1949 F2 Build - Ternus
Starting a new thread to get all my build stuff in one spot, and show that I'm actually making progress. Newbie here, and been following this forum for a long time, but just signed up last fall. A little rehash of my/the trucks story that i threw out to the group when I first joined in October.
Very long story shortened, but I bought my 1949 F2 from my grandfather in 1992 at the ripe old age of 14. It had a v8 with a cracked block at the time, so I've actually never driven it, and have known it needed a motor. Of my choosing..... It was always barn kept, and he had a daily driver, so the 49'er was very seldom driven since the 70's. It was last plated in 1992. I'm an engineer by day, and was on the road for work all over the country from the time I got out of college, and finally changed positions in the company about 5 years ago to get situated in one spot until I don't have to go to work anymore. Drug the truck out of storage late last summer into my fathers shop at the time, and he's a semi retired mechanic who got bored, and pulled the front end off along with motor and tranny to make it easier to move to my shop. He's owned his own mechanic shop forever, so I had helped down there since I could push a broom. Mainly farm equipment, irrigation motors, muscle cars, anything that doesn't have major computer/electrical equipment. I turned wrenches with him until I left, and worked at an industrial engine shop to pay the bills in college. This is familiar territory, but about a 20 year gap since I've last done something this major. I've had this truck a long time, so have had plenty of time to think of the every restoration scenario, and decided as cool as grandpas truck would be original, I want to drive it. It will look original, but when you turn the key, you'll know otherwise. I have a 429 SCJ in the shop already that's been overhauled top to bottom, that actually came out of my fathers old truck, fuel injected carb setup, and am going MII IFS. Haven't decided on transmission/rear end combo yet, but probably going C6 and 9" Ford of some sort and leaning towards a 4 link. Pretty sure its going back to black, and will be lowered a little, but not changing the stance drastically. Known problems/issues - Grandpa ruined the tailgate 50 years ago, so he made one out of angle/expanded metal. Have a dented one I put on the front of my bar that will probably have to get stolen to put on the truck now that I know I can't find a reproduction tailgate for an F2 It has a bench seat out of a Nova that my dad put in for him about 50 years ago. Original paint was black, and dad painted it about 50 years ago. I didn't know that until I deciphered the firewall code, and told dad. He pretty much said: Duh, I painted it for him. I had always known it as a blue truck. As for what I've done to it since I've had it - Its down to the bare frame now. Pics have descriptions on them. And I'm tired of drilling out rivets. Next - Start welding up un-necessary holes in the frame, and get it off to the sandblaster. Got a new welder, but haven't done any type of production/pretty welding in a long time, so I'll have to dust off the cobwebs and see if I remember how to do this. Frame is as good a place to start as any, as noone will see it. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b21d26b896.jpg 49 F2 fresh out of storage. For being a 70+ year old truck, its in amazing condition. Helps to have gotten new paint 50 years ago, and been indoor stored for the last 30 years. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3595e3e9a9.jpg Front sheet metal off at my fathers shop. Passenger fender was smashed long ago, but I have another pair of uppers and lowers that are perfect and ready for paint. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...184d657d4f.jpg Side shot without sheet metal https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1e4068fc6.jpeg Passenger Loaded up and ready to come to my shop. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...49d517448.jpeg Drivers side https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7b1457f001.jpg Dad and my daughter helping unload it. Made a quick towbar that bolted over the bumper and hooked to 2" ball on UTV to drag it to my shop. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...35dcb5820f.jpg First pic in my shop https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4ea7f74e50.jpg Firewall data plate. 98R D 213033, and frame matches. 49, V8, F2, serial and KC. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0e90547fee.jpg Firewall Stamp: 3 KC 2G 162 Originally Black, built in KC on July 2, 1949. Not sure of the 162. Dad painted it Blue for his Father in law while my folks were dating. I only ever knew it as blue, so the black was a shock. I've been known to drive a black truck or two. My first vehicle was black, and my last 4 ford trucks - daily drivers have been black.... https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4286e3ddce.jpg Tailgate smashed about 50 years ago, and replaced with angle/expanded metal. Original wood has been covered in plywood as long as i can remember. