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Hello everyone, I’m Mark. I’d like to introduce my self and my new project to everyone. My grandma just gifted me a 1951 Ford F1 that was bought new by my great grandpa, and most of the miles were put on by my late grandpa. He was a farmer, and worked at a livestock sale barn for 28 years. He used the truck to haul sheep to the sales for himself, and many other people in the neighborhood. My uncle told me the story, sometime between 1976-1979 he was pulled over with a load of sheep by a highway patrolman. And he was told he couldn’t be driving the pickup anymore because I’m of it only having one tail light, so he took it home and parked it in the corn crib. I pulled the truck out the day after thanksgiving, and started tearing it down. My plan is to do a complete restoration. Thanks for having me in the group!
Hi Mark, looks like a nice complete 51 F1 ya got from ya grandmother. Reminds me a little of what my grandfarther's 49 F1 looked like when I pulled it out of a barn many years ago. Good luck on your restoration plans & welcome to the FTE forum.
Welcome,
i hereby hand over the title of the rustiest front clip on one of these trucks to you.
Congrats and start looking for a new front clip before you need it as it will take a bit to find one in good shape.
The plan right now is keeping it stock, with the exception of a few possible upgrades. Maybe front disk brakes, converted to 12v, and adding a few shiny parts that were originally painted. Hopefully keeping the flathead V8/3 speed on the column. Up in the air on a rear end gear. I’d like it to be able to cruise about 60mph realistically but don’t know if that’s doable in this configuration.
Welcome,
i hereby hand over the title of the rustiest front clip on one of these trucks to you.
Congrats and start looking for a new front clip before you need it as it will take a bit to find one in good shape.
lol yes it needs fenders/running boards/ and a box. But everything else is in really great shape does need a patch welded in on the passenger side front cowl. But the rest of the cab is extremely solid and only 2-3 very small dents I can see.
The plan right now is keeping it stock, with the exception of a few possible upgrades. Maybe front disk brakes, converted to 12v, and adding a few shiny parts that were originally painted. Hopefully keeping the flathead V8/3 speed on the column. Up in the air on a rear end gear. I’d like it to be able to cruise about 60mph realistically but don’t know if that’s doable in this configuration.
Iowa, welcome to FTE the best Ford truck forum on the World wide Web!
Nice truck. Great family history. I took have my Grandpa's truck, a 54. I love the story why your grandpa parked it.
A lot of us here believe you should keep it 6 volts. Like you can read on another current (no pun intended) thread you need thick 00 gauge cables with good clean ground points.
My 54 has the 3.92 rear end . I can cruise at 60mph no problem.
Feel free to ask questions. Thanks for the pictures. Keep us updated. Good luck.
Welcome to FTE! We love a good family history.
My truck was my wife's grandpa's truck. It worked not too far from Iowa in northern Missouri. If you aren't adding lots of extra electrical equipment, 6 Volt is just fine. I kept mine 6 volt. You don't have to worry about gauges and all those types of things.
I went from 4.88 gears to 3.54 in my truck, now I can run at 60-65 no problem for hours on end with the original engine. (2000 miles in just 6 days for Truckstock 2023)
I have the 53-56 master parts catalog and it is a huge help. I'm sure there is something like that for your years. I will try to find something when I get home this evening if someone else doesn't point it out to you.
We like pictures! So keep them coming. Be sure to ask lots of questions. Doing so has saved me a ton of money over they years as these guys have helped so much and prevented me from doing stupid stuff. Well, helping me fix my stupid mistakes is more like it.
I have 2 trucks with the 6 volt positve ground. I did switch my generators to alternators. I agree big wires and clean grounds should take care of any issues.
I will also add my welcome and agreement on keeping the 6V.
Regarding cruising speed, what rear axle ration is in your truck? 60 mph is very doable with a stock truck, but it is more comfortable with 3.54 or 3.73 rear gears. Changing axle ratio is very doable, either keeping the stock axle and swapping internal parts, or with swapping the complete axle for a 9 inch from a 57 to 72 F-100.
If i were you i would switch to a 6v positive ground alternator based off a delco 10SI purely for the ability to go to any parts store and get parts for it or a replacement.
I have a kit to convert one to 6v pos ground with less than 2 hours on it if you want to make me an offer.
I am converting to 12v and rewiring after the 223 blew, and no longer have a need for it.
I need christmas cash. I am so broke i cant even afford to pay attention.
