Do you have the same affliction as I do? I completed a frame off resoration in 5 months on my 56' F-100. Drove it for the summer then I took it apart and added power steering. Now I have it apart again to add a 4 link rear suspension. I am certain that this is the last time that I wikll have a major addition to the truck. I hope....

 

Yes and don't count on it, they're never finished.
Brian

 

Welllll...... I said when I put mine on the road May 08 that I would drive it a while and then take it apart for bodywork and paint. I'm having way too much fun driving it like it is to do that. 40K miles and counting with only a few updates that never put it out of commision for more than a day or two.

 

That makes it something like the Winchester Mystery Truck. Maybe you have to be from San Jose to know what that means.

 

I think thats a great excuse for the wife. If I dont keep putting money and time into this truck I will DIE... The spirits of the previous owners of the truck tell me so!

 

Is there a pill that can cure this infection that we have? I'm not done with my 54 and I'm looking and thinking about how I want to change what is done. And who in their right mind would buy a new F150, drive it for a few months, and then start to disassemble it? There must be something about having taken the whole thing apart that makes you want to do it some more.

things done on mine that I want to redo.
1) Seat is brand new but needs 6way electric adjustment added or repositioned for more better position.
2) steering wheel needs to be about 3 inches higher, maybe tilt too. Thing is I like the original look and definitely don't want the key on the column. And the left brake light worked when I hooked them up but now it's not so the switch needs to be replaced.
3) Yup, going to need to repalce the vac wipers with electric.
4) Engine runs and sounds ok but I got a good deal on an Edelbrock performer intake and cam so I got the bug to tear into the engine.
5) Nothing wrong with the chassis or drive train that I know of (except it has 2.92 rear end) but maybe I can pull my camp trailer if I add air bags or beef up the rear leaf springs.

 

Mine's a pretty big build, so I had to really get my ducks in a row before I can really get into it (waiting on parts right now, Cummins and large 4x4 parts are spendy and I need them all at the same time, lol).

Though I have decided with my build to do it how I want to really use it and enjoy it, but always leave it open to go back and do something again. I sorta feel a build is more enjoyable over the whole length if you get to enjoy driving it how it is and dream of what you want it to become. Granite when it's all stripped down it's easier to make it into a show truck and get everything done... yet part of me feels that not all truck builds should be done that way, that some should always be done with the intent of being able to go back and do it again later. You drive a totally cherry show truck way different than a daily driver, the fear of it being damaged just ruins a lot of the fun to me.

With that being said, I have the same affliction, I consider it to be steps of improvement, each savored verse taking a huge bite all at once sorta thing. Course sometimes you have to, mine will have to have a lot done at the same time, but I'd rather not aim for the goal of being finished, but rather enjoying the journey.


Btw, one thing everyone fails to mention about the big trucks is, though a lot of things are much heavier and sometimes harder to work on, you can literally sit cross legged underneath them and work without any need of a jack or stands. Heck, I've sat between the front wheel and the inner fender! lol