New guy with an old truck.

[FordCustom]

I started seeing this truck around 2006, when I began working for an old school but excellent auto parts store. They had storage units in back. A dirt floor pole barn. Well, it just so happens that the storage had been delinquent on this truck, for over a decade. There it sat until Oct. of last year, when I finally asked the store manager about it.

You could only see it from the gap on the door and I didn't even know what it was. I walked around the side of the barn, and there was a 3/4 inch hole in the wall. Through this hole I saw the nostrils and grill bars of 48-50 Ford F-1, and I knew I had to have it. $500, and it was mine! It is rough, but I enjoy a challenge. It's my first time for owning a flathead engine, and a vehicle this old. I had a few 60's and 70's cars before, so working on old cars is nothing new to me. I also have a bodyshop background, and own more than your average amount of tools. You could say I have enough experience to be dangerous, hehe.

So, here it is in all it's rusty glory. It will get upgraded enough to keep up on 65mph highways. If it was a small town I might leave it stock, but you'll get rear ended if you drive below 60mph around here. I also want to upgrade the heater and a/c unit if possible. Right now I am tearing it down to the bare frame, which will take me a month with the amount of free time I have. Small steps..

[Clem Clement]

Great find. Best wishes on your rebuild.

[bk53]

have fun with your project. Great truck!

[Cecil/WV]

looks to be pretty solid!

[FordCustom]

It has more rust on the right side, including the front cab mount. I can weld in new metal thankfully. I have a welder and all the cutting tools. There's also rust holes in other places too, but I can fix them all one by one. Thanks for the compliments!

[38 Ford Pickup]

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Good Luck

I had one just the same years ago

[mtflat]

Brings back memories from 15 years ago when I found my '48. It took me a year and a half to do a frame up rebuild. Enjoy!!

[Vic Piano]

Excellent project, have fun with it.

[FortyNiner]

Good to see another F1 getting a second life - and Sheridan blue, no less! Not sure how much disassembly you'll yet need, but the front clip (fenders, grille, valances) are quite easy to remove as a single piece. You've already gotten to some of the tough -and always uncooperative - fender bolts.

Enjoy the journey!

DW

[Bruce in southern OH]

Great find, keep us informed on progress, thanks for posting!!

[super flat]

Looks like a great project--------

[JM 35 Sedan]

That's a great project to start with. The best part will be getting it back on the road and driving it! After tearing three or four of these old Fords down to the frame, and spending the time to get some of them back together, my preference now would be to get a vehicle like yours mechanically sound and safe, and drive it like it is. I love seeing these old Ford V8's running around in their original aged patina. I would walk past 10 original high point over restored vehicles to see one like yours. Welcome to the Fordbarn!

[Charlie ny]

FC,
I had a '51 F-1....loved it. It's amazing the power that can be generated
with a mild 8ba. Best thing I ever did was switch the rear end which had 4:27's to a
Ford 8" with 3:30's.
Great truck have fun with it !!!
Charlie ny

[BILL WZOREK]

You have the nack to work on old trucks ( 3rd Picture)

A ~B F H~ & A 4" Disk grinder

The only thing you are missing is a big roll of duct tape O wait thats for reassembly LOL

[FordCustom]

Originally Posted by FortyNiner

Good to see another F1 getting a second life - and Sheridan blue, no less! Not sure how much disassembly you'll yet need, but the front clip (fenders, grille, valances) are quite easy to remove as a single piece. You've already gotten to some of the tough -and always uncooperative - fender bolts.

Enjoy the journey!

DW

So was Sheridan blue a special order color?

[cmbrucew]

Ford Custom
Welcome to the barn.
I like your F1 find.
I have two of them. The first one "Green one" had more rust than yours. The red one was from Phoenix Arizona, great shape.
Have fun.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time

[Shadetree]

Another F1 will breathe again! Great story and the best of luck with your truck!

