"Belle" 1952 F-1 build thread.
I bought Belle sight unseen a couple years ago for my wife. We have enjoyed driving her as is while we accumulated the parts needed to make Belle a classic truck with modern running gear.
Fortunately my wife's plans and mine were the same so conflict (I would loose) has been minimized. We bought the best truck we could afford. This has already saved us countless hours repairing damage and rust. Plans for Belle: Modern engine, we chose a Ford coyote as the cost was close to what we would pay for a good 302 with fuel injection. 5 speed transmission, Tremec New front suspension, we went with a TCI custom IFS for 53-56 trucks (required modification). New rear suspension, TCI 4-link. Ac, Vintage air Put the interior and exterior back to a close to original as is practical with our other goals. This includes upholstery, wheels and correct colors. We will not be painting Belle other than correcting some of the colors and painting the fenders. We have been working on her for a couple months now so I figured it was a good time to state a build thread. I will put photos in the next post. I have documented as much as possible, If there is something you would like to know more about I am happy to share. |
First weekend. Drove Belle to a show on Saturday then spent Sunday and Monday on tear down. I took photos and measurements to document the changes, especially to ride height.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...42e2d184da.jpg front ride height. Previous owner had already installed reversed eye springs so I don't know what original was. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...bfd960e230.jpg Rear height. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...822db3ba20.jpg Side view, wheels have to go as do the silver running boards. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...fa030c92bf.jpg Front view, grill will be change back to cream. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...398e88f5ad.jpg Upholstery will be changed back to stock vinyl an AC will be hidden as much as possible. |
Still first weekend. Lois (my wife) spent two days helping me completely disassemble Belle.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0d7fc62c25.jpg Bed came off in a half hour. Other than being dirty frame is in amazing shape. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...ea73cc0a0a.jpg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e7e23e5b59.jpg We took a ton of photos to document how things went together as well as condition. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...797a24f110.jpg The end of day one. Someone had installed a Ford 9". A year ago I changed the ratio to 3.50 and installed a Tru-Trac limited slip. Read must have been ouy of a 4X4 as the pinion angle was 14 degrees!. I will correct with the 4-link. |
Day two and our goal was to get the rest of the truck torn down. Still just the wife and I except for a friend that came over when we lifted the cab "just in case".
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...f674207a3a.jpg Watch your fuel! We had a good tank and Belle ran fine but the filter still looked like this. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...0d2a5361bf.jpg This is the condition the entire truck is in, no rust anywhere. I need to figure out a way to use my 6 volt wipers on 12 volt or replace them. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...31a3d2e45a.jpg Firewall pad was in great shape and came off in one piece. I am using a new pad so if someone needs an original I have one. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e747cff989.jpg What it looks like under the pad. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...aec0d5436c.jpg Getting ready to lift the cab. This works amazingly well. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e2794ab2f0.jpg And it's off. It was all hands on deck for removal so no photos. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...fe78007860.jpg Engine came out the same way. Now I need to find a project for the engine, runs to good not to use it. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...e735f5e470.jpg End of day two and this is what we have. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...8b6d678342.jpg It's Miller time (look at the clock)!! |
Looking good! I'm using an electronic 20amp voltage reducer in my '49 F4 build. It should be large enough to run my heater and gauges. Does the flathead have a center dump header on the drivers side? They won't clear the steering box on an F4.
Mark |
I had to change the fuel pump in my Jeep. The filters on it looked like yours, I don't know how it was even running. The tank is plastic, so I had to have picked up the crud in the fuel I was buying:(.
Mark |
Oh, this is going to be sweet, a sleeper build. Subscribing.
|
I'm looking forward to watching all of this.
So, did you purchase a majority of the parts before you started stripping the truck down? Speaking from the perspective of someone that has never had a truck I could drive any time I wanted. I would think with that beautiful truck you would want to minimize downtime. And, yes that flathead needs to go into another project. Belle is in amazing shape. |
Originally Posted by Harrier
(Post 14958574)
I'm looking forward to watching all of this.
So, did you purchase a majority of the parts before you started stripping the truck down? Speaking from the perspective of someone that has never had a truck I could drive any time I wanted. I would think with that beautiful truck you would want to minimize downtime. And, yes that flathead needs to go into another project. Belle is in amazing shape. After Belle is done I will go through the flathead and rebuild as a full custom vintage engine which is going to take some time. |
That truck is in super condition.
And I liked your method to remove the cab! Thanks for posting the progress. Carry on. :D . |
OK....I'll subscribe. Your truck is in amazing shape!
Dan |
Originally Posted by pineconeford
(Post 14958929)
And I liked your method to remove the cab!
|
Awesome. Subscribing. I have a reduction gear to
put your flatty in a boat. |
Originally Posted by pineconeford
(Post 14958929)
That truck is in super condition.
And I liked your method to remove the cab! Thanks for posting the progress. Carry on. :D .
Originally Posted by Harrier
(Post 14959103)
I was impressed by that too. I did something very similar but with chains. The ratcheting straps would make it way easier to balance the cab. Next time I have to remove the cab by myself I will use the strap method.
|
Originally Posted by arctic y block
(Post 14959208)
Awesome. Subscribing. I have a reduction gear to
put your flatty in a boat. |
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