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...6be1310881.jpg Fingers were crossed when I was pulling off the plywood, hoping the original wood was perfect. Not so. And the front of the bed is rusted through. Surprised, but not surprised. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...af128855e7.jpg Interior coming out. Dad replaced the seat for Grandpa about 40 years ago, probably when doing paint. Allegedly came out of a Nova. It's gone. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0b1bd0a607.jpg Empty Cab https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...cb4d24cd6e.jpg Wiring and brake lines gone, and doors off. Know everyone is shocked, but the hinge pins are stuck hard. Will have to wrestle those in the vise some other time. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...6b2e935988.jpg Running boards and rear quarters off. First running board bolt came right off, no issues, and got optimistic. Had to cut every single one off after that. Minor rust damage behind the rear quarters, but not bad overall. Running boards are solid, with some repairs in the past I'll have to clean up. Driver front cab corner may need a small patch on the firewall side. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...55e15136d9.jpg Driver front of bed rust https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e17a1519f1.jpg Driver bed rusted through over rear wheel. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...da9f6c3397.jpg Driver rear bed. Passenger side looks about the same, minus the hole above the wheel. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0021c98a74.jpg Not really truck related, but gantry and other toys finally came in, and needed a hand standing it up after I got it put together. Elevator to the rescue. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...dbd76b0e54.jpg And the cab came off. Grandpa had a thin sheet of plywood between the cab and bed. Imagine the rusted out front of the bed rattled against the cab.... either the plywood, or bed rubbed a couple minor holes through the back of the cab I'll have to patch. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...af3c90dddc.jpg Cab off, and can see the rust on the front of the bed. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...5540100905.jpg And the bed came off. Made a rolling cart for the cab, and a stand with skids for the bed. Will probably tarp the bed, and drag it outside for the winter if it gets in the way. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...baaec77e5d.jpg Engine brackets and front axle gone. As directed by dads body guy who's currently working on a 49 F1, he welded the front cross member in prior to pulling the engine. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...fe35cae419.jpg Rear axle out. Can't wait to get the wifes plants out of the shop come spring.... https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...f80971918b.jpg Axles off, prior to pulling off rear shock supports, spare tire mounts, etc.. And moved the cab and some stuff to the old side of the shop to get it out of the way. Some idiot built the cab dolly about 4 inches too tall, and it wouldn't fit through the rollup door, so he had to shorten it. He was reprimanded and wasn't allowed access to the shop fridge that night. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...cdd732c7e3.jpg Rivet carnage. Tired of drilling out rivets..... Just drilled the first couple. Ground heads off so I didn't have to drill as much for a few, but found it was faster to use a cut off wheel to mow the rivet heads off prior to drilling, and did that for the majority. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...32adebd47e.jpg As it currently sits, as of last night. Spring hangers, shock perches, spare tire brackets gone. Used a hand torch to heat up the pitman arm for removal, but the hot wrench didn't touch a thing during disassembly. Needless to say, I have a pile of great condition, original suspension/steering/axle parts if anyone is looking. Still have engine/transmission as well. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...20f1f6ea05.jpg 429 SCJ. Flat head replacement. Hopefully this has enough to push this old 3/4 ton around... From scouring this site, I've gotten many good ideas from the folks that have shown what they've done to theirs, and how they did it. Very grateful for that, and am open to any tips and suggestions from everyone on here. Once this is up, I'll get it added to my signature, and up on the member build thread as well. Thanks, Ternus |
Very nice build thread. Keep up the good work. Dave
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Andy, you have one of the most solid F-2's I've seen in a long time. Everything is fixable. I do see the holes at the bottom of the stake pockets. Another member here used some cleverly cut out sectional pieces of regular muffler pipe elbows to weld in and reproduce his pockets. If you have spare time do a search here for stake pockets and you should find the thread.
