1959 f100 custom cab
Looks decent on the outside, but underneath... not so much. Is it too far gone to save or? Sheet metal I can do, but it looks like she has some serious cancer.
My budget isnt big by any means so, it may be out of my budget to bring back to life.

 

To me, there aren't any real show stoppers. You still have a lot of truck there. If you can do sheet metal yourself, it will look a whole lot better with cab corners, floor pans and front cab supports. Then while you are at it a couple of custom patches on the bottom of the cab and you are in good shape. We all think we are clever but these trucks always take more to fix than we first thought. That original radio is worth something on it's own!

 

Its not the cab that bugs me so much. Considering its age, the sheet metal should be thick enough to be an "easy" fix, comparatively speaking.

Its more around the leaf springs, axles that group that seems to have a lot of rust and gunk built up. Only real way to test if to use a small flathead screwdriver and poke it some.

I guess its an excuse to find a 4wd donor and put all of that in.

 

Frame and springs look fine, just surface scale

 

so, for this model year, what manuals should I buy?

1959 Ford Pickup & Truck Repair Shop Manual Reprint

would this take of most everything? what else might I need?

 

Welcome to the fridge forum! Yes that would be a good manual for mechanical maintenance and repair. There is an other set of three books one is an illustrated catalog and the other two provide part numbers. The illustrated catalog is very handy because it shows the parts in relation to the assembly. You can pick these up in paper or digital, on Eblay.
Below is an example.






Screenshot 3



Good luck in your quest.

 

Thanks, I have been meandering on the fridge forum for a couple years now. Finally found one that A: doesnt seem to be in too bad of shape and B: doesnt have $3000 worth of sentimental value tacked on to the price.

 

that ain't nuthin.....
look what i started with:



the step wells were vurtually non existant and the front cab mounts were non existant. the firewall was completely detatched from the floor
and now:



Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

Unfortunately, i dont have the money to do what you did. If I did, I would have bought it.

Any truck at this point is a tight budget build. Steel is easy to come by, parts are where it gets expensive.

 

Yes
i was fortunate to have a running driving truck to use the chassis and front clip from.
the actual body was just the price of the steel, welding supplies, sandblasting machine rental & supplies. body supplies get a bit pricey but were augmented with going into the local auto parts joint and saying "what do ya have of mismix paint in gallons?"...thus the orange color, I buy alot there so that was a freebie. I did however treat myself to a set of pre formed stepwells.
But it is always said....and many a time by me.....knowing the vintage vehicle game from both sides as regional vintage vehicle appraiser for many insurance companies in this area and prepurchase examiner and consultant with over 3o years in the body shop and retail auto sales trade "Always buy the best vehicle you can afford preferably one that has already been completed by someone else it is almost always cheaper in the long run.
Plus as an aside....wouldn't you rather be out driving and going to shows on your weekends rather than stuck in the garage sewating away working on a grubby ol' whapped out truck.

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m-100 panel & 64 econoline p/u