Weekend project: Bed teardown
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Weekend project: Bed teardown
Finally decided to start tearing into the truck and begin the rebuild I've been planning/learning about/flirting with for the past two years. Step one is to refresh the rear frame and suspension. The bedsides will go into the attic until I'm ready to do sheet metal, hopefully next summer/fall.
I'm keeping pretty good records of everything as it comes off the truck, and will be updating my long ignored FTE website here soon.
Here's a pic from last Friday, followed by one taken a couple hours ago. The frame turned out cleaner than I thought it would after some scrubbing. That's the original black paint covering most of it! California weather sure was kind to the old girl. The only rust was on the front bed panel and the support right underneath it, which was shot from having grass clippings piled there for 25 years.
That stained sheet metal on the floor of the garage had served the past 30 years as the bed floor.
I'm keeping pretty good records of everything as it comes off the truck, and will be updating my long ignored FTE website here soon.
Here's a pic from last Friday, followed by one taken a couple hours ago. The frame turned out cleaner than I thought it would after some scrubbing. That's the original black paint covering most of it! California weather sure was kind to the old girl. The only rust was on the front bed panel and the support right underneath it, which was shot from having grass clippings piled there for 25 years.
That stained sheet metal on the floor of the garage had served the past 30 years as the bed floor.
Last edited by F250Rob; Oct 1, 2006 at 11:43 PM.
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
The only rust through I'm aware of so far is some minor areas along the drip rail, the right cab corner, the front bed panel and support rail, and a very small area in the back bottom of the cab floor. No doubt there'll be more discovered as things go on.
It is a strong advertisement for good western USA trucks as a project starting point. With Ebay it's easier for guys across the country to find them, and when you think about the cost/time/effort of rust repairs, it's well worth the extra $600-$1000 to ship the truck to wherever you live in the country. I was lucky to inherit this truck, but still had to pay about $650 to ship it from CA to TX in 2004. With FTE, there's probably always a bud not too far away who could do a quick visual inspection too.
It is a strong advertisement for good western USA trucks as a project starting point. With Ebay it's easier for guys across the country to find them, and when you think about the cost/time/effort of rust repairs, it's well worth the extra $600-$1000 to ship the truck to wherever you live in the country. I was lucky to inherit this truck, but still had to pay about $650 to ship it from CA to TX in 2004. With FTE, there's probably always a bud not too far away who could do a quick visual inspection too.
Last edited by F250Rob; Oct 1, 2006 at 11:54 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by F250Rob
With FTE, there's probably always a bud not too far away who could do a quick visual inspection too.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 664
Likes: 0
From: Rural Southern Colorado
Hmm... I'm feeling lazy just now. How about if I add a link in my sig to the page I'm creating around the project?
Will that get me off the hook for a lil while?
Will that get me off the hook for a lil while?
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Sweet! It's hard to tell a long bed adorned F-100 from an F-250...
Nice score on the side spare fender.
Area in the background looks like Mancos or Durango...gorgeous country. We did our family vacation there last June as a matter of fact.
Nice score on the side spare fender.
Area in the background looks like Mancos or Durango...gorgeous country. We did our family vacation there last June as a matter of fact.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
From: Dayton, OH
Thats amazing that the thing has the paint on the frame. You dont see that here in ohio much. Were usually pretty happy to have the door handle still attached to sheetmetal.
Look the rust hasnt eaten the door handles off yet! Its a keeper! hahaha
Look the rust hasnt eaten the door handles off yet! Its a keeper! hahaha
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 25
From: San Mateo, CA
Next project will be getting the rear end and rear springs off for blasting and paint, followed by rebuilding the rear brakes. I think I've got a leaky wheel cylinder in one of them.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: rochester n.y.
F250 bed
I have an f250 1954 from N.dakota,I to am amazed myself at the condition of this truck from the west,being from western new york where the roads are white with salt all wlnter. everything comes apart with a wrench instead of a torch,like anything over four years old here. Its an old farm truck.the body is solid,but needs some TLC. i have installed a 9 in. rear end,front disc brakes,5-5 1/2 wheels, have a fresh 292 ready to go. going to be just a driver,will probably drive as for a while,I am good at wrenching but not body work.may eventually have the cab painted and go to an aluminum flat bed.glad to hear a bed that is not rusted out may be worth something to somebody.