New to Ford Barn

[Yellarose]

Hello all! I acquired a 1936 1.5 Ton flatbed 15 years ago and it has resided untouched on the side of the house for the last 15 years. It is a project truck. A little history. I inherited it from my wife’s grandfather. He owned a pipeline construction company here in Southern California for 55 years. Upon his passing we had to clean out the business and his equipment yard. Getting the backhoe’s, dump trucks, cranes, etc. ready to sell, way back in the corner of the yard I discovered the ‘36. It looked in bad shape but it instantly struck me as a keeper. I’d been to the equipment yard many times but never knew the truck was back there. We live in an area where back in the day there were grape vineyards and citrus groves all around us. The truck was purchased new by the Citrus Growers Association to work in the groves bringing boxed citrus back to the packing plant. Eventually my wife’s grandfather bought it to use as a water truck in his pipeline company. He mounted a water tank on the flatbed. I never knew or heard about the truck and the last registration “sticker” on the license plate was 1968.

IÂ’m just a backyard mechanic. Not a professional. But I instantly fell in love with the classic style and the family history. My intent was to fix it up and maybe drive Santa Claus down main street on the flatbed once a year at the community Christmas parade. I moved it to the side of the house and it has just sat since then. The only reason my wife tolerates its presence is because it belonged to her beloved grandpa Elmer.

I’ve now since retired and have focused my attention to work on the ole truck. We call it the “Yella” truck. “Yella” because Elmer was from Texas and that’s the way he said “Yellow”. So “Yella” it is. I think the Yellow Rose of Texas had something to do with it because everything he owned he painted Yella. Even the ole truck. We want to fix it up and repaint Elmer’s classic company logo back on the side doors.

Over the years IÂ’d get on-line and look up ole truck stuff and of course I came across Ford Barn. Read many threads and gathered ideas as to what I want and can do with her. As I begin the project I appreciate the experienced brain trust here and look forward to interacting and asking questions of yÂ’all in this process. Thanks in advance.

[Charlie Stephens]

Put your general location in your profile, you never know when it will pay off. Welcome to the barn.

Charlie Stephens

[glennpm]

This is a great group, welcome!

[Bob C]

Sounds like a great project. I assume you are in the Rancho
Cucamonga area.

[rockfla]

Welcome, you’re lucky IF you really want to do your truck as original, “Model51” here on the Fordbarn is “the” large 35/36 Ford truck
Man, he wrote the Early Ford V8 club restoration book that was recently published and I suggest purchasing IF originality is your goal

[leon bee]

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Bring it on, man!

[Yellarose]

I dont live in Rancho Cucamonga but very close here in Upland.

Ive discovered that the engine has been swapped at some point in its life. It has a 59A-B engine in it. Not sure if they changed the transmission with the engine change. I need to find out what model number trans thats now in it. I just pulled the engine and have a friend that has a machine shop and has done many flatheads so Ive taken it to him. He will have the expertise and IÂ’ll just help and learn. Ive also discovered there has been a lot of MacGyver kind of work and repair done on it. When i find this stuff I kind of enjoy picturing what happened and what they did just to get it operational again.

Im wanting to keep it as original as possible. That said ive never driven anything with mechanical brakes. What are your thoughts on Juice brakes? I figure if Im into it this far, is now the time to make the change? I also want to change it over to a negative ground 12 volt electrical system.

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by Yellarose

I dont live in Rancho Cucamonga but very close here in Upland.

Ive discovered that the engine has been swapped at some point in its life. It has a 59A-B engine in it. Not sure if they changed the transmission with the engine change. I need to find out what model number trans thats now in it. I just pulled the engine and have a friend that has a machine shop and has done many flatheads so Ive taken it to him. He will have the expertise and IÂ’ll just help and learn. Ive also discovered there has been a lot of MacGyver kind of work and repair done on it. When i find this stuff I kind of enjoy picturing what happened and what they did just to get it operational again.