And oh yeah....that 429 should push a F2 just fine. My stock 95HP motor in my F3 gets it down the road OK, having 200+ more cubic inches ought to make a difference. :D Thanks for the story and all the photos. Will enjoy seeing this one come back together. Tom |
That frame is pretty. A little sand blast and paint after your MII install and motor mount fabrication and you'll be good to go!
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Looking good. keep up the good work.
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Welcome aboard Andy! I assume winter has now reached Nebraska.
Your pics look so green. A member on here called Reamer makes cab corners & patch panels for the '48 - '52 cabs. They fit much better than the ones you get from the online suppliers - He get's the curves right. You may want to check with him about replacement cab corners etc for your F2. Good luck over there. Ben in Austin 1950 F1 |
Originally Posted by ben73058
(Post 20239316)
Welcome aboard Andy! I assume winter has now reached Nebraska.
Your pics look so green. A member on here called Reamer makes cab corners & patch panels for the '48 - '52 cabs. They fit much better than the ones you get from the online suppliers - He get's the curves right. You may want to check with him about replacement cab corners etc for your F2. Good luck over there. Ben in Austin 1950 F1 |
Hi Abe,
I used Reamer a few years back & specifically his Cab corners were really a life saver for us. He also made some Door sill pieces for me that were rotted out. I didn't use him for fender pieces - I cheated and just replaced them with fiberglass. Mine had pounds of bondo in them. The question is does he do F2 patches? I seem to recall that our F1 cabs are the same but I'm not 100%. Stay warm over there! Ben in Austin 1950 F1 |
Great thread. I’ll be following.
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Nice work, im jealous of your garage area too haha nice setup there as well.
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Been out tinkering on the frame almost every evening, but don't seem to have a lot of progress to show for it. Welding and grinding. Took a bit to get the new welder setup to my liking, and then the whole not having done any welding in 20 years.... Not gonna lie, but the first couple holes I welded up were ugly. Knowing this would happen, the grinder cleaned them up nicely. Welded up all the rivet holes from the engine mounts, removed suspension, park brake linkage, and steering. Need to do some grinding on the inside of the frame to clean those up, and then should be close to taking it to get blasted. Beyond body attachments, running board bolt holes, are there any other holes a person should/shouldn't weld up in your opinion?
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...35be90f2c2.jpg |
Originally Posted by ben73058
(Post 20239316)
Welcome aboard Andy! I assume winter has now reached Nebraska.
Your pics look so green. A member on here called Reamer makes cab corners & patch panels for the '48 - '52 cabs. They fit much better than the ones you get from the online suppliers - He get's the curves right. You may want to check with him about replacement cab corners etc for your F2. Good luck over there. Ben in Austin 1950 F1 |
Originally Posted by pineconeford
(Post 20239089)
Andy, you have one of the most solid F-2's I've seen in a long time. Everything is fixable. I do see the holes at the bottom of the stake pockets. Another member here used some cleverly cut out sectional pieces of regular muffler pipe elbows to weld in and reproduce his pockets. If you have spare time do a search here for stake pockets and you should find the thread.
