Hi Everyone,


I'm Shad and live in the midlands in the UK. I've been lurking round here for years watching what everyone does and always wanted to do something similar. I've loved the old 50's cars and trucks since a kid and seeing as I'm 40 next year (a scary thought) I thought it was time to try something different in my garage


I've been messing about with motorbike projects for years and done many build threads on similar boards. But I'm now going completely out of my comfort zone. I not back with general mechanics, paint and will try anything. But I've never welded, never really done serious car repairs past replacement parts, brakes etc. So guess I will be reading a lot on here.


For me the F1 or the F100 are just the best looking truck out there. I have been waiting for some time to get the right one at the right money (not easy on this island I can tell you!). I came up with one of each last month, a already modified F100 or an almost standard and original F1. The F1 swung it for me. So see below my starting point and I will keep posting as time allows with what I do. This will be a long term project (which going off my previous history will never end lol):

 

So I collected the truck last weekend and took it to my work service unit (not that work know about it, but the office is far enough away and they never visit lol)


I have had a look around it more and it looks quite solid as a starting point. I want to get this on the road quite quick as I have outlayed a lot in the first place and I can't keep it here long. So basic overhaul this year, then next winter will be full cab off jobbie.


My plan is:


* Get the bed off, strip and paint the chassis, then rebuild with reclaimed wood
* Weld new floor pan in cab (some rot)
* Paint
* Full service and replace parts as required
* Change tyres & wheels is possible to steels
* Rebuild interior
* Lower front a back suspension

 

So, this is where you all come in......


I have taken a look round the Engine and laughed quite a lot! I believe this truck works on premix, part gas part sand:





There is sand everywhere.. This is a small problem that I can happily sort out. The main issue I have is the exhaust manifold, its broke round the bolts and cracked on the other side two. This is on the passenger side, but where ever I look I can't find a standard OEM part for this. They all tend to be slightly different or modified, from looking at all of your posts these after market parts can cause issues further down.


Does anyone either have one for an 8BA Flathead passenger side I can buy, or knows where to get one from??





I am happy with this as a starting point though, the chassis looks solid and whoever had this before me as a project has kept all the parts labelled in bags and doesn't look like they have done anything to the structure that I would need to undo!

 

Hi there!

Welcome here in the forum from my end and greetings from the continent! I've been in the U.K. not two weeks ago. Nice Truck and project You have! I wish you good luck and a lot of fun with the truck. Keep us up to date with the process and of course we always wanna see pics of the process...

 

Shad, That's a great looking start of a project!!! I like the way it looks right now as a bit of a rat rod... I get to the UK 2-3 times a year and maybe we can meet up sometime. We have an office in Walsall and a very good buddy that lives in Worcester. Keep the updates coming!!

I may have the manifolds you need. Let me take some pics. We are going with headers on our 53 project.

 

Welcome, that's a very nice truck to start with.

 

Hey Shad,
Welcome Aboard! You look like you got a good solid cab... that is a great start.
The mechanical stuff can get sorted out pretty quickly but fixing cab rot is a long
process. Looks like you have home made running boards & the front bumper could
be after market. We took the sand in the gas opportunity to change our tank over to
a 22 gallon '70 mustang tank under the bed.

Looking good over there in England. Been to Bracknell down by Reading
a lot .... never did get totally comfortable driving on the opposite side of the car/road.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1 (351W/AOD)

 

Thank you all for your kind welcome.


Yeah I'm pleased with the overall truck and will be a simple start, but will get more complex as I get into it I'm sure. The only issue with the cab is the floor, which you can buy, so not concerned (only shipping costs are twice the buy price, $98 for the floor, $180 to ship!!).


The running boards are after market with out the ridges, but I can live with that, they are steel and strong which will do. I'm thinking of adding in either wood strips or some flat bar to make some ridges in them.


As for the sand, it just made me laugh, obviously this is from a dry state if there is sand!


My vin plate shows it's a 51 (original cab, chassis and engine) But not sure where it was built. What's the LU? (F1R1LU)

 

This year I'm going down the lines of rat rod, but not with all the crap bolted to it. Just take it back to the metal and see what is under the white primer. I think it may still be slightly rusty under there as there is a bit of an orange haze coming through the white


Then I will just blow it over one colour (with a u) and miss out the parts where it's naturally fading. It's took over 60 years for the body to mature, it would be a shame to cover in bondo

 

Why don't you just blow over it with one color (with no u) and then work on stuff under the bonnet, but before you drive it make sure the windscreen is clean. When you drive it look out for those big lorries and be aware as you approach a zebra pole. Once you get to your flat relax and watch your favorite football team on the telly!

 

Welcome from another UK truck owner

I have some Flathead exhaust manifolds you can have

Located in Hertfordshire but travel with work so should be able to get them to you

I'll send you a PM

 

love it..... actually lol'd !!

just not into football .... more a MotoGP fan myself

 

You must mean soccer, football is played here in America.

 

That is a nice solid truck you have there.

 

Welcome mate! I'm from Reading but I now live in central Utah!

Wicked looking truck man, tagging along to watch the progress!