Preservation or Restoration
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Racine, WI
Preservation or Restoration
I'm new to fixing up cars, I'm a computer geek these days but have spent some year sof my life working construction and even worked in oil industry for a few years where I learned to weld and torch. I recently bought a 1959 Ford F-250 and I'm not even sure where to start. Seems like the first question is do I keep it all stock and fix it up, will it be worth more that way, I would like to go to shows but not even sure if many shows have a class for F-250s???
I believe the truck is pretty much stock, minus the paint which I think is the second coat. I definatly want to get it painted thinking a two tone theme with the white middle layer maybe a red or a blue. I'd like to use 59 stock color what ever it is.
It has an inline 6 which is stock for this truck since it has a J in the VIN. Seems like a good engine and I would like to get more power out of it. Any idea on how I can get more power out of the 6 without changing the stoxk look of the engine?
It has 4 on the floor with a hell of a granny gear - seems sort of a waste since I'm not pulling stumps out the groud with it =)
Thinking it would be cool to put an original HD Cruise-o-matic in it if I could find one...does anyone know if this is good or bad idea. Would I need a completely new transmission if I did this???
When did ford start putting airconditioning in trucks is there anyway to put air in this truck and keep it stock, what about power steering???
Guess it all goes back to if it makes sense to keep it stock, what are the pros and cons of doing so????
Are there show guidelines????
HELP!
Being a web guy I have put up a blog for 59 Ford Trucks at http://www.59fordtruck.com would love to hear stories and get pictures of your 59...
Shawn
I believe the truck is pretty much stock, minus the paint which I think is the second coat. I definatly want to get it painted thinking a two tone theme with the white middle layer maybe a red or a blue. I'd like to use 59 stock color what ever it is.
It has an inline 6 which is stock for this truck since it has a J in the VIN. Seems like a good engine and I would like to get more power out of it. Any idea on how I can get more power out of the 6 without changing the stoxk look of the engine?
It has 4 on the floor with a hell of a granny gear - seems sort of a waste since I'm not pulling stumps out the groud with it =)
Thinking it would be cool to put an original HD Cruise-o-matic in it if I could find one...does anyone know if this is good or bad idea. Would I need a completely new transmission if I did this???
When did ford start putting airconditioning in trucks is there anyway to put air in this truck and keep it stock, what about power steering???
Guess it all goes back to if it makes sense to keep it stock, what are the pros and cons of doing so????
Are there show guidelines????
HELP!
Being a web guy I have put up a blog for 59 Ford Trucks at http://www.59fordtruck.com would love to hear stories and get pictures of your 59...
Shawn
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 7
From: Erie, pa
Welcome
Its your truck, so it comes down to whatever floats your boat.
You can increase the power of your engine without changing the appearence or you can add some goodies and make it look custom.
If you read the posts here, they go back to the beginning, you'll find the majority of us have been through several different ideas of what WE WANTED, before we got too far into it.
Besides the posts in this forum and there are areas dedicated to the engines, trannys, and just about everything else. Also check out the Tech Article section.
This is be best group of people that you'll find on the Web, join in, hold on and enjoy the ride.
Its your truck, so it comes down to whatever floats your boat.
You can increase the power of your engine without changing the appearence or you can add some goodies and make it look custom.
If you read the posts here, they go back to the beginning, you'll find the majority of us have been through several different ideas of what WE WANTED, before we got too far into it.
Besides the posts in this forum and there are areas dedicated to the engines, trannys, and just about everything else. Also check out the Tech Article section.
This is be best group of people that you'll find on the Web, join in, hold on and enjoy the ride.
Hotshot
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,552
Likes: 79
From: Manhattan, KS
Here are some thoughts based on working on a '54 F250 and attending a number of smaller local car shows over the past 10 years. I'm sure others may have different opinions and experiences. If you want a show winner a F250 will not catch as many looks as a short bed F100/150. Most smaller shows are judged by local club members and they are attracted to vehicles that look "sporty." If it is kept stock and has a very high quality restoration it could bring home trophies.
