I have been reading the posts on this site and reviewed some of the older posts for information for the last year, and I appreciate all the excellent knowledge provided. I purchased a 1950 F1 and have rebuilt the brakes, new gas tank, electric fuel pump, new carb, msd distrib, red's headers, and it runs great (ok it runs and stops). One of the posts I researched on exhaust recommended pipes out the back and it burbles very nice.

Plans for Old Blu; stay flat, upgrade to 5 spd (its stock 3 spd now), rebuild suspension, new wheels and tires, repair or replace the seat (frame has a lot of play), and replace the wood bed.

Next up is steering, or I should say predictive steering. Right front leaf spring is cracked, the top leaf, and I believe I understand "bump steer" hit a bump and hang on! From what I have read there are several options on leaf springs and I am ok with the current ride height or even a couple of inches lower. From reading posts I should find a shop locally that is familiar with how to evaluate and rebuild these suspensions. At the same time I want to replace the tires and wheels, there are so many posts it is hard to research, my goal is stability and drivability mostly around the country roads I live around. Any advice is appreciated!

 

Welcome to FTE. Looks like a nice truck, good luck with her.

 

Welcome to the forum. It looks like a nice project truck. Suspension and steering rebuild is worth the cost and effort. There are endless forum threads on the subject and the guys here are always ready to answer questions. Take care of as much as you can at once and you will enjoy your truck much more. It's expensive if you hire it all out and it can be a challenging DIY task if you are not experienced, but you won't recognize the truck after it is done.

 

Welcome to the forum. Why after a year no posts until now? Glad to see a east coast truck not eat up by rust. Good luck with her.

 

Congratulations on your project so far. You've done great. It's nice to be able to have fun with these trucks.

be gentle with that broken spring. The top leaf is the main leaf, and if it's broken I would suggest it may not be totally safe to drive. At least not much or at high speed. That's the critical support area. I would also suggest if you go through your entire suspension you will eliminate much or all of the bump steer. That bad spring may be moving around enough to cause the problems you describe. Spring eye pins and bushings are another factor. King pins, too. Add up all the play in every joint and connection from the steering wheel all the way to the tires and it can add up to a lot of play.

First thing is to decide on what springs you want, stock height or lowered, and buy them. Get all the hardware that goes with them; pins, bushings, etc. If you don't feel comfortable diving in and replacing it all yourself, find a local shop that can do it for you. Most of all, be safe, and welcome to the forum.

 

If you are looking for someone to do the work on your truck, I am willing and more than able. I am in Durham. I am helping on a couple F1 builds currently, considered a suspension guru, co-wrote the article on power steering for the beam axle: Toyota Steering Box Swap For 1948-1960 Trucks - Ford-Trucks.com
I also write/teach workshops on rust repair and body work: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...g-try-2-a.html
I'd love to stop by and see your truck.

 

Thank you for the welcome!

Hi Ax, I am looking for someone to do the work and if it's close enough to be safe I can bring the truck to you. I'm off hwy 98 near creedmore road.

 

I'm very close, off 98 near 70. We need to take this offline:
Click on user CP (at left end of blue band above). In menu on left side of page click on edit options. In the options page check the boxes for receive emails from other members and enable private messaging. At the very bottom click save changes. After that come back to this post and click my user name. Click send PM to AXracer in the drop down menu. Send me your email address (and phone if you want me to call you) in the PM. I will contact you by email or phone shortly after I receive the PM.

 

Hi, cool truck, looks like a lot of potential there. I live in Raleigh as well, just off of Lake Wheeler road near Garner. Ax and I work on my truck just about every weekend and your welcome to swing by. PM if you are interested and we can setup something. Good luck!

Gary