Notices
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Fat Fendered and Classic Ford Trucks

Hello

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 03:11 PM
  #1  
MI1951f1's Avatar
MI1951f1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Hello

Hello all. I'm a bit of a new comer here as far as being a member/poster. I have been a bit of a silent observer foursome time. There is a lot of great information here. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge with those of us who are a little more green when it comes to this suff.
For about the last year I had been working, although only lightly, on a 1955 f100 with the original block that has been in the corner of a barn on our farm for nearly my entire life. That truck had been bought by my dad at an estate sale of one of his cousins. That cousins son has now started to show interest and because it was his dad's truck my father and I have decided to put it back in the right hands. I did die a little bit on the inside after that decision.
I've been looking for a truck since and... finally got one! It just came home earlier this week. It's a 1951 f1, but someone has swapped the original v8 flathead out for a 289 V8 with automatic transition.
Over all I think it looks good. However, I am from Michigan and more used to seeing rust buckets. This one came from Montana.








The cute girls did not come with the truck




My first post! I hope this works, pictures and all.
Thank you and let me know what you think about the truck!
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 03:18 PM
  #2  
raytasch's Avatar
raytasch
Believe Nothing
20 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,514
Likes: 398
From: W. Central FL.
Club FTE Silver Member

Welcome to the forum. I was going to ask about the girls. That truck looks like a nice place to start, a few zits perhaps but nothing that can not be fixed. Keep us up to date on your progress.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 03:22 PM
  #3  
FortyNiner's Avatar
FortyNiner
Logistics Pro
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,995
Likes: 422
From: u-rah-rah Wisconsin
You did great with both the post and the truck. It looks solid and far less rusty than the native versions from this area.

You did the right thing with the family legacy keepsake. Lineage matters and you can start your own with this one.

What are your plans?
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 04:13 PM
  #4  
MI1951f1's Avatar
MI1951f1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by FortyNiner
You did great with both the post and the truck. It looks solid and far less rusty than the native versions from this area.

You did the right thing with the family legacy keepsake. Lineage matters and you can start your own with this one.

What are your plans?
I hope to keep it as original as possible. But to start I was going to see if I can get the 289 block running for now and leave that until I have the money to get a flathead to put back in it.
The previous owner did mention the gas tank needed to be cleaned, so tomorrow my brother is coming over and we are going to pull the tank and decide if we are going to clean it and seal it or just replace it.
Suggestions welcome!
Tomorrow I will get some interior pics for you guys to check out.
Thanks
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 05:09 PM
  #5  
toby tough's Avatar
toby tough
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 0
From: Clitherall, MN.
Welcome! Nice truck and a cute pit crew there. Many ways to clean the tank but if you don't get it spotless you'll have problems. Learned that the hard way. Anyways good luck on your build. We love pics so keep them coming.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 05:26 PM
  #6  
homade's Avatar
homade
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,292
Likes: 8
From: sparta ky.
Club FTE Gold Member
Good to see another 51 come along. If you clean your tank I've found if you take some short (8"/10") pieces of chain (one or two pieces) and really churn them in the tank will break up almost anything inside, good luck Garry
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 05:43 PM
  #7  
Rimrock F1's Avatar
Rimrock F1
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 2
From: Rimrock AZ
Good job on the post! Looks to be a solid truck and a 289 is a good fit for the engine. Regardless of what you decide to do with it be sure and take the time to enjoy it.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 06:05 PM
  #8  
old_dan's Avatar
old_dan
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 3
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Club FTE Silver Member

That is a nice start!

The girls seem to like it already!
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-2

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-5

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-7

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 10:48 PM
  #9  
Jolly Roger Joe's Avatar
Jolly Roger Joe
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
Likes: 34
From: Rockingham, VA
Welcome to FTE!

That's a great truck! Looks like a 5 Star Extra with the hood trim and drivers door lock, but someone removed the windshield s/s trim ring.
 
Reply
Old Dec 12, 2014 | 11:15 PM
  #10  
Mtphammer's Avatar
Mtphammer
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 277
Likes: 2
From: Fresno, California
Welcome

I wish you luck with your truck. Seems to look like a great starting place. Btw, you've got a lot cuter helpers than I do. (my dad)
Time to crack open the binder and create yourself a build plan! (I hope)
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2014 | 07:11 AM
  #11  
HBN's Avatar
HBN
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Bay City,MI
Nice truck. Great to see another guy from Michigan. What part of the state are you in? From your pictures looks like the flatlands.










Dave
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2014 | 08:41 AM
  #12  
MI1951f1's Avatar
MI1951f1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by HBN
Nice truck. Great to see another guy from Michigan. What part of the state are you in? From your pictures looks like the flatlands.


Dave
I live just south of Grand Rapids.
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2014 | 08:57 AM
  #13  
FortyNiner's Avatar
FortyNiner
Logistics Pro
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,995
Likes: 422
From: u-rah-rah Wisconsin
Originally Posted by MI1951f1
I live just south of Grand Rapids.
If you can get along with a fella from Lansing, Cody may be able to help you with a variety of NOS and recovered parts. I'm guessing that he also has a flathead or two about.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...s-of-pics.html
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2014 | 11:57 AM
  #14  
arctic y block's Avatar
arctic y block
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 14,325
Likes: 14
From: Island Southeast Alaska
Cool Truck, Subscribing
 
Reply
Old Dec 13, 2014 | 08:02 PM
  #15  
MI1951f1's Avatar
MI1951f1
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Thanks everyone for the welcoming remarks! FortyNiner thanks a million I will have to keep Cody in mind as I come up with the things I need. My younger brother came over today and we worked on the truck.
We pulled the fuel tank but the inside really looked pretty good. Drained it. Rinsed it out a bit with clean gas and put it back in the truck. We also replaced fuel lines and changed the oil. Then... we fired her up for the first time.
Couldn't help but take it for a quick spin!

Here's the interior pics I promised.
(Notice in them that I had removed the door handles and latches because one was not working at all and the other was working poorly. This made the ride interesting!)










Here's the latches I took out and worked on the other day. Luckily, what I assume was the original driver side latch (with locking mechanism) was behind the seat when I got the truck. I was able to scrap parts from the extra latch to get it in working order again.
Please notice the latch retainer spring on the middle latch. I'm short one. The bottom latch is the diver side and it needs a spring. Does anyone know where I can find one?
The top latch is the one I stole parts from to rebuild the diver side.

 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:46 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-2
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-4
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-6
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE