Hey all, I'm finally once again an owner of a 1956 F100. I'm a new guy here to the forums, but not to F100s or Fords. I received my Ford blue blood from my gearhead Dad, who could fix anything. I was born and raised in Fresno Ca and heard the names Blackie Gejeian and Bill Vukovich often.

Being born in 1956, the 56 Ford F100 has always been my favorite vehicle and my first F100 was purchased back in 1974. I tried unsuccessfully to buy a worn down 1954 F100 from my uncle in 1973 who had it parked on the family ranch. Damn farmers never want to let loose of anything. I located a rust free 56 F600 maybe, big window cab and front end for $50 and then went looking for a 53-56 F100 to switch cabs onto. I found a roller 55 F100 near Reedley, Ca which was in good condition body and frame wise. The guy wanted $25 for it, so I offered him $20. He refused my offer, so I started packing up the tow bar and tools. He then quickly accepted my $20 purchase.

This is the only pic I have of my first 56.


After towing home the 55, I arrainged storing it at the property behind us, as my 56 stuff was in my folk's garage. I sold the 55 cab and extra parts which paid for all my prior F100 purchases and put some cash in my pocket. I stripped the frame to bare metal, rebuilt the front suspension and drove to Oakland to pick up a dropped axle from Mor Drop. Installed a free 9 inch, $75 toploader and a 390 FE my dad gave me to rebuild.

Got it driveable and used it as my daily driver. Took it once to the North South F100 meet in Visalia, Ca around 1976-77. My longest road trip was 220 miles to UCLA to visit some buddies in College. In 1979 I moved to Bakersfield for a job and had an MG as my daily car. With no place to park the 56, I foolishly sold it. The only pic I have of it is my avatar pic.

Around 1995 I located an 56 F100 in a tow yard with a 351W, C4, 9 inch and a service bed. The tow place owner said it will clean lien sale in a week. I return in a week, buy it for $400 and have it towed to a buddy's body shop where my 1969 Mach 1 was being painted. Unbeknownst to me the shop started some body work on the cab, and removed the service bed. One of the body guys showed some interest in the motor and asked what I was going to do with the 351W. He didn't have a pot to pee in and didn't make much at the shop so I gave him the engine and trans.

Life got in the way the next 10-12 years with 2 divorces, 5 moves and 3 different jobs. I ended up giving the 56 to my body shop buddy. I ended up back at my original house where I had built an attached shop in 2002. The last several years I've been getting my 69 Mach 1 back on the road.



While watching a TV show the other night I saw a 56 F100 build and thought I sure could use another 56. So I called my buddy to whom I gave the pick up and asked if he still had it and if so would he sell it to me. He says, if you gave it to me how could I sell it to you? Perfect. I went and looked at it yesterday and snapped some pics.












How can I determine if this is the correct year bed? I read on here that 53-56 beds have the fenders mounted lower than the later years. Is there a measurement I can take to figure it out?

I didn't see any rust thru spots on the cab, but we all know that can change. I'll drag it home soon but don''t have a timeline on starting on it. I originally planned on putting in a 460 I have, but I'm torn between it or an FE, or just maybe a 292/312? A Crown Vic front susp sure looks enticing, but a dropped axle sure has a cool factor. Decisions, decisions.

Bob

 

That appears to be a home made bed . The rest looks pretty solid .

 

Looks like an original bed to me..

 

This is the only other pic I have with the bed in it. Don't know if it'll help.

 

Best thing to do is get some measurements of the fender bolt locations and I'll compare them to mine..

 

Welcome Bob, you have the skill, you have the truck, and now you have the best site on the web for working on your truck. I think your going to like it here on FTE a lot. Good attitudes, friendly people, a lot of very experienced builders, always happy to help everyone from a total beginner ,to the guy building a show truck.. Its a special place where you wont get the "I know more than you" criticizers that hang around some other sites. I'm looking forward to watching as you bring this Ford back to life. "Rock on"

 

Will do John. I just read your pick up build thread, holy crap! You've got some major skills there John. Kudos on a beautiful truck.

 

Thanks Jim. From my limited reading here ya'll sound like friendly and knowledgeable folks. Glad I found you guys.

 

Bob, let me add my welcome to FTE, the best Ford Truck Forum on the World Wide Web!

About your bed... First off it looks to be on sideways and upside down! LOL! Seriously, as was said before measure from the bolt holes to the bottom of the flange. Just looking at it from here, it looks like a 53-56 bed. You are right about the newer beds (1957 and up) having the fenders attached higher on the bedsides.

 

I just went out to my truck. Measuring from the top of the highest bolt hole (there are two at about the same height) my bed is 4 3/4 inches to where the flare begins.

 

I know what it feels like to "be back". It's a GREAT feeling!

 

abe- Thanks for that measurement. Re the bed orientation, it does look just a bit off. I'll take a closer look tomorrow when I measure the fender bolts.

Bluey- Right you are, it is a GREAT feeling. Cool avatar btw.

 

Oops. Duplicate post.

 

Ya your right John I didn't have my head turned right LOL .

 

I went to the shop where the truck is stored and measured it today. The upper center bolts are right at 4-3/4" from the start of the flare. Looks like I lucked out on the bed. Thanks for your time, effort and knowledge Abe.