And oh yeah....that 429 should push a F2 just fine. My stock 95HP motor in my F3 gets it down the road OK, having 200+ more cubic inches ought to make a difference. :D Thanks for the story and all the photos. Will enjoy seeing this one come back together. Tom |
Hi Andy,
No one reproduces any of the bed pieces for the F-2/3. Everything is repairable though. I made all my own patches and they turned out fine. I did the exhaust tube method for the stake pockets as well. If you are interested I detailed the bed rebuild in my restoration thread, it's linked in the bottom of my signature. What are you going to do with the original components that you are replacing? I am in KS and would possibly be interested in getting some of them to keep as spares, as my F-2 is completely stock. |
Myers,
First off, I've read through your entire build thread top to bottom. Multiple times. Beautiful work. If mine turns out as good as yours, I'll be ecstatic. As for old parts... I'm fairly certain I traded my steering box/column and front axle and components to an old friend for a tailgate he has. Just have to make a 12 hr round trip drive west for the trade. Had someone else on here reach out and asked about the rear lower shock mounts. Everything else is labeled, bagged and boxed or piled up in the shop, with exception of engine/transmission which is sitting in my fathers shop still. This stuff is in as good of shape as anything a person could find out there, so it would be a shame to not see it be used to get another one up and running someday. Not tossing anything. except the old wiring. And all those &*%^ing rivets I drilled out. And that stupid Nova seat. |
Looks like a pretty solid truck to start out with. Not sure how the C6 compares in size to my t56, but for me atleast i had to choose between moving the radiator or modifying the firewall to get my combo to fit. Its doable but definitely not the easisest motor to get in there. Good luck!
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Great looking project! I am getting closer to wrapping up my F2 project and look forward to following along with you on your build. Good luck!
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Originally Posted by ternus
(Post 20251990)
Been out tinkering on the frame almost every evening, but don't seem to have a lot of progress to show for it. Welding and grinding. Took a bit to get the new welder setup to my liking, and then the whole not having done any welding in 20 years.... Not gonna lie, but the first couple holes I welded up were ugly. Knowing this would happen, the grinder cleaned them up nicely. Welded up all the rivet holes from the engine mounts, removed suspension, park brake linkage, and steering. Need to do some grinding on the inside of the frame to clean those up, and then should be close to taking it to get blasted. Beyond body attachments, running board bolt holes, are there any other holes a person should/shouldn't weld up in your opinion?
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9ca96954d2.png Also did you save the shackle castings that were riveted in here? One of mine is worn through and they're hard to come by. Tidy truck by the way. I wish my junk started half as nice as that. |
Originally Posted by Steve Harlow
(Post 20269221)
Don't weld up the holes near the bottom of the web of the frame, the inside of the running boards bolt up there. I found that out the hard way after using them for exhaust and brake line mounts. I think you may have plugged up a few of them at the front already.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...9ca96954d2.png Also did you save the shackle castings that were riveted in here? One of mine is worn through and they're hard to come by. Tidy truck by the way. I wish my junk started half as nice as that. If so, I kept both of them. I'll check them tonight to make sure I didn't mess them up when drilling rivets out, but fairly certain they're in good shape. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...19552477d2.jpg This the part your looking for Steve? https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1e467cc8f.jpeg Some surface rust, but looks like the bushings are even still good in them. Funny |
Originally Posted by tonyguns
(Post 20269142)
Great looking project! I am getting closer to wrapping up my F2 project and look forward to following along with you on your build. Good luck!
thanks for the support and it’s been fun so far. I’ve read thru you’re entire build thread, and yours is turning out well. Keep pushing to the finish line. Andy |
Originally Posted by Gicknordon
(Post 20254171)
Looks like a pretty solid truck to start out with. Not sure how the C6 compares in size to my t56, but for me atleast i had to choose between moving the radiator or modifying the firewall to get my combo to fit. Its doable but definitely not the easisest motor to get in there. Good luck!
