hello,

I am new to the site. I am in contact with a gentleman who has a 56 f-100 that he wants to sell. He is going to send me pics as soon as he returns home (week or so). After the pics verify what he has told me (if they do), I am going to drive out to look at it in person. (hopefully load it up and bring it home)

What are the common rusted out areas or hard things to repair. What major parts are hard to find or expensive to get. Where are the VIN numbers I need to look for (He has a title)?

I know its an old truck that has been sitting in a building for years. I know it is not running or even all together, but I need some idea of where to start.

He also thinks it has a later model bed on it. How can I identify if its an original bed or not? I searched around with google and I can find the 53-56 fenders, but I never saw any later step side ones to compare to.

Thanks so much for helping a newbie,
Brian_B

 

watch out for rust in the drip rail area of the roof in the front its hard to fix and a real pita

 

...Welcome Brian_B, to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!

We are happy you have chosen the best source for Fords!

Enjoy FTE....and
JOIN CLUB FTE -SUPPORT THE FORUMS!
…..See you on the boards.

 

Check the areas in the four lower cab corners, they're often rotten. Mine also had bad floorboards near the front cab mounts. Fenders go bad near the running board attachments. Front lower valences often are rusted. Assume you will need to completely replace the brake system (not as bad as it sounds.) Spring bushing pins and links may be bad. Lower door skins and rocker panels, Steering wheel may have shrunk over the steel frame, causing cracks in the plastic. Wiring is probably due for total replacement, consider a 12 volt system upgrade.
My '53 needed all the above and more.

-Scott

 

Brian,
Welcome to FTE!
Another place to look for rust is above the headlights, on the front side of the front fenders. Mud and crud collects there and can cause problems. Also, along the front edge of the hood. These areas can be repaired with hand formed patch panels. The cab corners that Scott mentioned can be repaired with patch panels available through many vendors. In fact, I think all of sheet metal is available as reproduction parts, except for the cab and doors. There have been several threads discussing the fit of these parts that might be worth a quick search and read.

The data plate should be on the driver's "A" pillar on a '56. Take a look at our moderator's website (George's Earl's World) in the reference material section for a data plate decoder. It will tell you the original engine size, color, rear end ratio, assembly plant, etc. Also, the '56 should be a 12 volt set-up. The battery is under the floor on the passenger side, accessable through a removable panel in front of the seat.

Good Luck with your shopping and let us know how it turns out.
Kent

 

Thanks everyone. I was a little hesitant to ask all these (probably quite common) questions, but I didn't even know where to start looking. I really don't know much at all about the older fords. I will do some searching now that I know a little about what to look for. The info on the data plate will help a lot.

I found most of the panels were available, but the less I have to repair/replace the better. I can do a lot of the work, but a lot of it is beyond my skill level.

It has the 6 cylinder engine and a 3 speed, but it is not in the truck. I get the feeling it will be a rust bucket, but I will have to wait for pics to get an idea.

Can anyone tell me specifically how to identify the proper bed?

 

I believe the bed was used unchanged from 53 through 72.

The earlier beds had differences and the fenders were different, but 53 through 72 are supposed to be identical......

There is a huge pile of reproduction stuff available for the 53 to 56 trucks. Probably more than any other series of truck regardless of make...

 

Thats good news. If the bed/tailgate are in decent shape thats less parts I have to look for later.

I am reading the story of "Earl" now.

I can tell this site will be a great resource for me over the next who knows how many years.

 

Brian -

The stepside bed on a 56 was used well into the 70's. So, it could be a "later" bed and still be exactly what you want anyway. If it is newer than that, the frame width changed and it would be hard (although no impossible) to get one to fit. One of the new mods most in favor now is to graft a late model smooth side bed onto an older truck. Becoming very common in Chevys. BUT, they need to be sectioned, shortened, etc. Big job.

Just take a photo of the back end of a 56 with you and compare. There is one in my gallery album called "Bed Mods"). It is the second picture that shows my bed next to Ed Oe's stock one.

Depending, of course, on the price he is asking, the motor being out may be a good idea, since you probably would have to pull it anyway.

I think the most important thing you could do before seeing it is to decide what the end result truck is that you want. Stock, Rod or custom? Maybe one that looks stock outside, but is new iron under the skin? It is entirely up to you. For me, the price will depend on the condition and the direction i want to go.

It is absolutley essential that the body sheet metal be reasonably solid if you are lacking metal skills. As others have said, it is a lot of work to patch panels and replace rusted areas properly. That siad, learning to weld and do that kind of work have been among the most satisfying things I have done to my 56. I like it so much that I'm looking for more mods to do.

Have fun! Good luck! Keep us posted.

