Adam,
Here is one in New Hampster that has nice potential.

1952 Ford F100

Tom

 

Agreed on the above, don't pay too much. Ask me how I know.

But when yer young, ya fall in love with the first one that falls in yer lap. Decide what you REALLY want, and save yer cash up. Be patient. The seller will be able to smell it if you get excited about a particular truck, and then they will never budge on the price. Act disinterested, non-committal. It's OK to fall in love with 55s or 56s as a species, just don't fall in love with an individual truck. Easier said than done, sometimes a real cream puff will surface. Then it gets tough. Play dirty, heh. They'll try to reel you in. "Well.. better hurry, got someone coming to buy it tomorrow." Sure.

But you'll be way ahead, in my opinion, compared with these sorry folks who are not very good with their money!
Look at these stats on new car purchases:

By the numbers (Q1 data from Experian):
Average loan term for new cars is now 67 months — a record.
Average loan term for used cars is now 62 months — a record.
Loans with terms from 74 to 84 months made up 30% of all new vehicle financing — a record.
Loans with terms from 74 to 84 months made up 16% of all used vehicle financing — a record.
The average amount financed for a new vehicle was $28,711 — a record.
The average payment for new vehicles was $488 — a record.
The percentage of all new vehicles financed accounted for by leases was 31.46% — a record.

 

Adam, I don't know why you had your heart set on a 292 and the 239 was a deal breaker. The 239 is a good motor. I am running the original 239 in my 54. It was rebuilt in 1979. My 239 provides all the power I want or need in a stocker. I can spin the tires and can beat modern cars off the line at red lights. I can cruise at about 60 but then it winds out quite a bit.

Parts can be had today for the 239. You may have to pay more but they are out there. I got an estimate to rebuild mine 4 years ago and the rebuilder did not say he can't get parts.

True about the water pumps. But they can be rebuilt. I am not trying to talk you into this truck, just saying to keep an open mind. It is a shame about the roof. He should knock more off the price for that roof.

 

vermont truck listing is gone. The nh listing is a bit more than i want to spend for a truck that doesn't have a motor.

with that said the search is still on. i educated myself on 302 swaps incase i find a truck in my price range without a motor. i am very familiar with the 302 and aod and t5 trannys. i always seem to have a friend near by who is willing to let one go for dirt cheap.

 

abe, good points on the motor. if the blue truck is still available next week i am going to make him an offer. after letting it sit for a while a little cash might be enticing to him. i would run that motor and take care of it for as long as it makes sense.

 

i think i am going to take a drive up and check this one out. what do you guys think? any major red flags? it is about a 4 hour drive from me.

1958 Ford F100 Stepside Pickup Truck 4200

1958 Ford F100 Stepside Pickup Truck

 

Check for rust and Bondo carefully, it looks better than it deserves probably. Neat truck though, bring ca$h. You should buy it

 

That's a nice looking truck. He admits there is bondo, the question is how much.
It seems like a good option. Go check it out and let us know what you do.

Will you be happy with that body style? The 58 is considerably different than the 53-56 style.

 

I like it! Plus you get to enjoy that trip up 91!

Structurally it looks clean. But don't be afraid to get dirty and poke around the body. Look specifically at fender fronts and bottoms, inner fenders at the cab, lower cowl panels, lower doors and cab corners. You don't want to spend $4200 on a bodywork nightmare for a style/year you're not 100% interested in anyway.

Parts won't be a problem, but not sure they'll be AS available as a 53-56. Still a neat ride.

I'd bring a compression gauge with you and do a compression test. That will offer loads of Intel at the shape of the motor.

Good luck and keep us abreast.

 

Just another consideration. Not in the 50s crowd, but a great deal and it "looks" really clean.

FORD 1966 F250

 

That 58 is not worth buying, The under body rust is MAJOR! See how the front fender gap gets wider at the bottom? that's because the front cab mounts are rotted out. No replacement body parts are being reproduced JFYI

 

That bad, eh? I wondered about that.

 

the guy loaded up more pictures of that 58. added some pics of rot areas and you can see some of the body work. i am no body guy but it doesnt look good. i am going to call the guy about the original f250 and see if after a couple weeks now he is willing to move on his price.

 

called the guy about he original f250 for 5500 and it was sold. guy said he got 4800 for it.

 

Why not take a look at that NH truck, if you have a source of inexpensive 302's?
It's a lot more solid than that '58 is.
Tom

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