thanks for the well wishes. Read your entire build thread as well, especially since you’re a fellow 429 person. Not 100% sure on the C6 at this point, and could end up an E4OD. TBD. Want an automatic so the kids aren’t chewing on a shifter when they’re riding middle seat. Either way, there will probably be some firewall work at a minimum. Like the route you went with yours and have gotten plenty of ideas from all the successful builds on here. Andy |
Originally Posted by ternus
(Post 20269504)
Sorry, not 100% on terms on some of these old parts, but assuming you meant:
If so, I kept both of them. I'll check them tonight to make sure I didn't mess them up when drilling rivets out, but fairly certain they're in good shape. This the part your looking for Steve? https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1e467cc8f.jpeg Some surface rust, but looks like the bushings are even still good in them. Funny I'd like to buy them both off you please. PM me what you want for them. |
Steve,
Tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is full. Apparently Canadian banks don't talk to banks down south...... |
Little bit of progress. Started pulling the pieces off the axles to make them easier to store, and stripping paint off the cab and pounding out the little dents. The driver front cab corner isn't too bad, and a small patch plate on the front, and bottom is about all it needs. Went to the back of the cab where I knew a couple of holes were rubbed through from where Grandpa had a small piece of plywood. Found a couple additional holes as well. Not really enough material there to just weld up the holes, so thinking about putting a couple of plates full width in between the ribs to stiffen the back of the cab up, and be able to just weld the holes up with additional steel behind them. Thoughts? Also got the glass out of the cab, and after taking a wire wheel to the windshield slot, exposed a couple of pinholes on the driver side I'll have to weld up. Nothing major. And without ordering up the new front cowl lacing, how does that attach? Can I just get rid of the old tacks to get them out of the way, or do they need to be reused to attach new lacing?
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...2576e8fa6f.jpg Disassembling the axles to be able to store pieces easier. Everything is actually in pretty good shape. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...82f86bbe7e.jpg Windshield and rear window out, and cleaning it up. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...b155076c4d.jpg After I put the wire wheel to it, found two pinholes I'll have to weld up. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a0a7ab4a6e.jpg Took the paint off the driver lower cab corner and exposed the extent of the rot. Will have to replace the bottom plate of the cab corner as well. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...7fb8667cd8.jpg Paint of the back of the cab to expose what needs to be fixed there. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c9dff1783e.jpg 5 holes. Thinking about welding some plate in, full width between the ribs on the inside to stiffen the back of the cab, and be able to weld these holes up without having to cut any out? https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...8b14267fa2.jpg What do you do with the old cowl lacing tacks? Cut them off, punch them out? How does the replacement attach? |
Originally Posted by Steve Harlow
(Post 20270123)
Yes those are exactly what i need. No idea what they're technically called, I just call them shackle receivers
I'd like to buy them both off you please. PM me what you want for them. Tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is full. Apparently Canadian banks don't talk to banks down south...... |
Originally Posted by ternus
(Post 20284205)
Steve,
Tried to send you a PM, but your inbox is full. Apparently Canadian banks don't talk to banks down south...... |
Minor progress. Picked the frame up from the sandblaster finally over the weekend. It looks like a sandblasted frame...... On the cross members that I know I'm keeping, I started welding them in solid until I ran out of wire. More from the store on the way home this evening.
More descriptions below the pictures below. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...6813f81784.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...c62e96cc0b.jpg https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...d26e130f1e.jpg My fancy sanding booth. I'm using a 3M paint stripper wheel on the grinder to take the paint off until its warm enough and dry enough to actually blast it outside. Probably overly concerned, but I'm deathly afraid I'll warp something with the sand blaster. Don't have much going on after dark, so I've been getting any flat panel or surface I can easily get. Sandblaster will clean up the rest. Paint dust everywhere when I was doing the outside, even with the 4" dust collector hose close to the sanding area. When doing the inside, I covered the entire cab in plastic and brought the collector hose inside it. Put on respirator and goggles and climbed in and went to town. Big dust collector kept it surprisingly dust free the entire time. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...615fbded4e.jpg I'll just sandblast the firewall. Not concerned about that at all. