way myself being a car guy, and a Ford car guy at that.
I wanted that old Ford truck!

Although in (2005-2010) I had a lot going on in my life,
I just bought a house, and was getting ready to get married.
Then after we had our 1st child. Long story short life happened.

But all that time I have been getting ideas from all over the Ol' InterWeb.
Collecting pictures of the same style old Ford trucks that I liked.
Getting info on: Engines, interiors, truck beds, hoods, grills, running boards, ride height, performance, wheels, tires.
Ive got a very thick folder of all those different styles & ideas.
Hand written notes of what I really liked, and so on…

Turns out, people do a lot with these old trucks.
I did not want a factory restoration build.
I wanted the old and the new together.
But I did not want what most do, a S-10 frame with a 350 motor in it.
I wanted something better, different.
Also keeping it an all Ford truck.


Step 1:
So I made my mind up.
I was going to use the body off a 1948 Ford F-1.
And the motor, computer, brakes, suspension, frame off a Ford F150 Lightning SVT


Step 2:
April of 2013; I took the idea into action. (8 years later)
I bought a 2002 Ford Lightning SVT
Its been a daily driver, and Ive been using it as a daily driver for now as well.
I have been doing some motor, suspension, and brake work to it as well.
Making sure this truck is going to be a good motor, tranny, frame, donor truck.
I had to go 99' or newer to make sure I got the factory supercharger on it.


Step 3:
October of 2013;
I bought the 1948 Ford F-1.
I found it on cragislist, it had everything I wanted and for the right price.
I bought it from a guy 2 hours down the road.
It's a complete 1948 Ford F-1, V8 flathead, 3 on the tree, barn find.
Does NOT run.


Step 4:
Tear down the 1948 Ford F-1.
All Im wanting to keep is the body.
My goal is to get the complete body off the frame by Thanksgiving 2013.
Then to sell the 1948 Ford F-1 rolling frame w/ the Flathead V8.

-Uptodate-11/5/2013


So where did the 20 year project come from?
My son will have his 16 birthday in November of 2026.
My date in my head the truck has got to be complete by.
I got lots of time. Right?

 

I hope so, cause you sure didn't tell us much!!! LOL

 

Welcome to the board. Sounds like a great project. I look forward to following your progress.

 

Looking forward to this. Keep us posted.

Paul

 

I'm subscribing....Love SVT.

 

Hope your 30 year old engine controller is up for the challenge when you finally fire her up in 19 years.

 

Times flying! Better get working and also post pics!Have fun

 

Here they are side by side.
Two trucks ready to become one!

 

When I got the 48' home the boy had to check it out.




And first we had to change a tire to let it roll better.

 

Starting the tear down!!!



Tailgate off.



My dad doing some cutting, every bolt had to be cut off.



The bed wasnt as heavy as I thought it would be.



We took the bed off as one unit.

 

Took the old seat out too, makes the inside smell alot better.




I have restored an old 66' mustang but it wasnt as bad as this.
You know that smell of rat poop.

 

You did measure the two trucks before you started and realize the WB and tread width isn't even close and the lightening frame has a major swayback in the cab area and a huge kickup in the front and rear to clear the suspension, the engine sits further rearward, steering column and pedals are offset from the 48 location, etc etc don't you? (In other words nothing is going to match up to the 48 sheetmetal) Many have tried this swap, very few (any?) have succeeded without looking like an escapee from a monster truck meet. You are likely to need every minute of that time. Best of luck.

 

I dont want to tell you what to do, thats completely up to you. But if I where the son I would get extatic to get a STOCK working 48 in 2026, the Frankenstein approch usually ends up in a field or a barn eventually.

Just my ten cent, good luck!

 

Subscribing to watch another F1 Die a slow death.

Good luck. You are gonna need it.

 

What a bunch of cheerful charlies here! lol.

I would love to see this build go well and I'm looking forward to seeing it completed and ripping up the road. It will be interesting to see how you meet and overcome the challenges some have mentioned.