[36tbird]

Welcome aboard. As you plan your project may I suggest that you study the threads on here about the T170 3 speed O-drive trans and the S-10 trans. You have gobs of room in that old truck where you can fit just about anything. If I had to do it over again and knew about the T170's I would have put that in my '36 because you can make it look stock. Then with a 3.70'ish rear end gear you can have good accel and cruise.

So, if you decide on something like this and find a cache of 170's here in Texas, let me know because I am thinking about re-working my truck with one.

[FortyNiner]

I believe that Sheridan was a stock color. Unfortunately, I've lost my old reference docs due to a hard drive failure (yeah, I know about backups). These are close and should help your efforts:

http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re...aterial_2.html

http://paintref.com/cgi-bin/chipdisp...d&info=&page=3

[Ol' Ron]

Yes welcome. The hardest part of this king of restoration is derusting everything to find out what is usuable. Fortunately most everything is available for it. This unfortunately takes deep pockets. It's aldo time to consider modifications. A good example would be to use a 525 Sagna steering box. and especially the F150 RTS T 170 transmission, It's a 3 speed with OD and looks stock and will work well with your present rear axle ratio. Improving your braking is another option along with a nice set of seat belts. I'm in the process of doing all this for my grand children..
There are allot of people on the barn here than give you allot of help along with good and bad ideas. Take care.

[DD931]

Glad to see another F-1 on the road!!

[FordCustom]

Thanks for the welcome guys. I had to keep it short earlier because I was on my phone, and at work. They don't aggressively go after us about using them, but better safe than sorry. So... I am VERY interested in this T170 thing! What years and vehicles were they used in? It bolts up to the stock bellhousing, or is an adaptor needed?

Well, The right fender came of this evening, and it seems to be black or a very dark blue inside? I am really not sure what color this thing was now. It may require taking off a body part that has never been removed, like door hinges, etc. All of the Vin tags have been removed as well, so if I can't find a number on the right frame rail, not sure what the next avenue is.

I have access to a nine inch out of a 5300 pound Anahiem luxury E-150, for what it's worth. Yeah I know it's probably too wide, but I know a guy who does that kind of work. If the rear axle works, I may just leave it for now.

Two things I have found through the disassembly process. The radiator support is toast, and the front frame crossmember has a few rust holes in it. I may have the right gauge steel laying around for the crossmember, but for the support I guess I will end up on ebay. There are a couple of them on there right now, at just over what I want to pay. I guess I should just suck it up and get one. The whole front end seems to be bolted to it in some shape or form. Before I started working on it, you could tell it was leaning a little towards the passengers side. You could pick the front end up up an inch or two, by grabbing the headlight eyebrows. As seen in this picture. You could tell something wasn't quite right.

[TomT/Williamsburg]

Welcome and you have a great project - just stay within what your pockets can afford (worst thing in the world is to take this thing all apart with grand ideas and then you run out of money). These things take patience and you have to do your homework - come up with a simple plan to get this baby on the road safely and drive it ... good luck and keep us posted!

[FordCustom]

I got it as a long term project, with most of the work being done by me. I am only out parts and supplies mostly. I can repair a lot of problems on my own.

The wiring is shot. Crumbles if you try to move it so that is a must. 12V conversion might be unavoidable and convenient. It opens a lot of opportunities for things like a CD player, that I can make an under dash mount for. I don't want to over modernize it of course.

[FortyNiner]

The last pic that you posted shows me that your beauty has been repainted at least once. The stock grille would have been Tucson Tan in '48 and argent (a silver / aluminium color in my avatar) in '49 & '50. I'm not sure that removing a door hinge will give you a better look as many of the assembly plants tack welded the hinges - presumably before paint.

The VIN numbers on the 48-50's didn't carry any coding for paint color. If there is any surviving factory coding on the firewall - either stamped or painted - just below the cowl vent, you may be able to identify additional build details.

Your earlier look at the underside of the fender would seem to have shown you the original color. I'm sticking with Sheridan blue.

[tiquer]

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Originally Posted by FordCustom

Thanks for the welcome guys. I had to keep it short earlier because I was on my phone, and at work. They don't aggressively go after us about using them, but better safe than sorry. So... I am VERY interested in this T170 thing! What years and vehicles were they used in? It bolts up to the stock bellhousing, or is an adaptor needed?