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...db51a08f16.jpg Passenger front Cab corner is about perfect. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bc33eafff1.jpg Driver Front Cab corner needs a small patch panel welded in. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e11a82c0ad.jpg The back of the cab was very pitted where moisture was stuck between it and the plywood that was there, and had some holes rubbed thru on the middle rib. I've decided to replace the entire lower middle segment of the cab up to the reinforcement on the inside near the top of the ribs. Going to start about an inch inside each of the outer ribs. Will lose the middle rib out of the deal, but already have a piece of 14 ga cut out and bent with holes drilled to spot weld the bottom in. Wanted 16 ga to stiffen it up a bit, but the blacksmith was out, and substituted 14 ga in without asking me first... oh well. Other than that, practicing up my body work skills (lack of) and some inexpensive busy work while I'm waiting to see how bad the man hits me on taxes before I order front and rear ends. |
Fabbed up a Red-neck rotisserie. A couple of heavy home made,
tall engine stands and rigged up to flip it over to finish welding up holes and get good primer coverage on the bottom. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...390aa8125.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...a41ddd437.jpeg |
I’ve had half a sheet of 18 ga sitting in the shop for several weeks now, but have been a little gun shy on starting to cut into the cab. I pulled the bandaid last night, and cut out the rust in the front cab corner. If I messed it up badly, at least it would’ve been covered. Cut a tight fitting patch, and welded it in. All went well. Until I ground the welds down, and realized the welder wasn’t hot enough to get good penetration. Cut it out, and started over. Second time turned out pretty well. While I had my welding costume on, I welded up the pin holes in the windshield groove. That wasn’t much fun. Fill some pinholes and put a light behind it, and find some more. Grind, weld, repeat. About a dozen times before light quit shining through, and enough was built up. Definite improvement.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ac902ee72.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...eb0766657.jpeg Patch was only about an inch and a half by 2 and a half to get to solid metal. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...44cabfa3c.jpeg |
It looks good to me! Well done.
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great job... looks nearly identicle to my truck at that stage... similar rust patterns. :)
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Haven't really done anything to the truck in a while, as summer projects are in full swing. I had my rear fenders and running boards at an acid dip shop in Council Bluffs, and picked them up last Friday.
Did have an adventure Friday night though. Found an ad on Craigslist selling 8 truck box trailers. I was amazed that most of them were '48 to early fifties. Traded a couple emails with him, and went there Friday night. Most were F1's, with squared stake pockets, and an 8' with squared stakes, and block ford lettering on the tailgate, but did manage to find an elusive 48-50 8' bed. Bed wood is about gone, and had a 10" diameter mulberry growing through it that had to be cut before we could pull it out with a tractor. The tailgate is straight with no dents, and some pitting on the top rail because it was open, laying on the ground. Shockingly enough, all the stake pockets are solid, with zero pitting on the outside or rusted through. Has a 5 bolt axle under it, so that was changed out sometime in the distant past when turned into a trailer. Brakes must be seized hard, so we picked it up with his loader and set the whole thing on my trailer and I smiled the whole way home. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...3098b486a4.jpg Southwest Iowa Pasture find https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...edb65cfba5.jpg Bed made it home. |
Connection made from FB post Andy! The progress looks great. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for parts donors. Have you been up to Terry's F-100's yet? Dave from Beatrice
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Don't let the Nebraska through the lens people know that the pic was actually taken in Iowa, or I'll be in deep...... I haven't been to Terry's yet. On the list to do though sometime. Surprisingly, I really don't need any more parts. I had a tailgate already, but it looked like someone tried to shove the tongue of a trailer through it, so it can stay on the front of my bar, and I'll clean up this new one to put on the truck. Running boards are mostly solid, with a couple minor holes to weld up, Front fenders are perfect, rears have some patching to do along the tops, and now I won't have to patch my stake pockets. And if I magically come up with too much free time in the future, I'll rework this trailer to have a matching truck/trailer combo.
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Score! That express bed has been saved from rotting in a back pasture lot for eternity. Good karma is headed your way Andy.
Tom |
I've been following your build and I have to say nice work so far. It took me 5 years for my 51 F1 build, so be patient and just keep at it.
