Guys,
I am looking at a 53 F100 for sale locally. Says its rust and dent free, I am not buying the rust free part. Doesn't run, but comes with a 302. My question is on these trucks what are the common areas to look for problems with the body/frame? I expect there to be rust around the cab and bed but sometimes that stuff gets hidden. I have only seen pictures and it looks straight, the paint is bad, but if the rust is minimal, I might have to pick it up. Any advice/info is much appreciated.

 

Check the back cab corners, lower cowl (front cab corners), rocker panels, roof panel just above the drip molding, floor pans, back of front fenders and front of back fenders where they attach to the running boards, running boards where they attach to the fenders. My truck had very little rust. I think it saw most of its use during the spring, summer and fall months on the farm in Saskatchewan. There should be other people along to add to this list. Good luck on the potential purchace.

Rick

 

Front fenders above headlights. Front edge of hood.
brian...

 

door bottoms.

 

It says it has a 302. I have seen several of these with newer V8s and usually automatic transmissions. In the process they butcher the frame by removing the under cab cross member. This lets the frame rails twist and flex and also ruins the cab mounts. I'd look under it thoroughly. There are a lot of power train swaps that are hack jobs. I have a '53 that someone tried to put a 302 with a C4 in. I think a ten year old kid could have done it better. I have to junk most of the stuff.

Later Man...

 

Take a refrigerator magnet with you and try sticking in each of the places the guys told you about. Compare how it sticks (if it does) to how it sticks on good steel. That will tell you a lot about how much filler is in it.

 

My front corners looked really good, when I got the truck. Of course, I knew there HAD to be rust, but once I got under the cab, here's what I found:



Ditto on the magnet. A good "bondo man" can work wonders...for a short time...

R