I'm new to old Ford trucks...need some advise!!!

Gotta line on "something' advertised as a 1956 F1 Pickup.

Seems like a good deal.

What is the difference between a F1 and an F100 for 1956?

Any suggestions on what to look out for?

Drivetrain has been updated to a 302 & C4 of unknown year.


-Thanks...

 

The F1 was used for prior to 1953. In '53 Ford called the 1/2 ton the F100. What kinda price and what kinda shape are you looking at?
Sounds like a decent start to a pretty good hobby to me in any case.

 

I have a 56 f-100 with a 302 and a c4... WHat condition is the body, paint, suspention, drive train? Glass? Rust in all the usual places... Is it a runner? drives? Bed wood? Pictures!! We love pictures! Oh, how much do they want for it? (and what part of the country you in?) Oh, and WELCOME!

 

Welcome to FTE! The 56 is a good build platform for a lot of reasons; not the least of which is that it's 12V.

Give us more info so we can drool over your 'find'.

 

Welcome! as said F1 is a misidentification for a 56, If you post the VIN # we can tell you exactly what the truck started life as. The "problem" areas are typically the cab bottom corners in front of and behind the door, door bottoms, the roof just above the drip rail, just below the windshield (may be hidden by the glass rubber). If in real poor condition then the rocker panels under the doors and the floor can be deteriorated. The bed wood often needs replacing as well. Good thing about a 56 is that is the most poular year so about every part is available in the aftermarket. One of the enthusiast magazines even built a "brand new" 56 F100 without using a single original part!

 

Thanks for the input. Finally got the dude on the phone late last night, but too late to go check it out...dark.

Here is what I do know, according to the seller:

No room to store anymore & lost interest in project...
The truck runs and drives...We can take it for a test ride.
New fiberglass fenders on front.
Has the cut-out on bed side for spare.
Bed fenders "fair"...BUT has NEW ones primered that go with the truck.
Bed floor is "steel:, not wood, not exactly sure about details.
All the glass is in tact.
Originally had a 272 C.I.D. with a Ford-O-Matic transmission.
Now has a 302 with a C4.
Still has the orignal steering cloumn & shifter & turn signal arm.
"Needs TLC"...whatever that means...

We are still negotiating over price...but it's a great deal!

2 things working in our favor:

1) Newspaper ad has expired.
2) The_Girl is WAY into it! (My Girl is a Gear-Head AND a Biker!)

Hopefully we can check it out before the trick or treat thing starts tonite.

I'll kep ya posted...Wish me luck...

 

Take a refrigerator magnet with you and try stcking it to all the problem areas mentioned above. If it falls off, it has been bondoed and needs further checking to see how extensive the rot was/is. Rust doesn't necessarily mean you should not buy it, but do realize that if you are not skilled at body work and have the necessary tools available, the sheet metal is the most expensive and difficult part to repair. The fact that it has FG front fenders and steel floor in the bed as well as rotted rear fenders means I would check the cab VERY carefully. A bad body is often what makes a builder "lose interest" in a project when they find out the cost of repair.

 

We were gonna go check it out last night...but the trick or treaters came real early!!! So...had a lenghty conversation with the owner and here is what I got:

302 motor C4 trans. are from a 1972 F150 and both are rebuilt.
Claims it runs very strong.
Tough to steer...manual steering.
Front and rear suspension good...no details.
Cab mounts likely need to be replaced...I'll need some input here!!!
Same owner for 32 years!


We made arraingements to go check it out later today before it gets dark.
I'll check in before we go...Thanks for all your help...

I've got a refrigerator magnet, a list of what you all said to check on, my clip board & pen (to record the VIN) ,coveralls for climbin' underneath, flashlight, and we're gonna take it for a drive...FIRM IS PRICE 2,000.

Wish us luck...

 

We were gonna go check it out last night...but the trick or treaters came real early!!! So...had a lenghty conversation with the owner and here is what I got:

302 motor C4 trans. are from a 1972 F150 and both are rebuilt.
Claims it runs very strong.
Tough to steer...manual steering.
Whatever rims are on it are "shot"...will need to be replaced.
Tires are fair so it's driveable.
Front and rear suspension good...no details.
Cab mounts likely need to be replaced...I'll need some input here!!!


Same owner for 32 years!


We made arraingements to go check it out later today before it gets dark.
I'll check in before we go...Thanks for all your help...

I've got a refrigerator magnet, a list of what you all said to check on, my clip board & pen (to record the VIN) ,coveralls for climbin' underneath, flashlight, and we're gonna take it for a drive...FIRM IS PRICE 2,000.

I'm takin' a digital camera so if I get some good pic's I'll post 'em later...

Wish us luck...

 

double post ftl

it seems like a good find, just thought id chime in and say TLC stands for tender loving care, or something like that, usually mean somethings okay, but needs some work done

 

Here we go...

1972 302 motor & C4 trans seem to run strong.
Fat tires & manual steering...HARD to steer.
Rear fenders rusted a couple inches up from bottom.
Tailgate is from a '51...looks fair...not perfect.
No front bumper
Front Grill OK but most likely needs to be re-chromed.
All 4 cab bottom corners pretty much gone.
Door bottoms have some rust.
Roof above the drip rail looks OK & just below thw windshield looks good also.
Rocker panels under door seem OK.
Cab floor has a few rotted spots.
All cab mounts need to be replaced.
Wood bed still there...just has a 1/4" piece of metal layed on top of it.
Bed sides has a few rotted spots.
Frame seems intact...spent some time climbing around underneath!
Has original rear axle!
Has original front end!

Says he is firm on the $2000.00 asking price and has owned it since 1974.

I'm gonna need a new welder...

 

Are all the small parts there? headlight buckets, gauges, seats, taillights, trim etc? replacing all those little parts will eat big holes in your wallet. I hope you have some body panel repair replacement skills plus a lot of time and a dry place to work on it for several years. Sounds like almost every piece of sheet metal is going to require major work and all the drive train, except the engine and tranny, and suspension parts will need to be rebuilt or replaced. IMHO it is barely worth 2K if the engine and tranny are in excellent shape, because that and the frame is basically what you are buying unless a rat rod is your goal. Not trying to discourage you, just giving you the facts based on a lot of experience. You need to go in with your eyes wide open before handing over the cash.

 

The grill & headlight buckets are there.

All gauges & instrument cluster good and working.

Heater blower even works.

Bench seat still there.

I think the original taillights have been replaced with "something".

It looks like "most" of the trim pieces are in tact...more or less..

As for as body panel repair replacement skills...I'm way schooled with
gas, mig, and tig welding and pretty good at hammering on sheet metal...

This thing is already a Rat-Rod...but I can take out for a beer run.

I'm not lookin' for something to push into the next Autorama at Cobo Hall...just
a nice cruiser for me and the girl to have some fun with.

I got too many buddies with "trailer-queens" and that drives me nutz!!!


Besides...I got nothin' but time...

THANKZ for all your input...I'll chime in L8TR and let ya all know what we
decided to do...and if it IS a go...man...I'm gonna need alot of help from you
all...here we go...EYES WIDE OPEN...

 

Well...It'z a done deal! We drove her home last night!!

Drove good and tracked straight...everything seemed good.

Motor & trans seem great...took the loong way home...no issues.

Let the prevoius owner have one last ride in the '56 for nastalga sake & that gave me and the girl a chance to watch it goiin' down the road and it looked good! Got ALOT of lookers!!!

I'm makin' room in the garage right now so I'll post som pics later...

 

Congrats! Let's see those pics!