Im new to the 50s ford era! I have always had a great love for both ford and chevy from the 50s. Last year I walked into the junk yard and stumbled upon the truck pictured below. I payed $500 for it, I dont know if it was a deal or not. But i couldnt bare the idea of getting it cut up. IMO it has alot of potential, but i will know more once I get it media blasted. I dont know of anybody in the area that is familiar with these trucks so im browsing the internet looking for all the help I can get. I am not new to working on truck. I currently have a 2001 S-10 that was cutup to lay frame on 22s with 25,000 factory miles. It also is fully shaved and has been modified in alot of other ways.

I have alot of plans for this truck that should begin this winter. I esentially want to finish this truck with a complete one off frame, full tilt front, full air suspension, and alot of other goodies. Including some decent ponies to the rear. I have alot of area conection thru friends that own assorted shops. My buddy owns and operates total mayhem speed and performance in Burton and my other buddy owns Michigan Metal Works. Any suggestions ideas and pointer would be great. Alos im looking for good sources on replacment panels and parts. Also where can I find original blue prints for the frame?

 

Welcome buddy, I see you have your work cut out for you too. Good looking project. Again, welcome

 

Welcome Neighbor!

Looks like a nice project you have there. As for part sources, here are a couple links (in no order of preference), go to their sites and request a catalog to start your wish list from:
LMC Truck Parts
LMC Truck Parts: Chevy Chevrolet Blazer S10 GMC Jimmy S15 Ford Bronco Ranger Pickup Pick Up Accessories/Catalogs

Mac's Antique Auto Parts
MAC’s: Dealer of Restoration Parts for Classic, Antique, Vintage Ford Autos, Cars & Trucks: Street Rod Parts, Vintage/Classic Ford Manuals & much more!

National Parts Depot
NPDLink | National Parts Depot

Dennis Carpenter
Dennis Carpenter Ford Car, F-100,F-150 pickup and Cushman Restorations

Chucks Trucks LLC
Chucks Trucks LLC., Ford Truck Parts and Restoration, Chuck's Trucks, Chucks Trucks

 

Thanks guys, its definitely going to be a big project. But I feel confident that with help from my friends it should go smooth. It will just take a while.

Now do you think I overpayed ($500) for this project?

Also Ive nver stripped a full project before. What do you suggest? Media blast? Chemicals?

Also how do people feel about roadster convertable of this body style? Im not sure how well the chop is done on this and have not seen alot of roadster style trucks in my days. But then again im only 25

 

Welcome to FTE, just jump in and get your feet wet before it turns into snow and ice there in COLD country.

 

Hi and Welcome!

There's lots of interensting stuff on that "will be" a truck.

But you have definately come tho the right place to get everything ironed out!

 

Welcome to FTE, I say go with an open roadster look! will sure beat that chop job with the tiny back window!

also just noticed that it looks like it had a tilt front end? hence the cut front fenders? do you have the front portion of frame or are you going to be needing a replacement?

 

You'll find out how well the chop was done once the body is stripped to bare metal or if there is no headliner in it you'll be able to see how it was executed. The roadster idea is fine if you live in a fair weather area or don't intend to drive it in the rain or make provisions for adding a top. As far as stripping paint from the body soda blasting is a good option that is easy on the metal ,not causing warpage, for heavy rusted areas and areas that have ridges and rolls and such can be sandblasted without much risk. The $500 you payed seems quite reasonable to me, but be prepared to spend alot more in the future of this project because they are a monet pit,lol.

 

Thanks guys! I dont have the front clip, but like I said I have plenty of friends in the industry that can help me with that. I am currently drawing up a full frame for it with 3/16 walled 2x6 under the cab and 2x4 in the front and rear. It will have my own design front end that will utilize chevy fullsize arms and spindles and a ford 9inch with chevy splines for the rear bolt pattern. I am also shortening up the rear end a bit so i can use a 12 inch wide tire in the rear with a 3 inch backspacing. It will have a parallel 4link with a watts and some feature tube work. As well as some tube work to make my radiator support.

The chop top seems to be decent but the doors dont line up for crap under the drip rail. And that back window has to go in place of a much larger almost factory size.

I can picture the roadster look in my head but i cant find a single picture of one finished any help finding a picture would be great. Also does anybody have a how to for pie cutting the hood?

 

Its funny you say money pit, because I have named it " Project money pit" And have been brain storming this idea of using shades of green paints and copper leaf for the exterior and a shade of copper powdercoat for some 5 spoked rims. To keep the idea going. haha What do you think

 

that is a really nice truck. you said that was in a salvage yard? 500$ is an unbeatable price. I can really see that looking nice by the time you are done with it.

 

Who am I to ask anything here?

 

Yes at a salvage yard, he got a bunch of junk and parts from and estate sale. He said he was going to crush it. This is when scrap prices were super high. He said he had an interdependent front clip that he believes was for it but that had already hit the cutting torches.

 

I am in owosso michigan

And the frame will be modeled of this http://artmorrison.com/layout.php?y=...&x=truckframes
but much nicer, And I can build if for cheaper than that crazy price

 

Welcome to the board!

as for what you paid for it, it really doesnt matter what we think as long as you are happy with what you got for the 500.... that being said, you bought a whole lot of truck for 500 and IMO, thats a smokin deal.

The challenge is going to be taking someone elses previous work and transforming it into your own vision... but thats not to hard for us minitruckers to do now is it?

Some of the old truckin mags from the mid 90's had features on 53-55 F100's that had been roadster-ized. Might see if any one of your friends has any back issues to dig through.

I like your idea about keeping the top and swapping in a larger rear glass section. These trucks (53-55) came from the factory with a rear window that is roughly 10 inches tall anyway so it should look good.
that top is chopped pretty short, you know how we section the bodies on the minis to get the body height in proportion to the height of the chopped top.... it might be cool to see something like that on your truck.

anyway, again, welcome to the board and we LOVE pics so as you work on this truck we expect more pics!!!