Ever since I was a wee lad growing up in Flathead Valley on Northwestern Montana I had a dream to own a 48 ford F1.

Early this year my dream became a reality. I did have to extend my search and travels to outside my home town and I found one (well enough of multiple trucks to fabricate one) just inside Washington. It was the reminence of a build so many trucks were left over.

I bought a trailer full of doors, cabs, fenders hoods ect for around $800. With a title for the best cab.

So the project began. I was going to go for the old school hotrod look. But. I made a new plan.

I picked up a broke down 300zx to rob the suspension out of it.

So the plan this far is to build a street truck with 4 wheel disk brakes and all wheel independent suspension.

Not sure on engine yet but that will be later to come. Ill post pictures in the next. Few days I will post pictures

 

Great job on the score, are you sure the Nissan will be able to support the weight and driving of the f1?If it will work, have fun and please post pictures.

 

Thanks Kurt.

I think the suspension will be fine. It's cool over so I can go bigger. The car stock was built for 300hp so I'm sure power wise it will be ok. Ill post pictures of the suspension as well

 

A Nissan 300zx weighs almost exactly 3000 lbs, a Ford F1 weighs only slightly more at about 3200 lbs. But will it fit into the frame like a Jaguar would? It will be an interesting swap, keep us posted.

 

I'm building my own frame from scratch. Main reason is the front of the ZX is multi link. Plus I need Somthing a little stonger.

 

Pictures!!!
Pictures, please.

 

Hey, another local! We should get together. Glad you found a truck, I have a '48 for sale right here.....that's how it goes sometimes.

 

I might have to take a look at it. Ill post pics tonight, sorry I have been busy/slacking

 

Here ya go

 

Just picked up a good running 302 with C6 this weekend. $300 from a friend.

I will probably end up selling the C6 and use my 2wd M5ODR-2 trans that came out of my 95 Ford when I did the 4x4 conversion.

I will also be picking up another 1950 F1 cab with title this weekend that's in immaculate shape.

This weekend I should be able to pull the 300zx suspension out so I can take measurements and start of my custom frame to hold everything together.

I basically have every part I will need other than a few patch pannels.


The box on the 48 is pretty much rotted apart so I might end up trying to find a 90's flare side and use that for the project. I have seen it done once before and it looks pretty clean.

Ill keep you guys updated

 

Please keep us posted, I love the idea of American horsepower driving that Japanese running gear!!

 

Please note: there is no such thing as a titled cab. Titles or other legal ownership documentation only goes with a frame. The unique factory serial # is stamped into the top of the passenger side frame rail. The cab is not serialized. For convenience there was a rating plate attached to the inside of the glove box door that included the frame serial # as well as other information, but obviously the rating plate and/or the glove box door (or even the entire cab) can be easily swapped. Each state is different on how they handle vehicles with untitled and/or homebuilt frames, but I'd highly suggest contacting your state DMV main office (usually in the state capital) and get a definitive written copy of the state regulations before investing any more time or money into your project. Many states are cracking down on title mills and laundering of titles, and you could end up with permanent lawn art or worse having it confiscated.
I can tell you from personal experience, the Jag XJ IFS and IRS is stronger than any Z setup and is modular, practically bolting into an F1. the Z has a much lower roll center than any F1 unless channeled sectioned and chopped to about 40" tall. (THAT would be cool tho!)
A friend grafted the suspension and floor pan from a Supra onto a Mustang.

 

Lol thanks bud. The goal is to build a fast truck with superior handling. I have drivin a 300zx. Even tho the CG will be much higher it should corner better than its solid axle counterpart

 

Thanks for the info. I will check into that. I'm not utalizing the factory frame or really any of its components. I live in MT and as far as titling Somthing here it's fairly lax. I will contact the DMV and see what I can find out.

As far as the XJ6 is concerned, you are right. But the last XJ6 setup I found was priced at around 3k. On a 40's ford frame.

The 300zx only cost me $150. If anything fails I have multiple 9" laying around. And a Dana 60.

The truck isn't going to be making crazy power numbers.

I do like your idea of chopping it. The problem is I'm 6' 230lbs. So the cab as it is is a bit of a squeeze