01-13-2014, 08:46 PM | #1 |
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First Flathead
It looks like the deal will happen. I pick up the truck this week, it's an original, nearly complete, unmolested '41, 1/2-ton pickup. It will stay unmolested; it will not stay incompete. It runs, shifts and bounces, its got some rust in the typical places, has a few dents and has several different layers of paint showing. It does not have factory air, the 350 option, Mustang II front suspension, or diamond tufted crushed velvet interior.
It is drivable so I can enjoy it while pick at repairs for a couple of years to correct/rebuild/maintain several things. This also gives me time to attend car shows to see other peoples restorations, to collect parts and learn more about the vehicle. I could be 5 years out from a frame-off restoration. I will post pics of the pickup after I pick it up with my newer pickup. Then i will change my avatar picture, too. |
01-13-2014, 08:58 PM | #2 |
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Re: First Flathead
Enjoy your new ride!
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01-13-2014, 09:20 PM | #3 |
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Re: First Flathead
welcome to the flathead world. Enjoy it as much as possible.
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01-13-2014, 09:24 PM | #4 |
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Re: First Flathead
well, shoot, enjoy your pickup....and post pics..lol....Mike
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01-13-2014, 09:36 PM | #5 |
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Re: First Flathead
Congratulations! enjoy your new truck and post a bunch of pictures.
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01-13-2014, 09:55 PM | #6 |
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Re: First Flathead
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01-17-2014, 08:23 PM | #7 |
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Re: First Flathead
Early look-over tells me that I have a '36 Ford front bumper. That is based on the Bob Drake bumper ID page. The back of the bumper curls down. I have a full steel pan in the bed; is that original or a cure for rotten boards? THe headlight rims are chromed. Most of the 41 pics I see show them to be painted. |
01-17-2014, 08:52 PM | #8 |
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Re: First Flathead
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01-17-2014, 08:58 PM | #9 |
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Re: First Flathead
Yes that's a 36 bumper but it looks right at home there. ken ct. good luck with it.
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01-17-2014, 09:10 PM | #10 |
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Re: First Flathead
Looks like a nice start! Glad to hear it's going to be restored, not hot-rodded.
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01-17-2014, 09:15 PM | #11 |
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Re: First Flathead
Sixseven Bottom of the bed should be metal. There is wood underneath the metal. Many place wood in the bottom of the bed over the metal because they just prefer the look. These we're work horses in the day, functional was the idea. Good luck with your new toy!
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01-17-2014, 09:52 PM | #12 |
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Re: First Flathead
CA Born 36, do you mean like this:
The bottom of the bed has a full weld bead around the perimeter. This is a view towards the front right corner of the bed. There is also a bar welded across the front bed panel, about midway up |
01-17-2014, 09:55 PM | #13 | |
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Re: First Flathead
Quote:
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01-17-2014, 09:56 PM | #14 |
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Re: First Flathead
I'm pretty sure you can buy that 'new car smell' in a can nowadays. Congrats on the truck. Looks great to me!!
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01-17-2014, 11:32 PM | #15 |
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Re: First Flathead
I'm very envious of you. The 40 &41's ar my favorite trucks. They were also voted the best looking truck of the 20th century by somebody.
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01-17-2014, 11:40 PM | #16 |
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Re: First Flathead
Thats a fine looking truck . Congratulations
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01-17-2014, 11:43 PM | #17 | |
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Re: First Flathead
Quote:
Would that person voting best looking truck of the 20th century have an avatar photo similar to yours? |
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01-18-2014, 12:18 AM | #18 |
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Re: First Flathead
Sixseven unfortunately it looks like someone has welded in a patch for your bed bottom the original has some beads that run the length of the bed, and there would be an access for the fuel sending unit toward the rear of the bed. Someone else would have to provide a picture as unfortunately I let my truck go years ago. The rod across the back bed wall is also a custom addition, maybe to straighten the wall. Many of these would get a bow, causing dirt to gather between the bed and cab rusting out the cab.
