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OK, i've been posting too many individual threads for here and there items. It's time to put up a build thread for my 1950 F1. The story goes that i've always wanted a 1948-1952 truck since High School. I'm not even sure why or where i ran across the idea but i recall many years ago being 18-22 and driving around with a good friend of mine looking at and for old trucks. Never had the money but it was always a dream. In 1995 i had finally had enough. My wife and I married in 1989 and built a house. After that was done I built a separate garage knowing that some day i'd have a truck to work on with no idea what i was doing. I'm a Database Administrator however i did go to vo-tech in high school for machining so i did have some mechanical skills. Not all of us I/T guys are nerds! Anyways i located a truck from Nebraska in 1995 (Internet was not the thing back then) and i think it was through the AutoTrader magazine. The truck was brought back to Vermont so i made a deal, borrowed a rollback and went and got it with my friend who used to drive around looking with me looking at them. As the story goes I made the biggest mistake in my restore process by not getting what i had in front of me running and driving on the road before tearing into it. Off i went though happily tearing it down and bagging/labeling everything. I threw NOTHING out, not even rotted headliner or seat covering. I stored it all in an old outbuilding on my property and there it rested for many many years. At one point i thought i'd never get back to it and kind of lost interest as life, kids, job, got in the way. In recent years i started to relive the dream and revived the old project. Frame, cab, door, engine, bit by bit to the point where i'm at today. The hood is being done and the bed is in primer. Basically i'm finishing up a lot of the smaller stuff in hopes of having the truck on the road by next summer. With all the help i've gotten form this site as a lurker i think i'll make it! I wanted to get this build thread out there so i could ask any remaining questions and get some pictures out there.
Just beware, Digital cameras were NOT a thing in the mid 90's so what you are about to see are scanned photos of the truck. I took 100's of pictures and i even took a VHS during the teardown, which i've since digitized. I can't tell you how many times i had to go back and look at that video or pictures to figure stuff out. I did a lot of things wrong but the one thing i did do right is document everything and keep everything (bagged and/or labelled). Things i thought i would replace i end up restoring now. So here are the first scanned photos of my truck before i tore it down. I'll get some current pictures up as i get some time to post them. I scanned these 4 or 5 to an 8 1/2 X 11 page so sorry for the clarity issues.
I'll try and find a couple of the WHOLE truck "before" teardown when i get out to the garage. You know the funny thing is how bad this truck really was before i started on it. The problem back then was you were very very limited to "window" shopping. There was no craigslist and Ebay was just getting started. I paid $1200 for this piece of history and i'm not sure it was worth it but i will say the frame, doors, floor/etc were very very solid. The cab corners were replaced and a few things here and there, bullet holes, etc...The truck did run and i could drive it around the yard using the E-brake to stop. Either way it's mine and i can't return it now. You won't recognize it either once i post some current pictures.
Glad you are back on the truck. I know how it is because mine set for five years with out working on it until I started back on it last fall. Hurry up with more pictures so I can have some ideals for mine.
Here's some right now. As you can see i've got lots of parts restored. Just putting things together at the moment. Messy i know. Headliner in the next week or so and then rest of glass. I was leaving the windshield out to make room for my fat *** when putting the headliner in. Once that's done then doors and glass/handles/hardware/etc. And just in case you notice the fuel lines were temporary while i ran the engine from a gas can. Still need to bend the new ones
I've been to Bill's place. He's got a great two bay garage and his 50 looks even better in person. I didn't see the bed and it looks great.
Bill, you will have it done for the Central PA Mount Truckstock in September, right! Then you'll have to get someone to drive your 52 to Truckstock, too.
That's my plan but I'm thinking i'll definitely bring them both. The 53...not so much but that project should be easier after going through this one. I'd like to get the 52 lower front fenders fixed but if that doesn't get done so be it, i'm focusing on the 50 right now. I took the running boards off while working inside the cab. Frees up some room to work.
That's my plan but I'm thinking i'll definitely bring them both. The 53...not so much but that project should be easier after going through this one. I'd like to get the 52 lower front fenders fixed but if that doesn't get done so be it, i'm focusing on the 50 right now. I took the running boards off while working inside the cab. Frees up some room to work.
Looking good and what mess. I agree on hitting the running board brackets. I keep hitting the front of the frame where the bumper mounts. Keep up the great work and the paint looks great
11-08-2017, 12:18 PM
