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Well I had a chance to start digging into my first jailbar. I decided to start a build thread to document some of my project, hopefully I will stay up to date on here. This is my third old Ford truck project so im very excited to dig in. This is a side project for me, wrapping up my 50’ F3 and getting my 79’ Trans Am back on the road so it won’t get all of my attention. I made room in my shop for it so it’ll be home shortly.
Overall it’s a really solid truck, floors are solid, cab is solid minus the drivers side corner. There is some rust on the fenders where they meet the bed but this is minimal. I wish it had teardrop fenders but the more I climb around this old rig the less the 48-52 fenders bother me. Tonight I cleaned out the cab and removed a mouse mansion - I’m allergic and my lungs hurt, eyes are itchy, and my nose is runny - it’s amazing what we do for these. So I gotta call it a night. Kick back drink some beers and crank up some Waylon. This weekend I hope to pull the engine and Trans.
My plan is to really just build a driver that I can use as my work truck, spend most of its time around our old JD 2 cylinders. I sold an old Silverado that I used on the farm and as a general work truck so I needed a replacement. I have an H series Flathead 6 I’m doing some valve work on that I’ll have ready to drop into the truck shortly. I plan to find a way to do an 8 lug conversion for better gearing and disc brakes (someday). I already have the dana 60 with 3.73s ready to bolt in. My goal is to strip her down, paint the chassis. Clean up surface rust on the bottom of all sheet metal and paint as well as straiten out dents. Then rewire to 12v and get the cab feeling comfortable, almost like new. I’m torn on paint - I know what it takes to do a full resto however I want to preserve the clean sheet metal and protect it so I am open to suggestions guys for ways to protect but also not look like neglect - I know it’s a fine line. Cheers to another truck project!
Now THAT is one cool truck! While I also love the teardrop fenders (so hard to find for tonner), The later fenders actually match the fronts better. The last one I did has same era cornbinder 3/4 ton rears. I have had a good bunch of ford tonners and still do. It is really great to see a tonner fixed up like a work truck. I will be following this with interest. I have had at least 30 old ford trucks and only 3 have been half tons. You have my attention with that handsome beast.
Thanks guys - dug into my H series Flathead this weekend. Had a stuck valve, took all day Saturday to carefully extract it out and the valve guide. But all in all she turns over good and the bores checked out. Did a quick test on my valves with some compressed air and one exhaust isn’t seating properly, chipped too go figure. Anywho going to replace the two valves and clean up, regasket, and paint soon. I need to find an 226 H oil pan vs my current M pan (I sold the M, dumb idea) though as well as a distributor so if anyone has one stashed away don’t be shy. I’ve been to two swap meets and turns out everyone doesn’t even think to sell Flathead 6 parts, kinda sad. The old boys there laughed at me and asked what a young guy would want with flat 6 parts hahah
Yes that’s my 79’ TA! Just a looker not much performance wise…yet….anyways not much of an update. Work has been busy and I’ve been collecting parts for my 226. I hit the motherload or 226 parts for my engine. Guy was awful generous and threw in a few extra goodies. I also got the v8 pulled and sold it already. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking regarding wheels and gearing. I love the 5 lug pattern and big 17” tires but I want better gearing. I don’t mind switching to 8 lug but the front hubs/drums have me perplexed. Might have to get creative with a disc brake setup. I also toyed with filling and drilling my hubs on my dana 60 to the 5 lug pattern..,.I have access to a Bridgeport and I laid it out on CAD at work, I think it might work. We will see
That was really a stroke of luck to find those parts! Good for you! I have been bringing an H six back to life. It was in a restored panel '51? that got wrecked maybe ten years ago . Yours is going to be a great truck.Please keep us informed as you venture into the re-drilling of hubs. That is very interesting to me.
I spent all week thinking about my rear axle situation for better gearing. I have a full floater dana 60 laying around off a 67? f250…well it became a victim to my thoughts…So here’s my math:
6.875 bolt circle + 1” (to account for 3/4”-16 stud thickness) = 7.875.
based on my measurements with a tape - I’m at 8” mounting surface for my drum and around 8.25” for my hub. This will allow me .1875” from the edge of my drum to my hole for a stud. This might be pushing it, even less on my drum…next week I’m going to create a template in CAD again and print it off, see where my holes line up. If it’s too close I have one more trick up my sleeve before I give up. Also mocked up the 226 with all my “new” parts. Ordered the rest of the engine parts/gaskets to put this thing back together.
Edit : the splined part of the studs are .781” which gives me more room! 6.875+.781”= 7.66”
Okay new valves lapped and installed, everything test fitted, and some paint. Not really sure why I painted an engine that is going in a work truck? Also not sure why I painted it a more modern Ford blue? Also excuse my masking job, or lack of. I’ll clean gasket surfaces later. Regardless it’s painted and ‘perdy and nice to work on. It will also look good when I drop it in that clean engine bay… Waiting on a gasket set then I’ll proceed to final assembly. Hopefully she runs…also sorry there hasn’t been much actual tonner action here. I want to get my engine/transmission ready to drop in before winter, so when I bring the truck home everything is ready to go.
why not paint as you did? I agree though - every step and task is a decision - whether to take an extra step and put in more time to further complete a task or not. It will look great in a work truck. Following your progress. tom
Thanks everyone for the comments. Well not much progress this week as overtime at work controls my life and by the time I get home garage time seems a little too ambitious. Still waiting on a gasket set for the 226 to throw her together and paint some miscellaneous parts. I was able to bring the truck home last weekend so it’s finally at my house - and I did finish cleaning the cab. The good: the floor is solid. The bad: cab corners will eventually need replacement. The ugly: mice. The more I dig into this truck my main focus is to get a running reliable rig - worry about body later. Viewing some of your guys threads and you all do some nice work, been reading at night to get my full. I guess my approach with this truck is a little bit more down and dirty.
Oh I also happen to snag some tires…8.25-16s. Never seen these used on our trucks but I love the height and tall sidewall. Can’t wait to mount them..Also same size as 7.50-17s! This forces my hand on 16” rims so stay tuned…
The decision to go with 16” wheels and tires locks in your need to swap the rear axle. No 16” wheel that we’ve found will clear your stock 14” rear drums. And no 16” wheel has the stock 5 x 6 7/8” bolt pattern. Switching your front hubs to 8 x 6.5” will then be called for to allow just one spare. Determining whether later F-2/3 hubs will bolt on is I think the logical first question to answer. The cross over steering of the 47 would differ from the later trucks. Stu
Opps edit - I see you plan to redrill hubs to 5 lug pattern. Stu
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