When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hello, I'm new here and finally acquired what I'm hoping to one day make my dream truck, a 1952 Ford pickup. At one point it was an f1 I wanted but after realizing a half ton is not quite enough truck for me I came across this f3 and decided it was the one... well now I have a truck that pretty much needs everything and no idea where to even start but looks like I need almost everything in the interior, everything under the hood, most likely a transmission and from everything I've seen so far I should up grade the rear end to a Dana 60. Should be a fun project, any advice?
I do not think there is a right or wrong answer to what a truck needs.
Some folks want them all original.
Some like restomods.
To me, I think a person should think about a theme for their vehicle and then try to stick to it.
My truck had already been modified, so doing an original restoration was totally out of the question.
I decided that I wanted to keep it as much Ford as reasonably possible, yet make it a high quality, good looking, driver.
Good luck with your build. It has a lot of potential.
Welcome to the forum, Don! It looks like you've found yourself a fun project. Seems pretty solid, overall, and a pretty good starting place. Congrats on your find. It sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on what you need and what it's going to take to do the job. If you're mechanically handy at all, have the stamina and pocketbook for a restoration, you won't have any trouble. We've always here to help, too, if you need knowledge, experience or just moral support. Keep us posted on your progress. If you get a chance, you might also share a picture of your rear brake backing plates. It's possible you're mistaken on your brake size as noted in another thread. Thanks.
Welcome!
No advice here on what you should do to your truck. Get to know it - it will tell you what it wants to become.
Any specific questions you have, we're more than happy to help!
Tim
Glad that you found a truck worthy of your dreams. Some of our Canadian members will be able to comment on sources to minimize the issues with cross-border buying.
The only general offering is to resist the temptation to blow the truck into a pile of parts straight away. While every project has unique challenges, getting to a running and driving vehicle as you work toward your final goal can be helpful. Your truck your call.
Welcome to FTE Don.
I 2nd FortyNiners comments about blowing it appart. There are many good intentioned projects out there where folks blew their trucks apart and then realized they were over their heads. Someone on here once advised to get it running and driving and let IT tell you what needs to be done. If you do the work yourself getting it to run and stop should be very inexpensive. Tires and possibly wheels will be a safety must. You eluded to a transmission issue. Resist converting to a different type trans until you have your vision of what you want your truck to be. If you're just gonna run around town an original will work just fine. On the other hand if you wanna cruise the interstates there are several kits to put almost any trans in any vehicle but they're pricey.
Most of all enjoy whatever you decided to do. Welcome to the madness!
hey welcome, lets get right off topic, that truck looks lifted could you let us know if it is.
also keep the 4 speed in it as grinding gears is fun to do and those transmissions are indestructible.
Welcome. Nice looking truck. Agree it looks lifted compared to what I’ve seen.
What to do? Depends on your vision for the truck. If you need more truck than an F1 I’m guessing street rod is not what your planning. I bought an F1 with the full intention of converting to 4x4 using “newer” components.
Then I started driving it and fell in love with how it is as it’s just such an original truck. Still stock after all these years. I couldn’t bring myself to modify it so…..I a bought an F2 that is in similar condition to your truck, needs everything. That will be a blank slate and my vision is for it to become my 4x4 “work” truck.
Looking forward to seeing your project.
you have to know your path (as others have pointed out) Here's a link to something I wrote years
ago when I started... Might give you some ideas and paths to think about
you have to know your path (as others have pointed out) Here's a link to something I wrote years
ago when I started... Might give you some ideas and paths to think about
Great article. I like the part about emotional support. When I was building my race car my wife kiddingly said she’d forward my mail to the garage. 2 years from bare shell to the track. Kids and dogs often hung out in the garage, a great experience and one son eventually got to drive it at the track.
That emotional bond is strong and holds together families, that's why i need to get Billy The Kid back on the road and take Arby's family for a drive in it soon.
you have to know your path (as others have pointed out) Here's a link to something I wrote years
ago when I started... Might give you some ideas and paths to think about
Great write up. I especially like the part about acetylene. The previous owner of my truck had an intimate bond with his oxy/acetylene torch. Most holes in the frame and cab were cut with his torch. I cringe every time I had to fix one.
There are many folks on this forum that have a lot more experience than I do.
In my experience, I find that 75 percent of my time is trying to figure out what to do, and 25 percent of my time is actually doing it. If I were to do it again, I could accomplish the build in significantly less than 1/2 the time.
I totally agree with a plan. I was not as organized as you were, but I have been sticking fairly close to my plan.
Welcome to the forum, Don! It looks like you've found yourself a fun project. Seems pretty solid, overall, and a pretty good starting place. Congrats on your find. It sounds like you've got a pretty good handle on what you need and what it's going to take to do the job. If you're mechanically handy at all, have the stamina and pocketbook for a restoration, you won't have any trouble. We've always here to help, too, if you need knowledge, experience or just moral support. Keep us posted on your progress. If you get a chance, you might also share a picture of your rear brake backing plates. It's possible you're mistaken on your brake size as noted in another thread. Thanks.
It should be fun, im definitely no mechanic but ive always wanted to build my own truck and know a little. Surprisingly there's very little rust for the age just a couple spots that will be easy to fix and a few decent dents and small cracks in the fenders, the frame is in great shape from what I can tell but there's no engine or anything else under the hood and the transmission is missing the shifter then there's the rear end and brakes that should probably be replaced to get it to what I want. I think the pocket book is going to end up being the biggest issue from what I can tell so far, I'd like to go original engine/transmission and just change the rear end but what i can find that i can afford will most likely determine what happens. It's definitely going to be a couple year project. Here's a few more pictures, any idea what the numbers on the axle mean?
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
Don.
