Okay...I have a new project truck...a 1956 F-100 that will be restored to stock although I already am thinking about selling it for another project but...

It is torn apart now and I am curious as to what others think would be a good sequence to put it all back together again. I have done the following.
Stripped all components, wiring, cleaned etc.
Worked on rear suspension and drive line. (cleaned, replaced etc.)
POR'd the entire frame
Took the rust rust off all areas of body (In pieces remember)
Working on the cab to strip the paint
????

Any suggestions? You can see a link to the truck on my site...jim

 

>Okay...I have a new project truck...a 1956 F-100 that will
>be restored to stock although I already am thinking about
>selling it for another project but...

For gosh sakes, don't sell it! Even though it's only an F-100 and not a mighty F-250, those 56's are really the cat's pajamas!

I'm not far enough along putting Earl back together to tell you all the in's and out's of what to do after the full frame restoration but I do have a plan that I've been refining for the past four long years.

1. Finish the ENTIRE frame including drive train, engine, auxiliary mechanical stuff, etc.

2. Completely strip the cab and restore it including internal wiring, instruments, seat, gas tank, etc.

3. Paint the cab and install it on the frame including all the wiring, hoses, and miscellaneous stuff.

4. FIRST RIDE! I'll have to get the police chief to give me the "okey dokey" to take it around the block once but that shouldn't be a problem.

5. Paint and install front fenders, grill, and related parts.

6. Paint and install the bed and related parts.

7. Paint and install bumpers, tail lights, outside mirrors, and other stuff.

I've already talked with the body man and he said if I bought all the paint I needed for the whole project up front he'd cross-mix the multiple containers to guarantee all the body panels will be the same color even if he paints them at different times for me.

I've also been thinking about the wiring and how to make that happen. Since I'm planning on doing the wiring from scratch I already have wiring diagrams for the various phases of the project. I can leave loooonnnnngggg pigtails from the cab, for instance, after mounting it on the frame. Once I get the front fenders on it's just a matter of unrolling the pigtails, routing them, and cutting them to length, right?

Somebody please tell me if any of this plan is a bad idea before I go ahead with it. :-X12

 

George

Sounds like a great plan with just a few suggestions. If you have significant amounts of new or different sheet metal, then test fitting is very necessary. Especially if aftermarket or patch panels have been used. Any hinge that has been restored also causes alignment issues. Test fit should be done prior to painting. It comes at a time when the normal guy is starting to wish the project was done. A few scratches during assembly is tough to avoid and makes you sick. You will scratch your truck the first time you assemble an Effie.

Most of you have already heard this but my next project will go like this and get on the road years earlier than this time.

1. Total disassembly, sandblast etc.

2. Restore frame and drivetrain

3. Get the body in decent but far from perfect shape and completely assemble body.

4. Black primer exterior, maybe paint the interior and underhood.

5. Drive my truck and bring panels to perfection over time. (Years
perhaps) Gives me time to find panels that should really be replaced rather than ridiculous amounts of repair time. Adjust panels until they're correct.

6. Paint and look for next project

'fenders