When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
First a little about myself; my name is Steve and I live in Billings, Montana. I retired from the US Army in 1996 and that’s the only claim to fame I have. Love restoring old vehicles; this will be my first Ford restore.
So, just where do I start with this old beast? Just bought it from a friend who got it in a trade for labor on a job he did.
It is a 1956 F-500, 272 V8, 4 speed manual trans. It does not have a 2 speed rear end, which I am quite happy with. The motor does run but, the carb dumps gas like craze. The truck has a 12 foot dump bed on it. All of the hydraulics work to include the PTO.
This old truck has spent its entire life as a grain truck in South Dakota and I am the third owner. There is a small amount of cancer in the rear cab corners. And, as usual there is surface rust, dent and dings.
The to-do list:
1. Clean the living daylights out of the cab. Think there might have been a family of mice living in the seat.
2. Remove the gas tank from inside the cab. Going to hang a tank from the frame.
3. Tear off all of the wood on the flatbed. It’s really junky.
4. Remove the front clip and bed so that repairs can start.
5. Last but not least, remove the engine and transmission and prep for rebuild.
This will get me started on this resto project. I’ll be posting to this thread as the project moves along. I am hoping that I can finish it with in 1 year. But, since I live in Montana and have no garage the weather will direct how long it will take to finish.
Interior is in fare condition.
This is the worse damage on the truck.
Don't be surprised if I ask a lot of questions during this project
Looks good Steve! And welcome to FTE. Thanks for your service to our country.
The interior does look good. Looks like red was the original color. I wonder what the seat looks like underneath that vinyl cover? A working hoist and dump, great for hauling and umping stuff! Hang on to that left sided F500 emblem. They do not reproduce them.
Keep us updated with lots of pics. Good luck! Oh and why are you glad it doesn't have a 2-speed rear?
Well, that was quick! Nice job on starting the build thread.
Your truck looks to be in great shape. I appreciate the fact that you already have a plan.
This is a great place to ask any questions you might have. There are lots of folks on here who know about your year truck, your engine, trans, etc... I'm not one of them, but there are plenty on here.
And I know you and Stu already discussed your wheels in my build thread and that you have keepers and a deal on new tires when you get around to that.
Now all I have to do is figure out how to great page two on here.
If you mean you want to make a second page in your thread, don't worry about it. The pages appear automatically when they "fill up". And it will depend on a mysterious mix of numbers of posts and pics in each post. Don't ask why, because I don't know.
Your truck looks like its in great shape. Its a good starting point. I can't wait to follow along as you bring it back to life. I sure wish I had room for a big truck
Where is our wheel man? Are them widow maker wheels?
Please do not try and air up that flat steer tire until you
Know for sure or we may never hear from you again.
Where is our wheel man? Are them widow maker wheels?
Please do not try and air up that flat steer tire until you
Know for sure or we may never hear from you again.
Stu already identified the wheels on this truck over in my build thread. He said they are safe 22.5" lock ring wheels, and the OP has a line on new tires for them.
05-30-2016, 11:05 AM
