Classic 1949 Ford F1 Truck Has 1,200 HP
Some 1949 Ford owners aim to just make their trucks start, but this one can do more than just turn on. Check out this F1 named Old Smokey that will blow the socks off your feet.
1. Old Smokey F1
Old Smokey wasn't always worthy of being written about; in fact, just recently, this 1949 F1 was purchased by Scott Birdsall off of Craigslist for only $225, which he negotiated from the original price of $300. As you may imagine, the $225 truck was not in a great shape. Scott was originally looking for a vehicle to flip, but this one got all of his attention.
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3. Cummins Diesel
The original 160-horsepower engine was no longer going to cut it, and a 12-valve Cummins turbo-diesel engine was squeezed into the F1's engine compartment. The engine was taken from a 1994 Dodge truck, and based on its reliability, performance, and how easily the installation process would be, this engine was the perfect foundation for the future of Old Smokey.
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4. Engine Performance Modifications
As if the 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel engine wasn't strong enough, the team decided to add a bigger turbo and bigger fuel injectors, which made them decide to make them a twin-turbo. After adding the twin-turbo, they had to modify the placement of the engine and push it back to distribute the weight better. Finally, nitrous tanks were installed, which added 375-horsepower more with each shot of nitrous. The entire truck develops 1,200-horsepower.
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5. Performance Modifications
The truck had to be modified to handle such vicious power. To bring this truck closer to safety, the brakes were upgraded to Wilwood brake units, which were later replaced with a larger brake system. The entire front suspension was replaced with a one-off tubular suspension system. The suspension system was a Mustang 2 style, which allowed Old Smokey to officially be a race truck.
>>Join the conversation about the F1 named Old Smokey right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
6. SEMA 2016
At the famous SEMA 2016 auto show, Old Smokey was the hot topic for all of the automotive media. Thanks to its original barn-find exterior and its advanced capabilities, this 1949 truck is one-of-a-kind. Scott Birdsall is not done yet, however, and he plans on attempting to break the world record by reaching 200 mph, making this the very first diesel-truck to achieve this speed in a mile.
>>Join the conversation about the F1 named Old Smokey right here in the Ford Trucks Forum!
For help with service of your truck, check out the how to section of Ford-Trucks.com