I go to shows and show my vehicle's, but I also know I will be lucky to win anything but door prizes. I go for the fun.
Spend some time thinking about what you want the truck for and what you want it to be and do for you. That will help you plan the track you take. If you restore or modify the truck consider that the market for F250's is typically smaller than for the same year F100. So, money you spend will need to be for your own enjoyment. Many here will probably confirm that the costs for building a vehicle is hard to recover if you decide to sell.
Having said that, I still spend money of the F250 for may own enjoyment and enjoy the looks I get when I drive it. Maybe that is because it looks so bad!!! Others can probably chime in and give you other perspectives.
I go to shows and show my vehicle's, but I also know I will be lucky to win anything but door prizes. I go for the fun.
Spend some time thinking about what you want the truck for and what you want it to be and do for you. That will help you plan the track you take. If you restore or modify the truck consider that the market for F250's is typically smaller than for the same year F100. So, money you spend will need to be for your own enjoyment. Many here will probably confirm that the costs for building a vehicle is hard to recover if you decide to sell.
Having said that, I still spend money of the F250 for may own enjoyment and enjoy the looks I get when I drive it. Maybe that is because it looks so bad!!! Others can probably chime in and give you other perspectives.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Racine, WI
I realy appreciate your input.. You have clarified some of my thoughts about having an F250 verses an F100 regarding taking it to competitions. I think the key is enjoying what I do withit and enjoying driving it... I want to drive it and have fun with it, I really enjoy all the guys who wave me down and ask me what year is that truck? It looks really clean, they say... I love that and I've only had the truck for a few weeks...
Thanks again!
Thanks again!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
I would not base your choices on what has the best resale value (among other things, that probably includes a 350 Chev with TH350). Personally I think it is appropriate to make changes to reflect the world today vs 45 yrs ago; getting better gas mileage and more relaxed RPM at cruising speeds (OD trans, different gears), better reliability (alternator vs generator), better brakes for today's traffic and crazy drivers (dual master cylinder, maybe discs). These don't change the basic "feel" of the truck, just enhance it, and without any change in the body.
You don't need to go fast to have fun! My favorite vehicle of all time was a slug-slow '53 F-100 with 223-6, bone stock. I took pride in my s-l-o-w 1-2 column shifts!
The big lesson I've learned in restoration work is, find out exactly what condition every inch of the body and chassis is in before you start putting any money into anything! Make a list, see what it'll cost, and whether it's worth it to you to have it cherry, or if it isn't important to your enjoyment of the truck. You won't want to drive it to WalMart if you have a $10k paint job!
Good luck!
You don't need to go fast to have fun! My favorite vehicle of all time was a slug-slow '53 F-100 with 223-6, bone stock. I took pride in my s-l-o-w 1-2 column shifts!
The big lesson I've learned in restoration work is, find out exactly what condition every inch of the body and chassis is in before you start putting any money into anything! Make a list, see what it'll cost, and whether it's worth it to you to have it cherry, or if it isn't important to your enjoyment of the truck. You won't want to drive it to WalMart if you have a $10k paint job!
Good luck!
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 3,730
Likes: 13
From: Waynesville, OH
Hi Shawn, welcome to the nut house. 
As the fellas have said, it's very difficult to tell you what you should do with your truck. It would be nice to find a set of four options that cover every owner's desires, but it doesn't work that way. The brunt of the work in deciding what to do falls on you in the end. Before you do anything, learn as much as you can about the options you have and their pros and cons. That means a LOT of reading before you light a torch - but it's well worth it in the end.
Some suggestions for reading material - look at the FTE galleries to get some ideas about what trucks are out there and what folks have done with them. Read John Niolon's tech article about the trials of a first time builder. You might stop by Earl's World (link below) to see how a totally stock restoration might go (or not go
). Don't forget all the previous threads on this and other forums. Once you get a few posts in, you'll have access to the forum search and advanced search functions. There is a goldmine of opinions, facts, and ideas stored in previous threads and posts.