Im wanting to keep it as original as possible. That said ive never driven anything with mechanical brakes. What are your thoughts on Juice brakes? I figure if Im into it this far, is now the time to make the change? I also want to change it over to a negative ground 12 volt electrical system.

If your transmission is the “original”
One it’s easy to tell, look on the top part of the bell housing and you “should” have a number stamped in it, then look on the left frame rail just ahead of the firewall/cab, you “should” see the same number!!

[ford38v8]

Yella, A truck is not likely to be a daily driver, more like a Santa Clause Parade truck like you said, so in that case, juice brakes are a bad idea, as juice doesn't do well for infrequent operation. You won't be going freeway speed anyway, so save the expense and trouble, just rework the original brakes, and they will stand the test of time very well.

Unless you want to spend big money on restoration, you might find that a repaint won't show well with needed bodywork beneath. I'd suggest you consider leaving the old paint on, and just go with the patina and imperfections, very appropriate and pleasing to the eye.

[Yellarose]

Ford38, thanks for the insight on the brakes. Your very words came out of my friends mouth that is helping me rebuild the engine. He said the same thing. I wanted to keep the 51 as original as i could. Keeping the mechanical breaks would be a big step in that goal but i have no experience with them. It sounds like the mechanical brakes will do just fine for Santa Claus. Also, my original vision was to make it look like new. But i have an appreciation for the patina look. Not sure Santa Claus would like the patina look. However, the short term mission is to get engine and running gear up to snuff.

[40coe]

Cool truck, and welcome to the "Barn"
I have a 1936 open cab firetruck with original tires and brakes. The brakes work well.
Also wanted to mention, I have an all original flatbed deck and stake sides for the early 1 1/2 ton trucks. In case you may know somebody that might want to do a points restoration.
Best of luck on double clutching, easy once you get the hang of it.

[GB SISSON]

I too would like to welcome you. I have had many of the early ford big trucks, and am all in with keeping the mechanical brakes. They never leak fluid, and once they are freshened up and adjusted correctly, they work fine. Henry kept mechanical brakes on his vehicles well after other manufacturers went to the hydraulics. His saying was "The safety of steel from pedal to wheel". Yer gonna have a blast with this thing. Another thing on the tranny is the correct early trans had a 'reverse lock-out' on the shifter up near the knob. It's a small thumb lever with a steel rod linkage. If your shifter doesn't have this, it may have been put in along with the 59ab. Both trannys are nearly identical and a darn good unit.

[mercman from oz]

Yellarose, welcome to Ford Barn with your 1935 Ford V8 Truck

[mercman from oz]

"1935-1936 Ford Model 51 V-8 Trucks"- by David Gunnarson

[Yellarose]

Thanks everyone for the welcome! GB mentioned the “reverse lockout” lever on the trans shifter. My shifter has that little lever. I didn’t know what it was for. Im going to pull the transmission then decide if I’m going to change it out or just rebuild the one I have. I’ve heard that a “39” transmission is a desirable one. Not sure if it is adaptable to my truck. It seems like you all have decided i should keep the mechanical brakes, so mechanical brakes it is!

[Bob C]

The 4-speed is basically the same from late 1929 thru the early 50's. The cases are different in some respects but the gears are the same.

[5851a]

You will find all your questions answered here. In your off time watch the Cider house rules movie. Several old Fords, cars and a truck. The magic of ordinary days is another great for old cars and trucks.

[Conrad Rossi]

Welcome to The Barn! Very nice truck

[sugarmaker]

Yella,
Welcome to the Ford Barn Forum. Awesome truck project you have! You will find almost all your answers here and or through folks that frequent this forum. Many members helped me with questions and or concerns as I trudged through my truck project over the last 3 years. Was it worth it! Yes it was. The project may not move as fast as you want it to, but the satisfaction will be worth the journey! Looking forward to your yella truck coming alive!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl
PS: The brakes will be just fine!

[Clem Clement]

Welcome yella.
Do you have the Green Book? Helpful for diagrams and part numbers.

Dave Gunnarson wrote the excellent book on 35 big trucks.
Clelm