Recently a new member, harley89, posted a message telling everyone about his new project and what his plans are for it. Then Jon, Irondragon , posted a picture of his truck. That got me thinking, I would like to see what others have started with and, if finished or not, how did they turn out or if they're not finished yet, where are they at. This could make interesting reading to the cold nights sitting in. It could also give the little inspiration to those of us, like me, who are stuck in the middle of a project and need that nudge to get us started again.

I will start the string out with pictures of my two trucks. The first is a '49 F-2 that started as a rusting hulk in my dad's yard


The second is a '48 panel that is stalled in mid restoration due to lack of funds but hopefully will be finished in primer this summer so I can get it the Dash to the Dells show.


I have more pictures of these trucks on my website.

Also, one more thing I would like to mention; when I read your posts I, along with many other here, would really like to see some pictures of your projects but a lot of you don't have any posted in your galleries. I am quite a truck nut and think it would help to see some of the projects that questions are being posted about.

 

Bob,
Well, I only have snap-shots of Day 1. I don't have a scanner, so let me disgust and astonish you with a physical description of my truck, Day1, instead:
White, rattle-can navy blue, grey primer and rust colored exterior distastefully annointed with an infinite number of dings, pits, holes, and a HUGE dent along the hinge of the driver's door at the door jamb. The dent afforded me a gratuitous 3-4" to ingress and egress. The driver's side window, though steadfastily holding its rightful place, was completely spidered and required the ol' "press lift" (one hand on each side of the window, exerting equal pressure) to raise it up (though it wouldn't go up all the way. Why? Turns out the top of the cab was tweaked, off-square, bent... whatever you choose to call it, it was.

Now let's gander toward the rear and bed area, and what do we find??? Nothing. Nada. Zilch. A circa 1980's fine piece of plywood provided the center bed floor. OK, it was warped, molded and rotting... but it was something and it was substituting as a bed floor. The gas tank was moved from the original position behind the seat to behind the rear end melon. That actually was OK with me, but the aluminum carpenter's tape (one thin strip on each side) suspended it in a "hovering" manner. Kinda reminded me of a helicopter just before it lands; you know, how they kind of jockey around in suspended animation? Yeah, you got it.

275/60X15's on hideous, cheap-*** rims too deplorable to describe. Tailgate? Bowed beyond salvage. Rear bumper? Nope.
Oh the seats. 60's or 70's GM 60" wide bench seat in the ever-popular medium blue vinyl. That's not the kicker though. The kicker are the unequal-length wood blocks of 2"X4" that were holding the seats in place by varius styles of screws: machine, wood, electric, and drywall. Sweet...

The engine ran, but required a complete rebuild. The tranny engaged... if I was lucky. first thing I did was limp it over to an Auto Oil Changers to change the tranny and rear end lubes. the rear end lube came out like molasses in fall. Glops of stools, with exit assistance provided by a proctologist-like probe by the mechanic. Not pretty. At all.

The truck recieved an engine rebuild, a rebuilt C-4 tranny (since replaced with an AOD), three pinion gear changes (ended up with 3.50's), an Auburn ltd slip rear, and after a mere 6 (yep, 6) months in the paint/body shop, Buch emerged from the ashes. turns out the charming white exterior was only a facade that covered THREE other coats. The original color was red, which goes to figure since my ownership trace revealed a (now retired) Fire Chief from Chowchilla, CA as the original owner. those fire eaters ALWAYS buy red cars/trucks... guess they got red vehicles in their blood! So, the original plan of a pearl-white paint job fell to the wayside in lieu of the candy red you see now.

Lots of other iterations along the way, to which most FTE'rs here can attest to, but those are the main ones.


Butch n Me

 

Here's mine.

 

Put those pics side by side. Did you use your scanner software or ????????????????

 

To insert my pictures side by side I just inserted the two pictures right next to each other without a space.

 

Hmm, guess I helped to start this whole thing, so heres mine

 

Started in summer 2000 and I am almost through self destucting. Actually the rear is out now and I have started the lowering process.

 

Bob, The first pic is from about 6 months after I got her. She's already been waxed and so fourth. Now she is full of bondo and is original except for paint so you can figure out the rest. The second is close to how it will look finished on the outside(amazing what sunshine and new wheels can do), but everyware else is still a guessing game. I still consider my self lucky after seeing a few others though. -4speed

 

Does this count? I am not far from what i started with. I just figured I'd post a pic or two. I did get it running and it sounds sweet, I need lots more free time.


In the beggining.




soon after:

 

Well, I dont have any of my pictures hosted yet but I have plenty in my gallery

 

Well, I just started as well and most of you already know what's on top of my list of things to do to it . By this spring, I'm hoping to have a new paint job, new exhaust, and new interior. Also, I've got a small bit of body work to do but that's not too bad .

 

For mine, I just used photoshop. Took 2 pics and made into one.

 

DOAH!!!.. so far it looks like I'm the only one to not start with a complete truck (starts banging head on desk on front of me) I knew I should have bought more than just a rolling chassis and cab... I guess I just like to go about things the hard way

 

I haven't done much with my '48 F2, but my pics are in my gallery. I have just taken the bed off of it and am in the process of cleaning up parts that I have bought for it, like running boards, etc.

 

Humble beginnings...