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So I am new to this forum . My wife's father left her his 47 F1 pick up and it's in pretty rough shape we are looking for advice on our best options for new frame as the old one is not in good shape and also we are looking for the most economical way to build this into a street rod and finally honour her father by getting it done .it was the first truck he bought when he was a kid and my wife has seen it getting worse in all of her backyards growing up as well. If anybody has done one and can give us advice it would be appreciated.
Your truck looks pretty good from this angle! I am wondering why you believe that the frame is bad.
Let's see what it looks like with the body and bed removed!
Your pickup frame is the same size as the '48-'52 f-1
From your photos, it looks like a very clean truck. The frames are super simple and any damage to them can be repaired fairly easily. I would strip the body off, make the frame right and use it without hesitation. I'm more into traditional hot rods and would keep it simple/ economical. Mechanically, if it has a flatty v8, I'd use it...with a transmission and rearend upgrade for improved driveability I'd go with disc brakes up front using a dual circuit master cylinder and rebuild everything else that moves. If you want it lower, go with a dropped front axle from Sid's and move the springs to the bottom on the rear. Just my 2 pennies worth.
It's going to be personal taste on this one. I don't know what the bottom side looks like, but unless it has a bunch of rot hidden in the floors etc... I'm not sure I'd take the body off. Someone drove it around long enough hanging their arm out the window to wear the paint of it, to me thats cool. I'd second Rust Wrangler. Clean it up, figure out if the motor is any good and then focus on making it a reliable vehicle. If you're restoring it back to new like condition then that's another story. More pics !!
That is a really cool truck the way it is. Yes, personal taste is key. A 'like new' truck is a beautiful thing, but the old guy's arm rubbing the paint off would beat that for sure. I like the county work truck yellow too. Ok, you know where I stand. Most important, it stayed in the family. Enjoy it, it's awesome!