Well, The right fender came of this evening, and it seems to be black or a very dark blue inside? I am really not sure what color this thing was now. It may require taking off a body part that has never been removed, like door hinges, etc. All of the Vin tags have been removed as well, so if I can't find a number on the right frame rail, not sure what the next avenue is.

I have access to a nine inch out of a 5300 pound Anahiem luxury E-150, for what it's worth. Yeah I know it's probably too wide, but I know a guy who does that kind of work. If the rear axle works, I may just leave it for now.

Two things I have found through the disassembly process. The radiator support is toast, and the front frame crossmember has a few rust holes in it. I may have the right gauge steel laying around for the crossmember, but for the support I guess I will end up on ebay. There are a couple of them on there right now, at just over what I want to pay. I guess I should just suck it up and get one. The whole front end seems to be bolted to it in some shape or form. Before I started working on it, you could tell it was leaning a little towards the passengers side. You could pick the front end up up an inch or two, by grabbing the headlight eyebrows. As seen in this picture. You could tell something wasn't quite right.

Hi not sure about the axle length on the E-150 but any late 60s and 70s f-100 9" rear will bolt under your truck with only minor tweaking to the spring pads. Most 48-52 f 1 up here in Canada had black fenders and the body was what ever the factory painted it Grey blue red etc.

[LuckyFordGuy]

Welcome looks nice truck good luck will be nice when you get it done Rog Mn

[Ol' Ron]

I hate 9" rear ends, too heave. Makes you truck ride like a truck. unless your gona use it as a truck, I'd rethink that. However if you plan on running a 500 hp Flathead, go for it.

[FordCustom]

It certainly didn't get strained a whole bunch on the E150. It had a 302 in that heavy brick of a vehicle. It went zero to sixty in 5 minutes. I am not sure what they were thinking back then...

[FordCustom]

And is it just my screens(phone and home) because Sheridan blue looks like black to me on the color chips?

[Tim Armstrong]

Love the old F 1, building my 3rd one now. Good luck

[FordCustom]

Well... took the hood off this evening with some help from a friend. Thankfully it was the FIRST bolts I have run into that weren't rusted solid. They came right out. And behind the hinge mounts, more dark blue! So Sheridan blue it is I guess.

And as a side note... The air ratchet I bought 7-8 years ago is proving to be a major asset. Why endlessly hold a wrench, and turn a socket when it stays tight all. the. way. to. the. end. Make sure it's seated, and squeeze the lever. It's as easy as that.

[38 coupe]

You may be able to re-gear the stock rear axle. I have heard conflicting reports on using new Dana 44 parts in the Dana 41 axle. It is something worth looking into though.

[FordCustom]

I have been told from several sources that the original axle is a dud, weak, etc. I've also never had a vehicle with the famed 9 inch rear. I don't mind if it rides like a truck, since that's what it is?

[FordCustom]

Wow! This truck is going to look NICE this color. I normally don't like blue all that much on vehicles except Bimini blue, but this shade is very nice!

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/at...1&d=1266723321

[GreenMonster48]

Originally Posted by FordCustom

Wow! This truck is going to look NICE this color. I normally don't like blue all that much on vehicles except Bimini blue, but this shade is very nice!

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/at...1&d=1266723321

I am a bit jealous. That blue is one of my favorite colors.

[texas webb]

I also like that blue.I would be interested in that rear end if you decide
to go to a 9 or 8 inch.I believe the 3spd od comes in early 80's trucks.

[36tbird]

I recommend an 8" rearend, mind you not 8.8 but an 8 that looks just like a 9. They come in a width that you will not have to modify. About the only 9" you can find that are not too wide are from hi-po Mustangs, Mavericks and '57 Fords. Sometimes on an 8" you do not even need to cut off the spring pads but can massage them to fit on your existing springs. You might need wedges to adjust the pinion angle. An 8" will handle anything a flathead can put out.