Last edited by CaliforniaBorn36; 01-18-2014 at 12:21 AM. Reason: Added comment about extra rod. |
01-18-2014, 07:53 AM | #19 |
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Re: First Flathead
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01-18-2014, 09:53 AM | #20 |
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Re: First Flathead
sixseven,
How I wish your '41 would be ready to go to the BIG Gettysburg Meet in mid June. My plans are to drive my '41 1/2ton down...to haul parts, not to show. If you can make the Meet look us up in the swap meet. Ours is maroon with black fenders and is still a working vehicle. Charlie ny |
01-18-2014, 10:02 AM | #21 |
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Re: First Flathead
[QUOTE=CaliforniaBorn36;805956]Sixseven unfortunately it looks like someone has welded in a patch for your bed bottom the original has some beads that run the length of the bed, and there would be an access for the fuel sending unit toward the rear of the bed. Someone else would have to provide a picture as unfortunately I let my truck go years ago. The rod across the back bed wall is also a custom addition, maybe to straighten the wall. Many of these would get a bow, causing dirt to gather between the bed and cab rusting out the cab.[/QUOT
Maybe it is just me but it looks like the fuel sending unit access is there. |
01-18-2014, 10:39 AM | #22 |
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Re: First Flathead
Sixseven,
You have a beautiful truck. Congratulations and welcome to the Barn.
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01-18-2014, 05:36 PM | #23 |
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Re: First Flathead
Sixseven, congrats on your new project! I have one in about the same condition I'm just getting started on. Seeing your avatar with your arm straight out on the bed rail with the pickup on the trailer makes me think "Sixseven" refers to your standing height. I have no idea how you fit in the cab but maybe buying a spare 40-41 seat pedestal and cutting it down may help make it more comfortable.
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01-18-2014, 07:26 PM | #24 | |
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Re: First Flathead
Quote:
My struggle is to keep from tearing it down to the frame for a total rebuild now. I am tempering my ambitions to get it faithfully roadworthy then will consider the body later. Ken |
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01-18-2014, 09:54 PM | #25 |
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Re: First Flathead
Same here. I'm a mechanic by trade and will do the frame-off first to make it sound mechanically but I pretty much suck with body work. Hopefully these experts here on the Ford Barn will help me out.
Lonnie Last edited by Binx; 01-18-2014 at 10:10 PM. |
01-19-2014, 08:04 AM | #26 | |
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Re: First Flathead
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Quote:
As for body work, I have tried my hand at that over the years and learned that panel alignment is a big deal, and that panel replacement requires a lot of rework as the repro panels are only close approximations of the original stuff (generally). Years ago a split two 64 Galaxie 500s and made one good vehicle using oxy acetelene welding, it was a convertible. I know too much about bondo and want to learn some good hammer and dolly techniques. I also want to try my hand at painting, but need to learn more about these modern paints and their hazards. I learned a lot from my friends over at the Vintage Mustang Forum (VMF). Gotta love the helpful experience of a hundred internet acquaintances both here and other forums! |
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01-21-2014, 05:42 PM | #27 |
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Re: First Flathead
Beginning further investigation on Old Creaky Bones (OCB) and discovered that the spring mounts on the axle had been broken and poorly rewelded. Thanks to Alan's advice (on this forum) I will now be searching for more replacement parts. It seems that the biggest difference in purchasing old cars versus newer cars is that on the old cars you count the things that are good and on new cars you count the things that are bad. After all my searching, I just ended up trading different problems for the same price. All the same, I'm glad I did this. It was never about an financial return on investment but a return on joy. For now I guess I have a case of OCB!
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01-21-2014, 11:55 PM | #28 |
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Re: First Flathead
I wish you'd stop by my shop and check out the suspension project I'm working on now. Might give you some ideas.If we;re gona drive these things in todays traffic, you might want to make some improvements.
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