I totally agree with you on the 55 grill. I think that it is the best looking of that entire generation.
Some of them have the deluxe trim, but I am keeping mine simple without the extra bling.

 

well, bummer. first bad news I found on my new to me 55 truck, the engine that was in it, was a used 302 and the previous owner didn't know much about it except that it ran when they put it in there. it has sat for 13 years without running so I put some marvel mystery oil in it and let it set and it turns over easily so I did a compression check tonight and the number 7 cylinder only made 30 psi, the rest were pretty good, 90-120 so I squirted some more oil in it and tested it again with the same results. I don't have the tools to do a leak down test, but I pulled the valve cover, hoping it was a bent push rod, or broken rocker arm, but no. everything seems to be moving ok, so it looks like I probably have a burnt valve in that cylinder. so what to do now? lots of options, all cost money I wanted to spend elsewhere however.
option 1: take the heads off and have the local machine shop do a valve job. that would be the cheapest option, but that would leave me with these stock early ford iron heads. and still wondering about the condition of the rest of the engine.
option 2. edelbrock performer package. significantly more expensive, but gives me new aluminum heads and intake and more horsepower. but doesn't address the condition of the rest of the engine.
option 3. stock rebuild. I could send the block and heads to the machine shop and let him tell me what condition they are in and if they are worth rebuilding. I assume they will be, I doubt this engine has been rebuilt before, but if the block has been bored before, that may be out.
option 4. mega build, 347 stroker with new top end kit. much more money, but an end product instead of a for now engine. if the block is in good condition.
option 5 blueprint engines crate engine. this would be the most expensive, but ultimately probably the best long term option. all new parts, one year warranty and I could probably get it pretty quickly. then I would just have to figure out what to do with the current engine.
so now I get to sit and stew and think about it for awhile lol.

 

I did get the wing windows rebuilt, and started installing the windows. I also installed the cowl vent and hooked up a linear actuator kit to make it open. so that will be a kind of fun thing. for some reason all the parts for the door windows were with the truck, but the rear support tracks were not the right ones for this truck so I had to order them. they should be here next week then I can finish up the doors at least.

 

I can't help you decide your engine options but your vent windows look real good.

 

Option 6
Lots of 302s out there in used vehicles. Look at pre 96 f150s. A lot of these trucks have good engines but the body and frame are rotting away.

It never hurts having a spare engine sitting around. lol

 

I have done a few more things, and so I am going to come here to commiserate and complain a bit, but also just to show I have made some progress. I was disappointed with my compression test on the engine, but I decided to go ahead and see if I could get it to start. this engine has not run in about 15 years, but it supposedly ran when they decided to put it in this truck. so I hooked up a jerry rig fuel system.






and wired up a quick and dirty ignition system, and an oil pressure gauge just to prevent completely ruining the engine.




I drained the water out of it a couple days ago, but I have a mechanical temp gauge I may put on here at some point. but anyway.




I managed to get it started. this was not my first try, I had to pump it and crank it quite a bit the first time, then I pulled the fuel line out of the gas can and plugged it but decided I should get a video, so I put the fuel line back in the gas can and started it again. I didn't run it long because of no water but I was surprised it actually sounded pretty good. now I am thinking I may put some mechanic in a bottle in there and at least use this engine to mock everything up. put my new pulley system etc. on it and do the exhaust and the wiring etc. and see what it does. I still think I want that blueprint engine because it makes about twice the horsepower and it will be all new, but I am not in a big hurry now. I did score a pre owned but brand new edelbrock intake, and I have an edelbrock 4 barrel carb I will put on it. I will want to replace that points style ignition with an electronic ignition, I don't want to have to deal with the ballast resister and things with my new wiring harness.