[tiquer]

Originally Posted by 36tbird

I recommend an 8" rearend, mind you not 8.8 but an 8 that looks just like a 9. They come in a width that you will not have to modify. About the only 9" you can find that are not too wide are from hi-po Mustangs, Mavericks and '57 Fords. Sometimes on an 8" you do not even need to cut off the spring pads but can massage them to fit on your existing springs. You might need wedges to adjust the pinion angle. An 8" will handle anything a flathead can put out.

The 9" truck rear has the width,, the wheel bolt pattern and lots of gear choices ??

[38 coupe]

1972 and older 9 inch axles are almost a bolt in to the F-1. They are simply heavier and not stock looking. The 9 inch housing is larger in diameter than the Dana 41 so your have to replace the u-bolts and bottom plate holding the axle in. The shock mounts are on the Dana 41 and are not on the 9 inch. Also, Dana 44s are still used in Jeeps. I doubt your flathead will break it.

[FortyNiner]

Originally Posted by FordCustom

Wow! This truck is going to look NICE this color. I normally don't like blue all that much on vehicles except Bimini blue, but this shade is very nice!

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/at...1&d=1266723321

It is a handsome color. I'm sure whatever color you chose will be a winner.

[FordCustom]

Supposedly that's Sheridan Blue?

[pineapple]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

You may be able to re-gear the stock rear axle. I have heard conflicting reports on using new Dana 44 parts in the Dana 41 axle. It is something worth looking into though.

This can be done, I built my rear axle (1951 f1) with an auburn posi unit for dana 44 and a used 3:54 ring and pinion from an 80's or 90's jeep cherokee or wagoneer (cant remember). turned down my original bearing to use as "setup bearings" and bought a timken rebuild kit for dana 44 on epay. The tricky part of this rebuild is that the axle side gears for the f1 are 19 spline, the later model dana 44 stuff is 31 spline. you can get carriers from early jeeps that are 19 spline but they usually will only accept ring and pinion sets up to 4:11 or 3:93 from what I can remember. I got lucky, as the auburn posi unit was built for 3:73-3:23 or some to tall for drag racing ratio, so it was on super sale. I'm running a mustang v6 t5 with this setup and a flathead, problem is I never use 5th gear, only on I-80 going to bonneville. The best part of the stock axle is the bolt circle, 5 on 5.5, you keep that and can run stock 16" wheels and all manner of early ford hubcaps. Glad your'e saving another one!!!

Matt.

[FordCustom]

And more inspiration for me. I don't like the red wheels or stake bed rails, but otherwise, very much what I want to paint it now.

http://www.finecars.cc/typo3temp/GB/d5124359f3.jpg

[IVT1]

Looks like you're off to a good start, enjoy ITV1

[FordCustom]

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Thanks.. Much appreciated.

No longer concerned with this...

[Ross F-1]

We'll agree to disagree. By your own emails, you were shopping other sellers for a better price. Not a done deal from my end if you are looking to shave a few bucks off.

[FordCustom]

.........

[36tbird]

kWow, a jr. member attacking a sr. member who has contributed quite a bit to this forum for a long time. Not such a great start.

[FordCustom]

........

[FordCustom]

Not worth talking about anymore.

[FordCustom]

Well, if anyone still cares to speak to me, I found the VIN on the right frame rail... all that's legible is RC401413... There is an upside down RC, like they were going to stamp it one direction, and changed their mind possibly? It was a little close to the motor mount rivet area.

[FordCustom]

Went to the swap meet today... Full set of Bob Drake flathead valves and guides for $80. I also got a small chromed air cleaner for ten bucks. I also got a bicycle I could resell and make back the money I spent. It was a good day. The weather was PERFECT too!

[FordCustom]

Yep, need a radiator support, and some crossmember repair. I believe I have this gauge. If not it's very close!

The 8BA, now with a little more elbow room.



Yep, rad. support is officially toast.



Crossmember isn't much better. I think I can fix it though.

[FordCustom]

Found a radiator support, and the bolt/spring kit. Thanks to all those who offered one....