1956 Bed Replacement
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1956 Bed Replacement
I surfed the Internet for a forum on 1956-1956 F-100's and was very impressed with this site, especially the article on replacing the floorboard. Thus, I decided to join. I restored a 1954 F-100 several years ago and since have been building streetrods for myself. I now have a 1956 big window in my garage which belongs to a good friend that recently died of cancer. His widow has asked me to finish up the truck for her which includes installing a new Oak bed. Unfortunately, my friend bought most of the parts but due to his health problems did not get them installed. I have the Oak and the chrome strips and end cap/strip which were purchased from Mid Fifties Ford. Also I have a gas fill port for installation in the boards but my friend bought a poly replacement tank that places the fill right in the center of the middle strip. Mid Fifties Ford's catalog acknowledges and offers a kit to plug the center hole and run the gas fill tube out the side under the fender, I believe. The widow does not like that placement. Are my only options to replace the gas tank or cut the strip and place the fill port cap in between the the cut strip? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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From: Silverthorne Colorado
I guess I'm not completly fowwowing your question. Where does SHE want the filler to end up? Thru the floor of the bed is a fairly common and clear-looking option. However, obviously, if you're going to be carrying big loads, it could become un handy.
I used a flush mounted polished stainless steel 'trap door' about 5-inches square in the center oak board at the rear, near the tailgate. The fuel fill cap sits about 2-3" below the wood floor and there is enough room to stick you hand in to remove the fill cap. I like the fact that it doesn't connect to the bed floor for two reasons. 1. No possible strain on the filler neck, and 2. any spillage during refueling goes onto the ground not in the bed.
I got the door from Rock Valley.
Good luck, and be safe.
BobJonesSpecial
I used a flush mounted polished stainless steel 'trap door' about 5-inches square in the center oak board at the rear, near the tailgate. The fuel fill cap sits about 2-3" below the wood floor and there is enough room to stick you hand in to remove the fill cap. I like the fact that it doesn't connect to the bed floor for two reasons. 1. No possible strain on the filler neck, and 2. any spillage during refueling goes onto the ground not in the bed.
I got the door from Rock Valley.
Good luck, and be safe.
BobJonesSpecial
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From: Ventura County, CA
Another option:
Get a tank that fills on the top of one side or the other. Run a filler neck to the rear quarter panel on that side and have a gas door welded in. Hagan is the gas door I used, but I don't like it because in CA we have that obnoxious anti-fume huge-*** fitting on the end of the gas pump that doesn't fit too well into the Hagan gas door. It IS kinda trick though; it is push-button activated to open and close and you fill right thru the cap (ie, you don't have to take the cap inside the filler door off to fuel up.
If I had it to do again, I'd get a late-model fuel door from Ford, Chevy or Dodge and have THAT welded in place. That way the fuel pumps would all fit in CA.
Butch n Me
Get a tank that fills on the top of one side or the other. Run a filler neck to the rear quarter panel on that side and have a gas door welded in. Hagan is the gas door I used, but I don't like it because in CA we have that obnoxious anti-fume huge-*** fitting on the end of the gas pump that doesn't fit too well into the Hagan gas door. It IS kinda trick though; it is push-button activated to open and close and you fill right thru the cap (ie, you don't have to take the cap inside the filler door off to fuel up.
If I had it to do again, I'd get a late-model fuel door from Ford, Chevy or Dodge and have THAT welded in place. That way the fuel pumps would all fit in CA.
Butch n Me
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Thanks for the suggestions. I would like to run the gas fill to the rear quarter panel but the owner just had the truck repainted so I hate to weld in the Hagen door. The current tank does have a fill opton on either side. I am meeting with my deceased friend's wife this week to discuss the options. As I see if they are as follow:
1. Buy a new gas tank with the fill properly located to allow a fill door in the wood boards.
2. use the side fill in the current poly tankand weld in and repaint the rear quarter panel.
3. use the current center fill and cut a gap in the center strap
4. use a side fill in the current tank and use a trap door that opens to a fill pipe and gas cap on the tank. I am not certain that there is enough room and correct angles to make this work.
1. Buy a new gas tank with the fill properly located to allow a fill door in the wood boards.
2. use the side fill in the current poly tankand weld in and repaint the rear quarter panel.
3. use the current center fill and cut a gap in the center strap
4. use a side fill in the current tank and use a trap door that opens to a fill pipe and gas cap on the tank. I am not certain that there is enough room and correct angles to make this work.
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Well, I decided to put the gas fill port in the center strap. I cut the strap with a Mill so that the cut is round and fits nicely around the circular fill port. The fill port came from Mid-Fifties and has the key/slot for taking the fill cap off. It came out pretty good and sure beat the alternative of buying a new gas tank. thanks to all that reponded to my post. I am taking a picture of the finished results tonight and could post a pic if anyone is interested in seeing how it turned out.
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