I'm to the point where my restore to 95% original 50 F1 is ready for the final sheet metal. I don't do body work, i'm just not good at it and i have a local that is pretty darn good with the old stuff. My original bed sheet metal is pretty bad and my rear fenders, IMO, are bent up pretty bad along with the usual rot near the corners and where they would connect to the bed. Since this truck is kind of a "trailer queen" i'm thinking of biting the bullet and getting a new stock bed, tailgate, and rear fenders. I think in the end I'll likely have the same money into the repairs, if not more. Here's my question(s).
1. Are the beds from Midwest Early Ford worthy? (Fit/Finish/etc)
2. My running boards are completely shot and new ones are in order. I have access to a very good powder coating business, my friend owns it. what are the thoughts on powder coating the running boards vs. paint? I've had him do the wheels in the stock red and they are as close to a perfect match as I think you can get, the inner fenders and chassis parts have been powdercoated as well with wet black and they look fantastic.

This last step is going to be expensive no matter what i do but i just want to get it right so there are no re-do's.

 

I bought my stock bed from Mid West Early Ford. I am very pleased with it. I just bought the bedsides, front panel and rear crossmember since my other crossmembers were good and I reused my old bedwood. It only $600. Of course I have a 54 but if their 53-56 beads aer of good quality I am sure their 48-52 beds are of the same quality.

I picked it up at Carlisle and saved all that cost for freight shipping.

 

I'd go with a new bed/box for sure. No way you can restore a rough one for the cost of new.
The only new bed I've used was from Mar K, which was excellent quality.

 

I agree on replacing bed sides. Repairing flat steel that shows on both sides requires way more time than replacing if you want it done right. I used Mar K as well and they are awesome beds. I have never used powder coat so not sure, but my thinking is if it does get scratched, its harder to repair and match than paint. The more you can protect the running boards from being stepped on, the less potential for repair. I assume they will be subject to abuse to I look at them more like something I can remove and repair. If you know a powder coater, it may be the best option for you. Thats if you have an "in" with him and he gives you a good price. I am also assuming if you scratch powder coat, you can not just touch it up. Does the piece have to be recoated?

 

My old bed was in the same shape. I bought mine from Northern Classic Trucks but they are no longer in business. I powder coated my new running boards several years ago and they are still nice even with the typical abuse they take. Both were money well spent IMHO.

 

Thanks guys. I took the afternoon off and took my fenders Front/Back originals to my body guy and he said they will be no problem. He said if the running boards and front/rear bumpers are going to be black that i'd be better off powder coating them so that is what i'm going to do. I was pumped when he said my original front and rear fenders are not that bad and he can fix them up reasonably. He recommended bed sides/front/and gate along with subfram due to what some of you mentioned but overall i'm thinking it won't be too bad. This project has been....sad to admit...at 20 yr project but i'm confident that by the end of summer she'll be back on the road. I'll get some pictures and maybe start a finish build thread.

 

Buy the new you will not regret it. I am sorry I did not go that way. After reworking our bedsides they are good far from perfect. I just do not think the $ spent would be much different.

 

Where did you order your running boards from?
How close are they to the original ones?


Kirk

 

Kirk, I ordered some steel running boards from Sacramento Vintage Ford, and when they came, they were tagged Made in Canada. Excellent quality. I couldn't tell who in Canada made them, but it would obviously merit some snooping to find out who makes them ($$$).

 

I did my bodywork first mainly because of the shape of my trucks and knowing that i could sell it all easier if i had to. I live in the suburbs and its amazing how you can have a working /driving truck that every one will refer to as a "junk truck" until it gets paint on it. After its one color even primer with no rust holes it becomes "That old truck"

 

Go to mack-products.com. They have beds and bed parts including that metal bed floor.
I used them. Great people and service.

DjS
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Hi bhalemail,
We used Midwest Early Ford for all of our body pieces. They are good to work with.
We ended up rebuilding a total wreck of a bed because I wanted the truck to still be a 1950
....if that makes sense. I'd buy new pieces if that doesn't bother you - it's just not economical
to pay to rebuild old beat up metal. We sprayed our running boards with a bedliner product -
never have to worry about scratches.

Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I ended up getting a reproduction bed from Midwest. It's of very nice quality. This truck is a ....gulp...likely trailer queen so using the original bed, albeit in decent shape, was not practical. My 52 and 53 on the other hand are and will be drivers so they get to keep their original skin, as best as possible.

 

Do yourself a favor & buy a new set of correct style running boards . It was one of the best things I did when building the stock truck .after they were painted gloss black & installed I was so glad of that choice . Midwest Early Ford had the best price & quality was spot on .