Hey guys my name is Zach I live in Chapin SC and I purchased a 1956 f100 about 6 months ago. It has a 272, 3 speed. From what I can tell it is mostly original except the carb and the wiper motor. It runs great and I drive it maybe 2-3 times a week. Since I bought it I have put 1 piece side windows in it, insulated the interior and put a new rubber mat in, and a few other small things. I replaced the radiator, temp sensor and temp gauge when the raidiator split 3 weeks ago. I already have plans for suspension and brakes and I have a 9 inch out of a 68 f100 with 3.25 gears that I plan on putting in so I can drive on the interstate.

I say I am sort of a new member because I have actually been a member since 2010 but all I have done is read and research. I look forward to picking all of your brains in the future.

 

Welcome, very nice looking truck.

 

Welcome from NC! Looks good. Might want to read my suggestions on how to make a build plan in this post:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...1955-f250.html

 

Already read it AX, thanks though, there is some really good stuff in there. The things I have done truck already were so I could drive it when I wanted. There were no window felts, so I didn't want to drive it and leave it in the rain, etc. It's a driving project and definitely not something I have to rely on every day.

 

Thank you.

 

Glad another one has a second life with a capable owner. Enjoy.

 

Hi Zach, congrats on finding such a clean truck, if you have been around the site since 2010 you probably know your way around better than I do. So Ill just say welcome, and looking forward to enjoying your truck adventures along with you.

 

Hi Zach,
Welcome Aboard! So..... What are your plans for your new truck?

I like the flat black paint look - Looks like a solid truck.
Last time I was in South Carolina you guys were looking for
your lost governor....

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

My plans right now are to drive it. I eventually will drop it with stock type suspension and put front disc brakes, wheels, interior and a stereo. All that stuff will be weekend work so I can still drive during the week. When this motor gives up, I have a 302 out of my 92 mustang that is sitting on the engine stand in my garage and plan on going to an AOD. At that point ill probably swap to a IFS and maybe different gears. I dont expect it to happen anytime soon so we will see.

Its a solid truck except for the front cab corners. The rears were already replace by the previous owner and it looks like someone tried to fiberglass over the fronts. Just another weekend project to tackle... I hope.

 

Hey Zach,
We are running a 351W/AOD. You'll be happy with the small block Ford with an AOD - no hurry just enjoy driving it!
I looked through your pics - looks like your seat could use some love. We went with an S10 seat for our bench - though most
small pickup seats will fit fine - Rangers, etc..

Good luck over there!

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Yea it does, I have been looking for some time now. im actually thinking about a late model dodge ram seat. I like the look, still get a head rest and I dont have to worry about seat belts.

 

Hey Zach,
Here is roughly worded article from the How to Tips section of the site on seats & a link to pics from other members.

Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

Here are some measurements that you might want to consider when looking for a new seat.
· Inside cab width from door panel to door panel (where the seat bottom is the widest)
o 1948-1952 F-1 = 53.5 inches
o 1953-1956 F-100 = 58 inches
· Distance between the door handle tips
o 1949 F-1 = 51.5 inches
· Distance between the fat part of the door handles
o 1949 F-1 = 45-5/8 inches
· Distance across the cab at the rear door post
o 1949 F-1 = 57 inches
· Distance from door panel to door panel
o 1957-1960 F-100 = 62 inches
· Distance from door handle to door handle
o 1957-1960 F-100 = 56 inches
· Stock bench seat width
o 1960 F-100 = 59 inches
There seems to be an issue (particularly found by older members of the forum) with the space between the steering wheel and the seat shrinking over time, resulting in limited intestinal accommodation. Fortunately the newer seats use a different type of spring so they tend to be thinner in the back. This provides more room in that area. This is something to think about before you buy a big, fat seat out of a Cadillac or Lincoln or some other land yacht. With a newer seat, you will usually pick up storage space under the seat bottom as well.
The following suggestions are based upon input from this forum. There is also an article in the August 2004 issue of Classic Truck that deals with this subject and contains many pictures of the suggested alternative seats. Note that we are not spending time discussing bucket seats. Once you ditch the console, you can pretty much fit any bucket into any truck, although generally you’ll end up with a built in headrest sticking up in your back window.
1948-1952 Trucks – Seat Width No More Than 52 Inches
· 2000 Ford Escort buckets
· Mid/late 1980s to 1996 Ford Ranger or Broncos
o 60/40 bench or buckets
o Perfect fit
o Used by many
o Bench is 51” wide at it’s widest point
o Back folds forward
o No headrests to poke up in the back window
o 2-door donors fold, 4-door donors don’t
o Very popular with members of the forum
· 1989 through mid 1990s Ford Explorer
o Buckets or 60/40 bench
· Middle or rear seats out of a 1996 Dodge Caravan
· 1996 and newer Chevy Astro Van
· 1996 and newer full sized GM van middle or rear seats
· 1995 and newer Toyota Tacoma
· 1994 and newer Chevy S-10/Sonoma
1953-1960 Trucks – Seat Width No More Than 58 Inches
· 2001 F-150
NOTE: There are several different styles of bench seats used in the late 1980s through late 1990s GM trucks – quasi-buckets, 60/40s and full benches. They all tend to have thin backs which helps to increase leg space where needed. Some have built in arms rests and a level of seat bottom sculpturing to them, some don’t. These seats are also well liked by a number of the members of this forum.
· 1988-1998 GM truck seats
o Excellent looking brackets
o Easy to adapt
o Headrests tend to be removable
· 1988-1994 Chevy Silverado bench
o No headrest
o Fold down arm rest
o Very stylish
· 1997 and newer F-150 bench
o Has a built in headrest
o Brackets are a bit of a challenge
· Late 1990s Chevy Suburban
· 1987 Chevy pickup bench
· The 2000 and newer Suburban
o 60/40 bench
o Removable headrests
o Not the most stylish thing
o Brackets are clunky looking
The 1999 and newer GM Silverado 40/20/40 “bench” is an interesting possibility. It’s 60 inches wide, but it’s really more like two buckets with a “jump seat” between. You could easily omit the middle section and put in a narrower console or nothing. They do have built shoulder belts, saving you the issue of mounting the shoulder restraint to the wall between the rear window and the doors. You might fit this whole set up into a 1953-1960 F-100. The 1994 through 2001 Dodge truck also has a similar set up, though less stylish than the GM version. It will have the same pluses and minuses.
Another issue to consider is that you need to build some sort of bracket to mount your new seat(s) to your truck. If you’re using the 1988-1998 GM seats, it’s pretty straightforward. Just look at the stock GM mounting brackets and it’s a no brainer. However, if you’re using Ford seats or buckets, this can get a little tricky. For a few good pictures of the brackets one member made to install a later model seat check out this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=114729 The work was done by KAI - our German buddy. He was putting a 1980 F-350 seat in a 1954 F-100. His brackets deal quite nicely with the weird bend/angle in the front of the stock Ford brackets. They are wonderful in their simplicity and could easily be modified to compensate for a shorter driver.
For an excellent example of brackets fabricated to hold the 1996-2000 Ranger 60/40 bench/bucket, check out those made by Scott123 (Scott Jones). He has provided pictures and plans, so you could make a copy of the “Scott123 Super-Duper seat frame 2000” if you wish.
Check out their galleries for the pictures/plans referred.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-pictures.html

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Thanks, I read that, i have been lurking and researching for a long time.

 

A big welcome from the land down under where we change our Prime Ministers more than we change our undies.