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Joined: Jun 2013
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Hey everyone. I have a 56 F100 longbed that I have been working on for the last 5 years. The truck was my seniorproject in high school and I’ve been working on it ever since. While in highschool I got to mentor in a body shop where I learned the basics and had the opportunityto do small jobs for him. Heck, this truck also landed me my first full timejob. But enough about me and on to the important stuff.<o
></o>To start I took it down to the bareframe and swapped the old suspension for a Heidts super ride II IFS and rear4-link. The brakes were replaced for 10’’ disks with 4 pots in the front and 2in the rear. For a rear end I have a Ford 9 inch with 3.55’s, posi, and Heavyduty axles. Transmission is a rebuilt c6 with Stage 2 Transgo shift kit and 2500stall converter. For fun I have a 429Bored .040 over with a long list of go fast parts. I haven’t done much in body customization. I’vepicked up some 3’’ wider rear fenders, removed the center bed post slots,ditched the old big mirrors, recessed fire wall and trans tunnel and swapped the 56’ grille for one from a 55’.<o
></o>My future plans are to relocate my enginefurther forward in the bay so I can make more leg room in the cab. Have acustom Driveshaft and Radiator made then get the truck buttoned together,complete and driving before I take it all apart again for final body work andpaint.
, John
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
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From: Newberg, OR
Welcome to the madness - but then it sounds like you drank the cool aid when you were just a wee lad. You have a great truck there. I'd be reluctant to move the engine forward because the weight ratio is so bad. One way to fix that would be to move the front axle forward. another member here did that. The biggest task is moving the front fender opening forward to match the new axle location.
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Ive always loved cars. when I was younger my friends an I used to use a dremel to take apart hot wheels so we could make our own.. haha now im just doing it in a way funner way.
Im glad you brought up the moving the engine forward, that's one of the main reasons I joined. but I 'm 6'4 and with the way it sits now its uncomfortable to just sit in and I cant imagine trying to drive it. but at the same time I don't want to have unsafe or unpredictable to drive. I will upload pictures tonight of the whole truck and of what I plan to do.
Im glad you brought up the moving the engine forward, that's one of the main reasons I joined. but I 'm 6'4 and with the way it sits now its uncomfortable to just sit in and I cant imagine trying to drive it. but at the same time I don't want to have unsafe or unpredictable to drive. I will upload pictures tonight of the whole truck and of what I plan to do.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Ive always loved cars. when I was younger my friends an I used to use a dremel to take apart hot wheels so we could make our own.. haha now im just doing it in a way funner way.
Im glad you brought up the moving the engine forward, that's one of the main reasons I joined. but I 'm 6'4 and with the way it sits now its uncomfortable to just sit in and I cant imagine trying to drive it. but at the same time I don't want to have unsafe or unpredictable to drive. I will upload pictures tonight of the whole truck and of what I plan to do.
Im glad you brought up the moving the engine forward, that's one of the main reasons I joined. but I 'm 6'4 and with the way it sits now its uncomfortable to just sit in and I cant imagine trying to drive it. but at the same time I don't want to have unsafe or unpredictable to drive. I will upload pictures tonight of the whole truck and of what I plan to do.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,688
Likes: 1,255
From: Jefferson City, MO
I can't wait to see pictures of this.
Welcome to FTE. There are some very knowledgeable guys here and someone has probably tried just about everything.
Welcome to FTE. There are some very knowledgeable guys here and someone has probably tried just about everything.
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FTE fan
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,674
Likes: 11
From: paradise, northern calif.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, you have way more experience than I do, very cool for someone your age to be hands on like you are. Id love to see pics of your truck and learn, from them. Nice to have you on board.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 813
Likes: 5
From: Meade, KS
Welcome! I'm 6'4" as well, mainly in the legs. The 56 cab is a little bigger than my 50, and I've driven it as much as 14hrs in a day. Not the most comfortable ride, I'll admit! Extending the cab/frame or shortening the box might be a better way to gain leg room. I don't know if it'd be less work than moving the engine forward, but I doubt it'd be more.
Again, welcome to the forum! We all love pics.
Peace,
Jim
Again, welcome to the forum! We all love pics.
Peace,
Jim
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
Likes: 3
From: Newberg, OR
here's the article about moving the axle forward. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ul-engine.html I thought this was very cool because my truck weighs 2500 up front and only 1200 on the rear axle. The sbc is as far back as it can go and it is still too squirrelly. I'm hoping a posi rearend and installing a bed and spare tire hanger behind the rearend and a 2 inch receiver hitch will help but as it is all it will do on wet pavement is sizzle one rear tire and if I punch it at 45 or 50 (on dry pavement) it will down shift, break loose and try to spin out. At this stage of my build I'd probably install a gas tank between the frame rails behind the rearend before I'd bother with moving the front axle forward but still kinda wish I'd seen this before building my IFS.
Also, I'm not tall but I did mount the stock seat about 2 inches taller than stock.
Anyway, keep posting on your build. I'm sure that with your skills you will be doing so very interesting things.
Also, I'm not tall but I did mount the stock seat about 2 inches taller than stock.
Anyway, keep posting on your build. I'm sure that with your skills you will be doing so very interesting things.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Take the tank out of the cab if you haven't already, then consider using aftermarket racing type seats or seats out of a roadster such as a Miata or some Camaros that have thin backs with molded foam padding rather than springs. If you must have a bench seat there is an aftermarket seat frame manufacturer (Teas) that offers a thin back bench. Using a smaller steering wheel, tilt column and hanging pedals can give you a lot more leg room. Remember you will be sitting higher off the floor than with a modern sedan which automatically gives you more space.
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I'm sorry I think I led you to believe that I am further along than I truly am. I just have all the easy things done. Soon comes my nemesis, wiring. I don't have very much room to take decent pictures but here is the best I could do before my camera died.
(The Grille isn't bolted on, that's why it's crooked)
The day it came home.
A quick shot of the engine, I will upload pictures with measurements to show a little more in detail what I intend to do if I still move the engine forward.
I will upload better pics as soon as I can.
, John
(The Grille isn't bolted on, that's why it's crooked)
The day it came home.
A quick shot of the engine, I will upload pictures with measurements to show a little more in detail what I intend to do if I still move the engine forward.
I will upload better pics as soon as I can.
, John
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Looks good, nice work on repairing the driver's side door and front fender. The big block looks really great in there! Before doing some really complicated mods, try what Ax suggested with thinner seat backs after moving the tank location. You might just find that you can fit and save a lot of time/money. Looks like you have a great start on it well on your way to getting it on the road. Good luck!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
John, you are a lot further along than many of us on here! Did you straighten, re-skin, replace the driver's door? There's a lot of stretched metal there, and a broad smooth panel like that is not easy to get straight even without having to deal with all the extra metal.
The engine does appear to be quite far back, the radiator is behind the original location and there is still a lot of room between it and the engine. Was the firewall recessed to get it that far back?
There are a couple late model radiators that fit the original horseshoe, one is a a Dakota pickup I think. Do an advanced search on here: search v in the blue band, advanced search, put in keywords radiator choose this forum for where to search.
The engine does appear to be quite far back, the radiator is behind the original location and there is still a lot of room between it and the engine. Was the firewall recessed to get it that far back?
There are a couple late model radiators that fit the original horseshoe, one is a a Dakota pickup I think. Do an advanced search on here: search v in the blue band, advanced search, put in keywords radiator choose this forum for where to search.