Anyone catch the "Trucks" episisode this weekend? They dedicated the entire show to project "Old School", a '53 F100 that they tore into and put back together.

I'm not a big fan of the air bag set-up, or big 18" wheels, but the truck did sit nice. Nice stock appearing truck.

I did have one problem with a comment made by the host, paraphrase "We showed how you can take a project that someonelse started, and make it into a real reliable daily driver with just a few modifications. There are plenty of these projects out there, so just go get one and make yourself a classic." or something like that.

That is exactly what I did not want to do. Finish someonelses project, or fix someonelses mistakes. I'll agree that there are a few of those projects around, but to deal with someonelses pipedreams was not my idea of fun. Maybe I'm way off here, but I would think it would be easier to start with an "unmolested" doner, and build from the bottom up. That's what I've done, and I don't regret it a bit.

I traveled from MA to AL (over 1800 miles roundtrip) for my '55. It never saw a chop shop. It came off a farm, as a work truck. Quite a bit of rust to deal with, but it's all original, just like Henry built it.

Even still, I had to buy the long sleeve shirt they were selling. It is a pretty cool shirt none the less.

What do you guys think?

 

I saw that episode awhile back. "Trucks", when Stacy David hosted, it was my absolute favorite show. He taught you stuff and was enthusiatsic. He had imagination and was all about how to do it yourself. These Yo-yos are too new wave, loudmouthed and bolt-on for my taste. I don't watch the show anymore.

As to the truck, even though it was a fat-fendered Effie, I was only mildly interested. The flat black is not "old school", it is unimaginative. Most of what they did was bolt-on mods.

The fact that the PO had already put in the MII IFS, a 351C and the 9-inch rear were some of the reasons why I bought my 56. Since those were mods I had planned on, it saved me a lot of work, although, I would have done a better job than he did. I think sometimes finishing someone else's project is where great bargains can be found. Unfortunately, the "bargain" depends on how talented and visionary the PO was. If I were in the market for another Effie, I would definately consider an unfinished project, but I now know what I'm looking at, so i would get a better feel for the work remaining and the quality of the work that had been done.

Stock, unmolested farm trucks, while preferred, are becoming very hard to find.

 

I agree. I can't for the life of me figure out why they go through such an expense of all the new chrome and stainless on that truck, not to mention the gloss epoxy coating on the bed wood (which was pretty cool), and leave the paint flat black. Just my opinion and we all have them but if it's gonna be a flat black "rat rod" it should not have all the other attention to detail. No offense to anyone here either...like I said, just my opinion.

 

Hi, saw the show thought it was ok.

Just a side note because it's flat black does not make it a rat rod. It's really getting old that people have to call a vehicle a rat rod when the owner just likes flat paint.

Guess who's truck is flat black and not a rat rod.

Chuck

 

I agree with Randy Jack that Stacey David was to Trucks what Pat Ganahl was to Rod & Custom magazine. I also had quit watching 'till I saw the Old School preview. On the other hand I kind of like the way their project turned out. I think that their comment about taking someone else's project was not really what they did. They took a truck that had been completed years earlier and then well used. I do think that some of these trucks can be a good deal if bought right. Joe

 

I bought Gracie because it was someone's unfinished project. All the good parts they had put in would have cost me more than I paid for the whole truck. Yes there are some issues to deal with, but not nearly as many as there would have been starting with an "unmolested original". My recommendation to anyone looking to start a new project is to spend as much as you can possibly afford to get solid sheetmetal. Don't spend for mechanicals unless it is exactly what you would have chosen or close enough to be satisfied with.

 

I am going to agree. It is hard to find a "unmolested original", so hard that one could look for years and not find one they liked. The rare breed of farm trucks that were once easy to find may still be out there, but are in no condition to start a rebuild from.

Although I purchased my truck as someone elses project, the only thing I kept was the frame, rear end, transmission, body panels and fibreglass front end.

 

First and foremost, there were no "Old School" Trucks.
Closest thing would be an Old Truck with a Hopped Motor, some Shinies on the Wheels and a Push Bumper on the front. Used to drag the Race Car to and from the Track.
Now if you were from Pennsyltuckie, West-By-God-Virginnie, or a Ridge Runner. You most likely drove as new a Truck as you could get and you would chrome it and put a few thousand lights on it.
Flat Black was an indicator that you had either run out of money or talent, maybe both.

 

Dick, we better tell the folks what "Pennsyltuckey" is. It the area between Philadelphia and Piitsburgh! Of which I am located. Don't neccessarily agree with that but it sure is funny!

And Dick, what do you call a ridge runner?

 

Jeff,

I agree with you for the most part. I'm looking at picking up a 49-50 F-1 and I'm more prone to getting an original truck (as original as possible), for the "fresh canvas" approach. I've worked on cars my whole life, and I know how bad people can screw up projects or rig things to make them work, only to stick the buyer with a really big headache when things need to get fixed.

But Randy's comment using the Cleveland drivetrain makes good sense as well, if that's the route you plan on taking anyway. But I've seen these things with Camaro this, Monte that, pinto this, "custom" dashes, that scared the bejeezus out of me.

I hope to get into this "club" with you guys and get to work on a oldie but goodie.

 

I liked the finished version of the TRUCKS effie. While not a fan of the paint, I would say overall the truck turned out well. I noticed even with the fancy air ride the truck jumped when they hit uneven places in the road. This made me feel better about my ride results.

Randy, I'll agree with you about finding a project to take over that has already started in the direction you wanted to go. That's exactly what I did on TEDDY. However, there is nothin wrong with bolting on after-market parts. If I could weld like you and some of the other super talents on the site, then I would fix all of my own stuff. But since I can't, it meant that the four fenders, inner fenders, bed, bumpers and firewall were all going to the weld shop. The cost to repair these parts would have been more than replacing them. Your friend, Jag

 

Any place East of the Mississippi that you have to hook Second Gear before your halfway up the Hill. (Steepness, Dirt, Mud, Curves, Cows, Ruts and or Rugrats.)

P.S.: Abe, I was born in Curwensville.

 

That's one of the downsides to airbags that those who insist on "layin frame" don't talk about. In order to raise the truck up to reasonable ride height you have to pump the bags up quite a bit which makes them act as really stiff springs.

 

I saw the Old School finished product and I thought it looked pretty nice, even though it's not the style I like. I also noticed that the ride height was uneven from side to side. It seemed like the high side would vary from left to right side after they fooled with the ride height. I also noticed the bounce in the suspension as it went over bumps. I still not convinced that air suspension is the way to go.

 

I have a friend who has air suspension {Air Tecnologies} on the rear of his 37 Ford street rod. He used it because he often pulls a trailer and wanted to be able to adjust ride heigth. I rode with him recently and he had not adjusted it back from trailer "air", it was stiff. After about 10 miles of fooling with it he got to a sweet spot that was really nice. Not sure I would ever go that way myself, but I sure can see why some find it desireable. I have CE rear leafs on my 46 and it rides fine. That is what I am using on my 40 also. However, if there is a place that it might work pretty good would be on our trucks if it is set up to increase load capacity. I have looked at the air over leaf set up, but I would have to reverse the lowering efforts I did to get it to set like I wanted to gain the minimum distance neccessary. My 53 rides pretty nice with about 100 lbs in the bed, it would be nice to soften the ride when the weight is not there.