Too good to mess with

[GB SISSON]

In the last few years I have sold two really original, unmolested survivor trucks because I use them in my business and wanted more driveability, better gearing and brakes for the loads I was hauling. The '53 even had ford script plug wires. It had belonged to a crop dusting service in Minot ND and had a plane and the company name on the doors. 9' express and it was actually quite useable as it was but I was hankerin' to do a diesel swap with a junior sized turbo'd inline six cummins. I had two of them and they are called a 6at. 120 hp, 210 cu. in. I sold it to build my '59 9' express with a '92 f350 rear axle and a gm sm465 4 speed manual. It does a handy 75 mph and I run it up and down I-5 on lumber runs. The other one I sold last spring was my '37 1 1/2 ton. I had hoped to mount a script bed on it that I had, but the frame was tapered and it looked like a tough job. This was also a beautiful rust free truck that had been in a barn in Ferndale Wa for 26 years. For my big truck I wanted juice brakes, a bit more power, 12 volts with an alternator so I could have trailer brakes and of course a truck that would accept my very nice 9' script bed. I bought a '47 two ton cab/chassis, also from Minot. As the '59ab was badly stuck it got a locally bought 500.00 8ba. What I'm getting at here is that for me, I would rather sell a rare and excellent survivor truck than modernize it. Both trucks went to people who had no intention of painting them or modifying in any way. I lost two great trucks, but have had a ball building their replacements and I love to solve problems and engineer motor mounts and drivelines and all that goes along with building a franken truck. It's a fun hobby and neither of the resto-modded trucks are very rare. I still have a few that I will keep 6 volt, positive ground, stock all the way. Just a way to get some upgrades, that's all. I'm glad there are no rules as I'm not very good at following them.

[ford38v8]

Good on ya and thanks for posting. Your sentiments regarding the "rules" needs that kind of exposure to be recognized by some.

[FlatheadTed]

Good to here your doing what suits you .I colour printed your beautiful 37 truck and gave it to a trucking friend of mine he has it on his wall .Ted

[FrankWest]

FlatHeadTed........I love that name!

[FlatheadTed]

Yeah Frank .Id like to change it ,Ted

[mhsprecher]

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You are a charter member of the SPOFT, the Society for the Preservation of Old Ford Trucks. If you want to make your own rule, you can pronounce it with a silent P.

[willowbilly3]

Gary, with your magnetism, I'm sure there will be no end to the stream of old Ford trucks. Some of us just enjoy saving them from sitting and rotting, then move on to a new patient. I envy you living in a place you can use a truck that only goes 45.

[Tinker]

You probably saved more old trucks then the average bear. So if a few need some help well then there is always the next one.

[GB SISSON]

How strange, I had a late lunch today and didn't feel like any more woodwork so I sat on the couch and pressed a few random page numbers to see some stuff from the old days and this came up. I don't remember posting it (yikes), but since then I have replaced the replacement trucks and come up with many more projects. The only one I still have is the '92 F350 4x4. I call that truck 'The Retreiver'. Behind it is the 9' box I mentioned last week to the guy needing a truck bed. I bought it as a trailer off CL while passing through Spokane Wa. We lost Willowbilly shortly after this to cancer. He was in his early 60s and lived alone on a ranch in S. Dakota. I think some of the other posters are gone too. Just a slice of 2015 for today's readers.

[Lawrie]

Thanks, You may have stired me into action, I have a friend who owns an old sawmill that still operates, over the years I picked ups all the V8 and model A engines that were used in the mill that were just laying around,
there is still a jail bar type log linker that has a lantana bush growing over it I have been offered for free.
Maybe I should jump in the deep end and bring it home.
Lawrie

[51504bat]

As I'm sure you know, watch out for snakes

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by GB SISSON

How strange, I had a late lunch today and didn't feel like any more woodwork so I sat on the couch and pressed a few random page numbers to see some stuff from the old days and this came up. I don't remember posting it (yikes), but since then I have replaced the replacement trucks and come up with many more projects. The only one I still have is the '92 F350 4x4. I call that truck 'The Retreiver'. Behind it is the 9' box I mentioned last week to the guy needing a truck bed. I bought it as a trailer off CL while passing through Spokane Wa. We lost Willowbilly shortly after this to cancer. He was in his early 60s and lived alone on a ranch in S. Dakota. I think some of the other posters are gone too. Just a slice of 2015 for today's readers.

Thanks for the reminding me about Willowbilly. Extremely talented guy. Really miss his posts. RIP Willowbilly

[1952henry]

^^^^Yep, cheers to Willowbilly. Miss him. He was planning to visit me for a local junkyard tour, which had quite a bit of early Ford and other makes. His health took a turn for the worse, and there it is.

[1952henry]

Gary, every so often there is an ad for jailbar and bonus built tonners, some Mercury, on the local online classifieds. Seems someone is fetching them from Canada. Many have hoists under the express beds.