Once you have spent time digesting as much of the background material as you can stand, you'll have specific questions and you may be starting to form some different plans for your truck. Having an overall plan before you start is imperative, in my opinion. The alternative is to try different things in stages and see if they work for you. Some folks do well with this try-it-and-see strategy, but they are rare beings with a mix of artistic and mechanical talents, plus they usually have a bigger budget.
In answer to your money question, if you are talking about more than minor cosmetic work and an oil change before you resell, you'll NEER, EVER get back the money you spend on your truck. Get that fact firmly settled in your mind before you start. I doubt that even the highest-end custom trucks can be sold for the cost of building them - although there might be one or two in there that come close.
In the end, the enjoyment comes from the planning, hard work, and interactions with fellow truck nuts. Welcome aboard!
As the fellas have said, it's very difficult to tell you what you should do with your truck. It would be nice to find a set of four options that cover every owner's desires, but it doesn't work that way. The brunt of the work in deciding what to do falls on you in the end. Before you do anything, learn as much as you can about the options you have and their pros and cons. That means a LOT of reading before you light a torch - but it's well worth it in the end.
Some suggestions for reading material - look at the FTE galleries to get some ideas about what trucks are out there and what folks have done with them. Read John Niolon's tech article about the trials of a first time builder. You might stop by Earl's World (link below) to see how a totally stock restoration might go (or not go
). Don't forget all the previous threads on this and other forums. Once you get a few posts in, you'll have access to the forum search and advanced search functions. There is a goldmine of opinions, facts, and ideas stored in previous threads and posts.Once you have spent time digesting as much of the background material as you can stand, you'll have specific questions and you may be starting to form some different plans for your truck. Having an overall plan before you start is imperative, in my opinion. The alternative is to try different things in stages and see if they work for you. Some folks do well with this try-it-and-see strategy, but they are rare beings with a mix of artistic and mechanical talents, plus they usually have a bigger budget.
In answer to your money question, if you are talking about more than minor cosmetic work and an oil change before you resell, you'll NEER, EVER get back the money you spend on your truck. Get that fact firmly settled in your mind before you start. I doubt that even the highest-end custom trucks can be sold for the cost of building them - although there might be one or two in there that come close.
In the end, the enjoyment comes from the planning, hard work, and interactions with fellow truck nuts. Welcome aboard!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,882
Likes: 3,126
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Shawn, welcome fellow Wisconsonite. I'm in Germantown, just north of Milwaukee.
I have a stock '49 F-2, basically the same size as the F-250. My truck belonged to my dad when I was a kid and I tried to keep it the way it was when I was a kid except for the rust, torn uphostery and ratty wiring system. I even have the flat six. A lot of people ask me why I didn't change it out for a flat eight. I kept it the way it was when I was a kid, that meant not only appearance but audibly too. The flat six has a sound of it's and there's not many F-2s with a flat six out there anymore.
Just think how unique your truck is going to be at the show, you might not win the awards that the sexier F-100s with the pimped out engines but wait until some old farmer, using a cane, comes up to you and starts bending your ears about what he did with a truck he had just like yours. You'll brighten his day letting him relive his better days. Like the commercial says, "It's priceless"
I have a stock '49 F-2, basically the same size as the F-250. My truck belonged to my dad when I was a kid and I tried to keep it the way it was when I was a kid except for the rust, torn uphostery and ratty wiring system. I even have the flat six. A lot of people ask me why I didn't change it out for a flat eight. I kept it the way it was when I was a kid, that meant not only appearance but audibly too. The flat six has a sound of it's and there's not many F-2s with a flat six out there anymore.
Just think how unique your truck is going to be at the show, you might not win the awards that the sexier F-100s with the pimped out engines but wait until some old farmer, using a cane, comes up to you and starts bending your ears about what he did with a truck he had just like yours. You'll brighten his day letting him relive his better days. Like the commercial says, "It's priceless"
