Hi everyone. I’m Greg. Have been lurking the forum for years now and decided it’s time to share. First, I want to thank everyone here for all the information and help that you all give. I have learned so much here on this forum. Hope to give back if I’m able.

My project is a family owned truck. My great uncle bought it new and was a farm truck in Tennessee. It then went to my grandfather and then to me. I received it completely stock and with one repaint. It was originally sea sprite green with a 239 y block and 3 on the tree.

I drove it on the street a little bit and decided I wanted some things to be different. I stripped it to nothing about 10 years ago and began the restification. It’s a bit dark side, but it should appear stock at a glance, until you look closer. For now, it’s got a 5.0 and AOD and 9 inch. I went with an aftermarket mustang 2 front suspension and an aftermarket leaf spring rear. I’m kind of regretting the M2 now, but it’s in there.

A lot of new metal on the truck since it was pretty rusty. The frame and cab are original but had some rust repairs. Most of the rest is aftermarket metal. Hope to see it back on the road next year or the year after. Life happens and things take much longer than I thought.

Anyway, I have lots of pics from the very beginning, so if it will help anyone, I’m willing to share them as well as things I’ve learned. Thanks for looking.

 

Looks like a great project. Welcome to FTE and keep the progress pictures coming!

 

Hi Greg. Your project looks like it's coming along fine now. I'm sure there has been plenty of ups and down in that time. I think I speak for everyone when I say the more pictures the better! And not just cos it's a 55. What makes you regret the M2?

 

I think my regret on the M2 is that I would have been just as happy with rebuilt stock stuff or even a jag front end. For a design that has been around for a while, the aftermarket M2 I have just seems not really well thought out. For instance, the boots on my rack rub the lower control arm bolts. And the upper ball joints seem to be at too much of an angle that the boots don’t seal or seat right. I know they say it will settle after a few drives, so we’ll see. Haven’t driven it more than a block so far.

 

beginning disassembly

as i got it

frame sandblasted

M2 and painted

9 inch and new rear suspension

engine and trans

 

 

Thanks for putting those pictures up. We can all appreciate the work that goes on between each of them! My cab is sitting like your last pic right now ready for cutting/welding. It was good to hear your views on the M2. I went IFS and wondered if M2 would have saved me time over Toyota. But you are right - rebuilt original gets you on the road faster and that is the most important thing after all.

 

You say the boots on your rack are rubbing the lower control arms . Do you have the thick spacer between the rack and the cross member..? They are about 1 inch thick and solves that problem..

 

Yes, I have the spacers. They are at least an inch thick- might even be more. The rub is not horrible, but they are rubbing. I’ll live with it, but as I had said just seems not fully thought out. It’s from a well known company- they could have seen it was a problem by just bolting it all together where they make it. Aftermarket stuff isn’t always what it’s made out to be.

 

Restored my 55 to original except clear coat paint.
All myself except body & paint.

 

And I love it. It looks awesome! Except for those amber turnsignal lenses! Haha.

You need to post more often so we can see more pics of your awesome truck. What is the name of the paint color?

 

Fking1,
that is beautiful! Looks like the same color mine was originally- sea sprite green. I’m green with envy myself...

 

Hey Greg,
Welcome Aboard! We've got about the same set up as you have. 351W with an AOD transmission & a Mustang II front suspension
but we went with an Explorer 8.8 out back. You'll like it when you get all the initial issues knocked down a bit. It takes a while. I was hoping for a
total modern feel to it when driving... close but not quite. It's still an old truck with lot's of creaks & groans but it does cruise
well at 65 on the highway.

We stayed with a carb set up vs fuel injection..... I was getting tired & just went for the easiest path to getting it
up & running. I've been surprised how reliable the carb set up has been... a little smelly but it works.
We bought our Mustang II set up from No Limit Engineering - it's had it's issues. Can't get the alignment perfect
and it does rub a bit - but we've got 35K miles on it. I think it's hard to get these front ends welded in there perfectly.
Never 100% right … our's isn't a show truck - not perfect but it works fine.

You've done a nice job - you should be proud of saving your uncle's old truck.

Ben in Waco/Austin
1950 F1 (351W/AOD)

 

Sea Sprite Green it is, clear coat enamel which was not factory.
Believe white is Snow Shoe White.