Hi Everyone:
I would like some advice reguarding restoreing my 46 Ford pickup. I would like to keep the body orginial. I am wondering, where to start. The hood, top of cab, all fenders have alittle rust. On the driver side lower panel by door has a bad rusted out spot, this is the only bad spot. I have treated the entire body with a coating to change rust into primer. I would like to do a good job on my truck. So do I remove everything from frame? Can I prime at this time? I would like to use 40 style tail lights, Chevron or tear drop, and place then in the rear fenders. The pickup bed floor is gone, I plan on placeing chrome diamon plate on the floor and inside panels. The dash is all ogrinal, but none of the guagers work. I would like to use an after markert inst. panel with guages. I plan to paint my 46 a Dark Polo Green. Can anyone give advice on this subject?

 

rrm... hi, neighbor. We are just down the road from one another... I'm in Midland. By the looks of things you found yourself here on the 48-60 Forum...in our minds, the best place on FTE. We might not be much help on specific '46 model trucks, but collectively we know everything there is to know with the exception of engine block colors. Maybe a few other things.

Restoration usually starts with the frame... then suspension, to get to the rolling frame stage... then running gear, then sheet metal, then details. This is how I have seen a general progression... there are many issues like wiring and interiors that could be inserted anywhere in the build as well. In other words, no rules. Your best bet would be to read Earl's World... the story of a '56 restoration by a very thorough and accomplished fellow named George. Find it here... http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/index.html

You might be better served on the forum for '46 models... but there is much to be learned here as well. neighborly, himmelberg

 

hi guys, is your 46 a merc or a jailbar?, i made the mistake of stripping the original running gear and tub from mine and sold it of, without realising the 4 speed and other bits were standard in my model, kinda rare now a old fella said, but u can't turn back the clock, so onwards we go, atleast this model is not common and when done right, looks the goods.
anything and everything u need to do to the 46 applies to every model, regaurdless of year, so these guys can help a lot.
cya...gary

 

rrm99a - WELCOME!

Does the truck run? Or is it pretty much mechanically shot? What about the suspension?
What kind of finished product are you looking for? Show truck? Daily driver? Restored or custom?
What is your budget? What kind of time line do you envision?
(Please put pictures in your gallery. It will help us help you. Besides, we're all very nosey about each other's trucks.)

If you can answer those questions first and make a (general) plan, you will like the results much better and you can you accomplish the plan incrementally.

Himmelberg has given you good advice if you had a frame-up restoration in mind. And the site he referred is awsome.

A frame up resto is not the only path, however. My truck has been a rolling resto and a daily driver. I'm not going for the show version, but rather a cool street rod that works everyday and tows. My plan had many of the mechanical issues involved, but was not started from the frame up. Right now, mechanicals are set up, it is in three colors of primer with body work going on. It has a minimally functional interior. It should be (essentially) done by early summer.

So, you see, to specifically answer your question, there are many avenues. Maybe you want to ask more specific questions about each area (engine/trans/rear/suspension/fuel/cooling/body/paint/interior/sound system, etc) in order to get a plan in mind. However, generally speaking, the body work/ paint and interior are the last things one does.

BTW, rust converter is good stuff, but it is no substitute for patch panels where needed. It sounds like that bad spot on the door needs a new patch.

 

Have you pulled the VIN off the tranny yet and checked it for a year of build?

I thought mine was a 46; turned out to be a WW2 1943 built for the B&M RR. What got me checking was that there was absolutely no brightwork on it.

Mine turned out to have a 1941 221 inch V8, a 1943 ID open drive tranny; all original and never apart. They used what they could back then.

 

thanks Jack:
The truck runs good, drives fair. The suspension is good, I plan on rebuilding the front end. I plan on putting in as c4 auto trans, agood sound system. Also installing A/C. The bench seat has already been recovered( Black),I am thinking about black carpet. I would like to do something to the inst. panel, like new inst. panel, but haven't foiund anything to fit orginial inst. panel. My truck will be weekend driver, customized. I am wanting to install new tail lights ( Chervon style 40, or tear drop style) on the rear fender. The truck bed floor id gone, I would like to install chrome diamon plate on floor and inside of bed walls.I will try to send you some pictures. The flathead engine is a 53, on the heads they have EAB 6059D, EAB 6060D on the intake RT8/8BA. I would like to Hop up the flathead, 400 jr cam, 4.00 crank, Alum. heads, Alum. intake for dual two carbs. As far time there is no present time limit. As for budget it will be pretty much pay as you go. I am really wanting a great looking truck keeping body orginial, with a few upgrades,interior new inst. panel, steering wheel, good sound system, carpet, door panels.new glass. Hope this gives you a little better idea. As soon as I can find out how to send pictures I will.