I can finally see progress. My truck came with a 1962 bed mounted on a 1966 F250 frame. It was too short for the frame and the previous owner carved it up to lower it and he shortened it and the frame by 9 inches. I have almost finished repairing the bed.I set in the correct place and built an exhaust stack shield for it to fill the gap. I had to make new front step brackets to use the modified model T running boards as steps. I found a set of real fenders behind a garage for cheap, but they needed straightening - Done. I had to convert the 5 bolt tire carrier to an 8 bolt setup. It needs the wood for the bed floor. I still have to fix the tail gate since he transformed FORD into DORF. I just need to swap the letters back now. The rear mount fuel tank is next so that I can remove the bomb from the back seat. And then fill all of the extra holes that were drilled into the bed.
All the mechanical repair is so invisible, but I can see progress now. Onto the body work to make the bed look good. I still have to build a new front clip. I'll be posting about that problem in another thread.
I love progress!


This is where I started. My $800 "running" truck that gets all 4 gears.
Notice the trailer fenders on it. The exhaust stacks were made from fence posts.


The front panel and bed rails were carved up to lower the bed. The Jerry can is the fuel tank.


The step was built from a model T running board with recovered fenders. The spare tire carrier was converted from 5 bolt wheels to 8 bolt wheels. I built an exhaust shield to fill the gap between the bed and cab.


I built a new front panel since long bed front panels do not exist. I made new bed rails for it.

 

Is that a B model Mack cab I see ?

 

The truck is a 1966 F250 with a 1962 bed on it. It has the original cab and drivetrain. It has a 352 that runs with the 4 speed transmission. This is how I built the exhaust stack shield.


It took forever to make the curve in perf on the English Wheel.

The former owner did some strange things to it. This is what I have to work with for the front clip.I've built a new radiator carrier for my 5 row aluminum radiator that is a T bird cross flow model. I have the T bird on engine expansion tank to match it. Now I have to modify the fenders to go from the grill to the cab at the angle. I'm going to use the Model T front fenders that came with it to make the fender flares and liners. The front clip will be the next step.



He cut up the front grill and made it narrower. And the hood....

 

That is certainly a project. What is the end goal.

 

The end goal is a restored sharp looking truck that can be driven daily. I'm trying to work with what I have without spending obsene amounts of money on over priced body parts. The money wasted on concours correct parts could be spent on high grade paint and modern upgrades like remote control mirrors. I'm thinking turquoise pearl with black accents and a buckskin interior colour for the truck. Desert colours ! I've rebuilt most of the components already.and plan to add some modern features like electric A/C because I live in Arizona where it's always hot. (100+ every day for 6 months) Electric A/C is far less hassle than motor driven A/C to add and the bonus is "No water in the cab" for the heat. Call it a Ford legacy project staring with the Model T added to a modern truck.

 

I don’t know what to say.

Well, I do, but I won’t.

 

Well, God speed

 

I kinda wish the previous owner would have finished his vision after so much modification. I think the narrowed front end is hilarious if he had pulled it off. The rear, not so much... you obviously have metalworking skills so I'm anxious to see the end result.

 

The truck was in the original owner's family since it was new. The Tucson Greyhound Park bought it for his father to use as his personal truck and he passed it to his son. He had many highly modified vehicles sitting in the yard. Look at the truck behind the cutdown grill and hood. His vision for the truck was a lowered truck with a straight side hood that folded up like an early car. But, since it's a twinI beam, he couldn't lower it like a Chevy would be lowered. The bed was slammed down onto the rear axle with no wheel travel possible without wrecking the bed.Then he intended to mount the Model T fenders directly over the front wheels. It was supposed to be a rat rod. But his modifications have made it undrivable. And his concept for the front end was unworkable and it just didn't look right. I'm glad that he didn't try to assemble the front clip as he planned since it would have ruined the Model T fenders. I found an original set of the front fenders to use for the build.
He cut all of the wiring out of the engine compartment and had a house light switch for the ignition kill switch and a push button for the starter. Fortunately he didn't molest the wiring harness under the dash and I've been able to use that as a base to rebuild and modernize the wiring.
The up side is that it was a mechanically solid running truck for $800, not a no engine rolling chassis for a ridiculous price. It only has surface rust since it's lived in the desert for all of its life. This is definitely a "Run what you brung" project. Finishing the bed work first has given me time to consider the best approach to the new front clip.

 

First and foremost, since this is the first time I am reading anything you have posted, Welcome to FTE. I myself have found the general and specific knowledge on this site remarkable, and hope you will too.

Furthermore, I applaud your perseverance. No doubt the end result will be unique. While some might want to criticise, in the end, it is your truck, to do with as you please, and there are plenty of examples of folks modifying their trucks to suite their purposes, function, and taste.

I do wonder however, if the previous owner would not have been batter off simply buying and older truck...say a later '40's or early '50*s, since they seemed to be more interested in that overall look. That said, you definitely have your work cut out for you (yes all pun intended) and I hope you continue to make progress. Please keep us posted, and tell us what else you are planning.

Good luck, and again welcome!!