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I suspose its time for me to establish a build thread.
The truth up front - I've been working on this restoration of 29 years. Yes, that's a long time, but the truck is pretty special and of course I would never think of departing with it. I bought it when I was 15 years old and drove it through high school and college. Then real life set in with military deployments, marriage and the need for family friendly transportation.
I've been married for 23 years and did not get much other than the deconstruction done prior to being married as Uncle Sam had other ideas for me. When kids arrived, the truck really moved to the back seat of priorities and we certainly had no extra $ to spend.
About 6 years ago as we departed from military service and had moved the truck in pieces to 8 different homes/cities, my wife finally said, "never again are we moving that truck." I took that as a full green light for me to spend time and a little money on it, although that is not likely what she meant. As the kids became a bit more self sufficient, I started again in earnest to finish this project. I decided that it would be finished within 2 years and have been saying that for at least 5. My real goal is to have her running by mid-summer.
Bessie is her name and there is a story that goes with that, but I'll save that for another time. She will be 100% stock with as many of her original parts as possible.
My first entry to this build thread is a video about my process that I have used over the years to restore Bessie. Hope you enjoy it.
This is where I am with the truck right now. Currently working on the intake and exhaust manifolds, steering column and wheels. The value covers and exhaust will be repainted with argent (silver) high heat paint.
This where I'm headed. Thanks for the donated photo.
Here is a spare 239 EBU just for fun. My wife won't let put it in the living room.
Steering box disassemble. My worm drive is shot so its being replace with a doner from a 56. The 56 steering shaft is shorter than for 54 and 55, so I'll pull the worm drives, then press the good to the 54 shaft.
The original 16 inch wheels will go back on Bessie. Currently the wheels are being blasted and prepped for paint. It is actually cheaper to have them powder coated, but with powder coating it is difficult to match the original Ford vermillion color. A few weeks after I got the truck as a kid, I traded two wheels for a set of 4 chrome baby moon wheels so those are long gone. A few years ago, I went back to the garage of the kid I had traded them to in hopes of finding the originals barried in their somewhere - no luck. I did find two replacements, but it is very difficult to find 16 inch wheels.
Progress! A little at a time. My intake manifold is ready to be install - I'll get that done within a week or so. I sandblasted my wheels and put a quick self itching primer on them after treating them with a metal pre-primer.
It's question time! I have a worm drive stearing gear from a 56 and want it on the steering shaft from my 54. I took both to a shop to have the worm drive pressed on, but it will not go. The press actually bent the shaft rather than press the worm drive into where it is susposed to be. Is the 56 worm drive smaller than for a 54? What now?
Hey Rick, good to hear from you! Your right, this intake and carb are from my original 239 - the one with the cracked block. It's getting there! Right now I'm doing enough work on it that even my wife and kids see progress.
It's question time! I have a steering shaft & worm from a 56 and want it on the steering shaft from my 54. I took both to a shop to have the worm drive pressed on, but it will not go. The press actually bent the shaft rather than press the worm drive into where it is supposed to be. Is the 56 worm drive smaller than for a 54? What now?
Ford did not sell the worm by itself, it was only furnished with the steering shaft.
TAAA-3524-A .. Steering Shaft & Worm - 42 3/4" long = 1953/55 F100/250 / Obsolete ~ No Ford dealer or obsolete parts vendor has any NOS
It's listed in Carpenter's 1948/56 truck catalog (2011 paper edition) for $150.00.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B6C-3524-A .. Steering Shaft & Worm - 41" long = 1956 F100/250.
Thanks Numbers! I managed to get the 56 worm drive pressed onto the 54 shaft. It turns out that the 56 worm drive was pressed on at the factory slightly misaligned with the key slot. That deformed the worm drive interior a bit and it would not press onto the 54 steering shaft. A great local shop retooled the 56 worm drive and it pressed right on the 54 shaft - NICE! I didn't desire to buy a new steering shaft and worm drive.
I'll rebuild the steering box over this weekend. Then its time to move onto the exhaust.
The good worm drive and sector shaft - both donor parts from a fellow FTE member. Thanks a ton!!
The bad worm drive and sector shaft - note the chip out of the worm drive gear - ouch! I think I remember when this happen. It was the same huge pothole that also snapped a shock mount in two.
Primed steering box - black paint is next.
The next puzzle - this exhaust baffle needs replaced. Has anyone seen these for sale?
