Flip-front, a custom interior and a see-through bed make this F-100 a sure showstopper.
This week’s Freaky Friday video comes to us from the YouTube channel of the sludgehammer801 and it features a walk-around of a 1956 Ford F-100. It appears as though every aspect of this antique truck has been modified in grand fashion, but the most significant component of this old school pickup is under the hood. This unique F-100 is powered by a 429-cubic inch Ford big block, similar to the units offered in the 1969-1970 Ford Mustang for NASCAR homologation.
The Boss 9
Back in 1969, Ford offered an engine that was designed to compete with the Chrysler Hemi in NASCAR, so the automaker offered a limited run of Mustangs with the 429-cubic inch V8 with their own design of the hemispherical cylinder head. This engine has become known as the “Boss 9” and it is arguably the most famous of the old school Ford muscle car engines.
Due to the rarity of the 1969 and 1970 vehicles with the Boss 429 engines, these powerful mills are hard to come back in factory form, but companies like Jon Kaase Racing Engines offers modern reproductions of the classic Ford Hemi V8. The engine in this stunning 1956 F-100 likely came from one of those aftermarket suppliers, but in any case, it makes for an incredible power plant under the hood of this unique antique pickup.
Other Upgrades
The star of this 1956 Ford F-100show is the Boss 429 V8 under the hood, but that is truly only the tip of the iceberg. To display the massive engine, the truck is equipped with a full-flip front end and the entire body is coated in flawless gloss black paint. Modern wheels have been added and the rear end has been tubbed, allowing room for huge tires out back and to give a good look at the rear suspension, the floor of the bed is see-through and that is both unique and very cool.
Finally, this F-100 has a modernized interior with leather low-back race buckets, a new dash and a chromed-out steering wheel column assembly.
"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.
