I put the '51 panel on the hoist to figure out where to start.




The front clip is off and disassembled. Many rusted on bolts had to be ground off.




I pulled the SBC 350/TH350, She will get Ford power.




I saved the radiator frame, after removing the SBC radiator that was mounted behind it.




I also started work on a rebuild of a 1972 F100 9" rear, I picked up for the panel.

 

I was inspired by the "Belle Pepper" built thread and hope to use a lot of the great ideas I found there, on rebuilding this '51 F1 Panel Truck.

I have ordered a TCI Custom Coilover IFS and Rear 4 Link for this build. I have a Ford 9" 3.25 rear started, and am looking for a 5.0 Coyote w/auto trans. Either a Mustang GT pullout or a F150 5.0 pullout. Whichever I can find and afford.

 

You look like your off ta good start.Im glad you are going with ford engine.

 

Great start. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

Some more progress on the tear down. Running boards and front doors off.




Cargo doors off and all the frame bolts removed.




Piles of parts everywhere. I'm about a week into the tear down. I have been working alone. I figured out that I could get the door hinge pins out, with heat from a Mapp gas torch and persuasion from the air chisel with a slender punch in it. I never could remove the hinge pins on my '51 F1 pickup. You get smarter on the second build. The TCI IFS and Rear coilover IRS should ship tomorrow. I need to get busy on cleaning up the frame. I'll try to lift off the body tomorrow.

 

The wife and I lifted the body off the frame, with the help of a chain hoist on the 2 post lift.




I had a 4 x 8 dolly I had made for a truck camper.




The body can be moved with one hand on this dolly.




All the removed pieces are back in the body for storage. Body work and paint will have to wait.




The first emphasis is to clean and prep the frame for the new TCI, front custom coilover IFS and rear coilover IRS 4 link kit.

 

I removed the front and rear suspensions from the frame, and began the cleaning. Still have the SBC motor mounts to remove.




FedEx came bearing gifts. 11 boxes from TCI. It's my birthday on Saturday, got everything I could wish for.

 

Brent, that's a familiar looking pile. Now the fun begins.

 

I've been sand blasting the frame. It's a slow process. I usually have to go over everything more than once. Here's the first go around.




Two times over, just some stains left.




Trying to do the layout on the F1 frame. The TCI kit is for a '53 to '56 F100. They don't list a IFS for the F1. TCI tech support is worthless. They don't answer the phone and don't call you back after you leave a message. Be sure you have a good selling dealer for TCI products. They will be your only source of after the sale information. I recommend Tim Stromberger. Tim's Hot Rod Shop in Davenport, WA. After a few emails and a call, Tim was able to get me started right.

 

Welding in the TCI cross member. Frame is upside down.




Coilover 4 link is welded up and test fit. I think I may have to move the coilover cross member a few inches forward.




It would be much easier if TCI included assembly instructions for the F1. Not just boxes of parts and bags of nuts and bolts. Nothing tightened up until I'm sure its put together right.

 

That's coming along nice. I had the same issue with my TCI rear shock mount. It needs to go forward further and CCW a bit in the clock position. I ended up chucking that mount, boxing my frame and built my own mount and placed it where it needed to be.

Good luck with the project.

 

Test fitting the TCI front coilover parts. I still need to put in the boxing plates and more welding, before paint.




New axle shafts from Dutchman. Now I have 5 x 4.5 bolt pattern on both front and rear. I moved the rear coilover crossmember forward 1"




Test fitting the 8" brake booster and master cylinder. I need to fab some new cross bracing in the center of the frame after the old trans support was removed. I am also looking into putting in a Mustang gas tank at the rear of the frame. Ideas anyone. This is a panel truck and I want to get away from the original under frame center, drivers side location.

 

Gas tanks are a tough issue on the panels. I like the stock location but then you can't run the brake booster like you have here. Reason I like the stock tank is I have a spare tire hanging in the stock location as I don't like them in the cargo area. Putting the mustang tank at the back should fit but then the filler has to be routed to the outside or inside the cargo area but then you can get fumes. Spare tire probably isn't gonna fit at the rear with the mustang tank. Hang too low then you'd see it more.

 

Nice to see some panels being built on this site, and yours is going to be beautiful. I had some issues with my panel with putting a gas tank in the rear. I did not want to carry a spare tire in the back so I looked for one with a spare tire indentation. Unfortinatly my Chebby tank wont fit in the normal 48-52 panel frame rails, (I altered my frame and is now 4" wider) but mabe you can locate one through gas tanks.com, They list all sorts of tanks with the demensions so it might give you some ideas. As Gearhead mentioned, consider the fact that installing a tank in the rear you will have to move the filler neck to the rear some way and keep the fumes out. Mine I installed in the rear corner and the filler hose routed right behind the rear wheel well on the drivers side.Any how I am sure you will figure something out. Great start on the panel I will be checking it out.

 

good luck on the Coyote with auto! If/when you figure it out and have it running and driving there are a whole lot of people including pro builders that will want to know how.