Hey guys,
I finally can say that my project is on the road. I took the wife out for ice cream in it today and got back home in one piece.
Still have some minor details to attend to, but that is to be expected.
Many thanks to many members here who in the last three years offered support, encouragement, PARTS, answers, and in-person and telephone assistance.
This truck was a rotted out, used-up, vandalized, engine seized, modified pile of smelly rust that the previous owner couldn't even give away for scrap.
I started it in 2007 and gathered parts for it for five years before beginning the serious work in 2012. All assembly done in the driveway or in an unheated garage when it wasn't too cold out.
I replaced every piece of sheet metal (with used parts from around the U.S.) except the hood and the grille. I found a donor 226 truck engine to replace the original one....and returned the truck to stock configuration including 6-volt positive ground system.
I did nearly all the work myself except for the bed welding, finish bodywork and lifting the big parts into position in my driveway. I had a local guru who has been around these trucks for 50 years show me how to do some of the tricky rebuild items and give me a swift kick in the pants regularly when I did something backwards or upside down.
Maaco did the paint job - it came out pretty good.

Whew....it was quite a project.
If someone like me with caveman tools and a limited budget can do it....almost anyone can.
Tom

Here's a slideshow in time sequence of the disassembly and re-assembly:
1951 Ford Truck Project Slideshow by highlandlake | Photobucket




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that pickup looks great.

 

Beautiful truck! Great job!

 

Excellent! You did a great job on it.

So have you found the "next" one yet?????? You can't stop after just one.....

 

You did great work, Tom. That is really a superb resto truck. Enjoy the ride.

DW

 

Congratulations on a job well done. Your truck is gorgeous!

 

Congrats Tom!!

It is quite the feeling when you finally get to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

The paint looks great too.

 

Looks better than new! Nice to see someone staying stock, too!

 

The truck is beautiful!! Job well done!!

 

Fine looking F-2. Nice job. That's a Maaco paint job! Maybe I should be rethinking mine. Stu

 

Way to go, Tom! Congratulations.

 

Congratulations, that is a really great looking truck. What a wonderful job you did bringing back to life that poor old relic you described at the start of your build thread. I hope you have a ball with it.

 

Yes, Maaco did the paint work. I had some quality issues with two different body shops that were supposed to paint the truck. The first one had the parts for six months and never did anything. The second guy began the body work then skipped town and abandoned their leased space - I had to go to a scrap yard to get them back and lost some pieces in the process.
Last year - out of money and patience I went to Maaco and it turns out I should have gone there in the first place. They were quick, careful and priced reasonable.

Tom

 

Fine job, indeed!

 

Wow! You did a great job.
But I do have to say, this is my favorite photo of the bunch. It just puts a big smile on my face.