The rebuilding process began with the OP solidifying the weak spots on the frame of his 1951 Ford F1 and coating the entire chassis in black undercoating paint. He also began working on the drivetrain and suspension components that would eventually make the frame easier to move around the shop.
While working on the frame and suspension, the OP also began tackling the rust problems with the body and cab of the 1951 Ford pickup. While the cab was mostly solid, he did have to replace a panel in the floor. He also had to cut out some rust along the bottom of the body and weld in new sheet metal, but over the course of the year, he has made a ton of progress.
On the final page of the build thread, the OP has gotten to the point where he has a rolling chassis with the rear differential, suspension, brakes, wheels and the engine has been set down in the mounts.
The majority of the body panels appear to be rust-free and in primer, so it shouldn’t be long before the exterior panels are ready for paint.
In the meanwhile, the OP is continuing to work on the flathead engine, adding an aftermarket intake manifold and exhaust setup while he has the body off of the truck.
This truck is still far from being street-worthy, but based on the quality of the work thus far, this 1951 Ford F1 projectwill almost certainly end up being a gorgeous showpiece.
"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.
"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.
"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.
"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.
"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.