 

Why not post the pics he sends you? If they are already in digital form it will be easy, if not just scan them in. You can create a gallery and let us all look at them - we would enjoy it and one of us may spot something you might miss.

I wouldn't worry too much about the mechanics - other than to make sure they are all there. Just assume you are going to be replacing or rebuilding most of them.

I would look very hard at the cab for rust. You likely will be able to fix holes in the flat panels, the real killer would be rust in the pillers, windshield supports, and around the edges of the cab roof. If the cab is too rusty it is better to walk away now. Remember that you are likely to spot only about half the rust repairs that will eventually be needed.

The main thing is to look at the entire project and decide if it is one you want to do - It is easy to get excited and buy more of a project then you really want. It sounds like someone has already started this project and then gave up on it - ask yourself what he found that scared him off?

This site has regional chapters - why not join the one for the area you live in? You can post to that forum asking if any member lives nearby - if so, perhaps someone with experance doing projects would be willing to look at this one with you. I know several experanced members in my area would be willing to look over someone's project and make suggestions.

 

Wow. I cannot believe all the great advice I am getting. Thanks everyone.

Honestly, I am more concerned with the mechanical end than body. Sounds wierd I know. I have worked in a steel fab shop for years. I have a mig, 60 gallon compressor, sand blaster, air tools, devilbiss paint gun, etc. at home. I can do that sort of work. I am ok with mechanical work, but I would need excellent reference books. I have the general mechanics tools, but would need a few things still. Engine hoist and a press being two of them. I would probably need more than I realize at this point.

I am not looking for a high horsepower showtruck or anything like that. My thinking was basically stock outside with a slightly more modern drivetrain. Like an early 80s 302/AOD or something. If possible, I would add power sterring and brakes as well. I would drive this every day (or almost every day), if I get it. I seriously doubt the original 6 cylinder and 3 speed would be worth trying to restore (for me anyway).

I will post the pics when I get them. If they are not in digital, I have a scanner. I know....I fell in love with a 56 when I was 14. I am38 now, so looking at it reasonably is hard. Thats why I am asking for advice from everyone I know, and now from all of you.

He is a young guy (not sure of age) and has a ton of project trucks he started. He has his uncles 59 (bought new) that is tore apart to rebuild, he has a 92 explorer that is broken (daily driver). From an old pic I saw on his website there are a couple more trucks in the building torn apart. I think he just needs money, but thats just a guess.

I did not know about the regional chapters. I will look into that.

Back to reading about "Earl" now.

 

Of late, there seems to be more people having to repair the front lip of the hoods on these trucks. Mine was fine, but some of the pix posted on fte showed bad rust that required a lot of remediation. Good luck, Jag

 

Welcome to the forum! As you can see, there are a lot of very knowledgeable and helpful folks here. We'll help you get started if this turns out to be the truck you want.

Sounds as though you are not too worried about the body work - I'm just the opposite. Not to go on an ego trip, but check out Earl's World in my signature block below. There is a pretty good narrative of what we've been through to get a really clean running chassis restoration. I'm just starting on the cab sheet metal repairs now. There is also some reference material that will help you sort out what the original truck configuration was and a dealer brochure for the 1956 truck line with lots of interesting info in it.

Keep asking questions. We like the easy ones - they make us look much smarterer than we really be.

 

I am reading that now. I am up to the carburator section. Thats a wonderful documentaion of your processes.

I am by no means an expert on body work, but I have done quite a bit of it as well as painting vehicles in the past. I am not as scared of that as I am an engine swap or something. I can rebuild an automatic trans (have done many), if that is what is to go into it. I know...I am an odd character.

I do not expect mine (If I get this one) to be a complete tear down and restore, but rather just to make it a reliable driver. If not this one, I will find one eventually.

 

I am guessing I cannot edit a post. I read the continuing saga of "earl". Its very nice to see all that done and know at least some of what I might be getting into.

The cost breakdown is excellent. I won't spend that much on tools (I hope), but the rest could easily happen over time.

The funniest part was the flat bed truck. I am sure the neighbors loved that one. That cab is pretty bad. That would challenge anyone to repair it all. Are all those panels available or will you be making your own?

I live in town, so thats a consideration for me as well. I have a two car garage I can clean out for working (rebuilt wrecked cars in there many times), but storage is a problem. This particular truck may not pan out (hope it does), but eventually I will find one.

On a side note: Where do I find the reginal chapters? So far I have not located it.

EDIT: Hmm...I can edit my last post now. Thouroughly confused. I found the regionals. There is not one in Arkansas. There is one in OK, where the truck is. In fact the guy young guy who has it, is a member over here (same screen name as the EF site). Small world.