Well I just spent the majority of my day out in the garage trying to clean and organize my accumulated mountain of parts for the F-3, trying to make room so I can work on the truck more easily. As I was going through parts I found a lot of parts I had gotten, things like original "aftermarket" turn signals, fog lights, running lights, heaters, etc that have been set aside for the bigger and better parts I've found.

My night ended up with me starting the process of lifting the "utility bed" off the frame and getting it prepped to store, as I now "shift gears" going back to my original plan of the original 8ft express bed.

Now for the question, how many of you have ever "shifted gears" so to speak in the middle of your project, to go a different route on your build? I know with my F-3 I've gone from a standard cab 2wd, to a extended cab, to a converting to 4wd.. have debated going dually.. swapped on a utility bed, now going back to stock box.. and still going.

I doubt I'm the only one..

Below is a pic of what got me thinking.. my growing parts "collection" (no I am NOT a hoarder =P )

 

I've been guilty of mission creep many times but no major changes that I can remember.

 

Oh my yes! Only I've vacillated over which truck to commit to. I started out doing my 52 V8 F-3 M-H, took the axles and transfer case to have Chuck work them over. Then decided the frame on that truck had too many fractures and cobbled together repairs, so p...d away time looking for another suitable frame. Then gave up on that and decided to use the rebuilt axles and case under my 215 truck. But then I find a 51 F-3 M-H that I'd like to focus on, but the axles and case are wrong for it. So now I have my head on straight and have the 215 truck solidly on a path to completion. But I walk past that 51 in the barn and have this mental picture.......Stu

 

Where do I start?
Version:
1.0 - 1951 Mercury M-3 with F-1 suspension and axles
1.5 - 302/AOD and back to 1 ton suspension. Deemed factory steering unadequate for daily use
2.0 - 1978 F-250 frame swap. Finally decided to build 1951 equivalent of a 2000 F-350 5.4L DRW
2.1 - Upgraded Dana 70 to disc brake and triangulated rear suspension
2.5 - Currently pending final draft work and funds of custom frame for better fit/performance

 

Ah-Ha! That picture of the brush guard is just what I've been looking for. Albatross, our '55 F500, used to have one. It even still has the supports. I'm wanting to reproduce it, but, I've had trouble finding any decent images to work from. As for changes, Albatross was originally going to get bobbed to fit in the garage. Logic prevailed and it still has the 13" Heil/Gallion dump bed that once was a grain box.
Now I'm toying with the thought of passing Albatross along and getting a local COE. Hmmm..
Decisions, decisions.

 

nice looking truck ..my efforts are somewhat warped ..but I have paint on the hood now !!other wise ..all stock ..around you guy's I feel like an underachiever ..

 

That grill guard came in a load of parts I got from a fellow member on here, it was originally on a 51 F-4 if I remember correctly (also where my front sheetmetal came from). I actually did some modifications to make it work better on my 52 as I believe it was originally meant for a 48-50 (not wide enough for the 51/52.. blocked the headlights) and yes I still have the originally braces =) If you need more pictures of it, check my gallery. and yes, it will be on the finished project =)

Don't need to feel like an underachiever.. my project literally started as nothing more than a rolling chassis and a rotten cab. If I had started with a more complete/original truck I'm suspecting I would have with something closer to an original restoration, instead of the massive modifications I've done. My ultimate goal though is to end up with a truck that looks (at least from the outside) like something that could have rolled off the Ford assembly lines.

 

I think jnilnion should be barred from posting an honest reply to this page for fear it might overload InternetBrand's database and crash the servers.


Myself, I can't really say I drifted too far. I tried in vain very very hard not to cut my crossmember and to keep the stick coming up in the original hole but get an overdrive transmission - never happened, ended up going the common T-5 route. Other than that concession I haven't done any work I regret too much.