I do want to point out that you need to be treating the rust and rot from both sides of the sheet metal, not just the exposed faces. Especially down in all of the corners and pockets where debris accumulated over the years. Once you strip the outside, use your sandblaster to get the insides, behind the braces and into all of the crevices. Do this before you start patching. Unfortunately, this will reveal larger areas to patch and more pinholes to weld up. It's a pay me now or pay me later thing. On my 51, I was pretty diligent about removing all of the rust. One area, front right fender, over the brace, had been leaded by someone years ago. I cleaned it up and thought it was good because of the leading, so I finished my prep and painted it. 2 years later (this spring) I had bubbles coming through near the lead. Turns out I didn't get all of the rust out from the back. So I took the fender off, ground back my new paint, cut out the lead and rot, patched it correctly, and painted it again. Live and learn. I also recommend the use of cavity wax after the truck is done. I bought the wax and the extended wands and shot it into every crevice, nook, and cranny that I could, in order to add additional protection. For example, the tailgate has an open tube at top and bottom; even after blasting and priming, I knew that I could not have possibly gotten everything sealed, so I shot a generous amount of cavity wax into both tubes. The wax seeps and crawls into all of the tight spaces. I know that many people swear by products such as POR-15. I have no experience with them, so I can't comment as to how well they work. I did some research and decided that I wasn't going to use anything like that, and that I preferred to remove the rust completely. I drive my 51 from 2 weeks after the last salt washes off until the first salt is spread, usually mid April to late November or early December, rain or shine, every day. It is only garaged at night, so it is exposed to the daily weather. This is my 3rd season and other than the rust I had to repair there has been no other issues. Best of luck with your build. |
Andy, great thread so far! Where did you pick up the gantry from? I've been thinking about getting one myself.
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Originally Posted by 67nukeford
(Post 20530234)
Andy, great thread so far! Where did you pick up the gantry from? I've been thinking about getting one myself.
Very handy. Got a trolley and 2k chain hoist from them as well. That thing makes life easy, because unlike you getting help from your kids moving stuff around, my 6 and 7 year olds have a very low lifting capacity. Or attention span. Or listening in general. And started looking through your 67 build thread last night. Haven't gotten to the end, so haven't left a comment yet. Impressive to say the least on the first 65 pages I've made it through. |
Been a while
I’ve been absent from posting for a while, as the truck has unfortunately, been on hold. My honey do list is massive, and winter allows me to postpone a lot of it until spring, so I get to actually work on the truck, instead of just having a beer while standing close to its pieces. Waiting for the right time to bite the bullet and order a front and rear end, so doing whatever busy work (not cost anything) work I currently can. Said it previously, but grandpa had plywood behind the cab to keep the rusted through bed from rubbing cab. And that plywood rubbed holes in the cab, and rusted it thin where it sat against the cab for the last 50 years. Too thin to just weld in holes, so decided to cut it all out, and lose the middle rib. More info in pic descriptions, but it’s almost done. It is not perfect, but I learned a lot in the process. And it will be hidden, and besides me, the only other people that know, are all of you.
Pulled the band aid and cut a big chunk of thinned cab out. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...4925c24a0.jpeg My small hometown blacksmith substituted 14 ga, since he was out of large 18 ga pieces. Pre drilled to spot weld to floor, and bent in his press. Measure and mark once, and cut 5 times because you’re afraid to make a hole bigger than the plug you have to fill it. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bd14e4331.jpeg Back of cab has a slight radius to it when trying to fit it, so I cut the lower lip into all the holes in the area it needed to bend it to match the curve https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...72120fa05.jpeg Another view https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...f50127cc0.jpeg First time I’ve done this type/quantity of cutting bodywork. Took a long time to make spot welds all the way around and around and around to minimize warpage. Very satisfying after the fact. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...1a2f13768.jpeg Grinding. Lots of grinding. And after seeing pinholes through, I started the same process from the inside. |
Andy, thanks for the update. May you get lots done this winter on your granddad's truck.
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