The Mustang route would prove extremely expensive and difficult in the long run, the two don't normally match up. I researched it to death on my build and in the end swapping parts onto the frame is the way to go unless you're racing against a Ferrari.

The deals are out there, and you could save a lot of money if you had one brought in from somewhere else. In my neck of the woods I could find what you're looking for for about $250-500. Shipping it to MI would probably run about $1000-$1500. So you could get a much nicer truck for $1250 basically. Older areas of town with alley ways, least around here, are gold mines. I can walk a mile of alley ways and find basically anything you're looking for around here, heck there was an ultra-rare 1956 T-800 (not F, but a T) two blocks from my house. But you never find these things when you drive, only when you walk and look around.

Try craigslist, thats where I ended up finding mine. Post a want ad, keep posting. I spent a year looking for a '56 I could afford. It had to be a '56 (unique year), I found everything but a '56. Heck I know of about half a dozen or so 53-55's in this town and it's a town of 17,000. I ended up with an F-600 that was rust free and drives for less than 4 figures.

Couple things to know: 1953-1955 have the same body, only minor differences like the grille (which can be changed easy enough), 1956 has a different cab and doors, but the hood, bed, fenders, running boards, all that jazz is the same as the 53-55. The hood and cab are the same on larger trucks (till about F700 I believe, then the cabs had different mounts, so I've been told. "Easily" changed.) Running boards are longer on an F-250 because an F250 has a 118" wheel base (f100 has 110), it also has a taller and wider and longer bed. This can be changed, lots of people do so.

Beds from 1953-1972 are the same (the fenders on 57+ have mounting holes for the running boards slightly higher, very easy to change) From 1973-1979 the beds became wider and taller, actually the same width and height but not length as earlier long beds. I have a late 70s bed on my truck because I wanted it wider and taller (looks better to me, and it's a bigger truck) but couldn't find a long bed and got the best of both worlds from a late 70s bed. Late 70s fenders are the same for all intensive purposes.


Craigslist is a good way to go in my opinion. I got a lot more leads if I posted a want ad than just looking. Many people have it but don't think to post it for sale, but will reply to a want ad.

Here is a '55 around me. I would say it would go for $750, but at $750 I wouldn't even say it was an amazing deal, just standard.

1955 Ford PU

Now here's one from Detroit about the same, maybe even more rusted, condition at $3500
1953 Ford F100

Around here these old trucks where used a lot longer, but not that rusted out. Its too hot and dry in the summer and way too cold in the winter for things to rust out like they do in the south. It's a gold mine of old steel.


Don't get discouraged if you don't find something right away. These things tend to show up in waves. Looking for a little longer can save you years of restoration time and tens of thousands of dollars. You'll know your truck when you see it, just keep looking even if you don't have two coins to rub together, and one day, there she be

 

I thank you all for you knowledge and to know that there are people willing to help out a fellow motor head is awesome!!! Stephen that was all things I didnt know but need to.
I will never be discouraged, I may be down on my luck sometime but Ive learned that when I see something that I want and cant afford at the time that if I wait that when I can afford something that its always better than what I was originaly looking at. Thats just how my luck goes.

 

A couple more things to add:
Tell the other hot rod guys what you are looking for. I got a great deal on my 54 because the guy i got it from doesn't care for Ford's. He's a GM guy...he said he only bought it because he knows "there's a market for those trucks, and the prices are stupid right now". He knew he could turn a quick profit on it, and he did...

Also, i bet if you offered a small finders fee (payable if you purchase the truck they find) you'd start getting immediate results. Make sure you are cash-in-hand-ready-to-buy...
Example:
Less than a mile away from me (in Central Texas) sits a 48 Ford pickup. SB chevy, automatic on the floor, motor is wearing some chrome, body is good, arm-strong steering, was driven 3 years ago. Used to be an errand truck for a repair shop. I bet $3500 buys it....another $400 makes it driveable. For $50 i'll go take pictures, but i'm not bugging those good people or wasting my time for free. I got parts to buy.