Two '53 F-100's

[dave boley]

Hi Folks,
New guy here... I just recently found this site and I have been asking afew questions and lurking a bit. I saw this forum and I thought I might as well ad a little website I started for my projects. CLICK HERE to see what I am starting. So far I have a pretty good idea about what I want to do. A lot of this is mechanical plans but I also have some serious body work to do and I am sure I'll be on here more as I get into it.

I have been thinking of a radical plan for one of the F-100's. I am doing some measuring and considering the possibility of grafting the rear section of an Aerostar on to the cab and making a psuedo panel truck of sorts. Of course a lot of modification would have to be done. I really wanted a panel to go with my pick-up but finding one I can afford has been fruitless so far. Even the worst case rust buckets are 2K or more. That's just not in my range for a lump sum expendature.

All comments, questions and criticism is welcome.

Later Folks...

[Serge]

That bridgport is a cherry....They are few and expensive up north...That's my next big expense...a Milling and a Lathe...

[dave boley]

That bridgport is a cherry....They are few and expensive up north...That's my next big expense...a Milling and a Lathe...

Thanks Serge,
Yeah the Bridgeport was quite a project. I bought it from an industrial surplus place in Cleveland and hauled it the 180 miles home in the back of my F-350 dually. I got it for $1,400.00 and put about $2,500.00 into it including the Acurite DRO. Since then I added a "Y" axis power drive and some more tooling plus a rotary table. I'm probably up to $4,500.00 on it now but I could easily sell it for 6K or more. The old SB lathe is still a work in progress. I got a really nice 12" three jaw scroll chuck for it be I had to make an adapter to mount it. The other smaller Sebastian lathe looks nasty but it works pretty good. The two Lincoln welders have been my biggest investment money wise so far.

Later Man...

[Restoguy]

Fifty Three was a particularly unique year. It was the only year with the flathead. In 54, they had the Y block.

For what you want to do, and for the effort you are contemplating, I wonder if you would be better off getting new aftermarket parts rather than incurring the time, expense and effort of salvaging the original parts. I think you can get all of the front end sheet metal brand new for about $1500.

It is too bad you are so far away. I have a yard full of 56's, including a 56 Van that is not rusty. I would make you a deal on your 53's.

I hope you realize that any budget of time or money that you establish will seem like it came from Fantasy Land in a few years.

Good luck with your project.

[dave boley]

Hi Restoguy,
From the viewpoint of a restorer your point makes sense. However that's just not what I want to do. These trucks are not restorer grade to start with. If they were I would probably re-sell them to someone who is into the restoring thing simply because I wouldn't feel right doing what I am if they were that good. What I'm into is creating a toy that is uniquely me.

As for the repops, I'm not interested in supporting the Asains, that's a job for Wal-Mart. I realize that I can go to Dennis Carpenter and pay through the nose for the good stuff. However, by taking my time and staying in the network I have managed to collect the body parts I need at a mere fraction of the cost. I do this by starting to collect for a project years before I start.

Anything I'm going to build for myself is going to be driven on todays roads in today's traffic. In their original configuration these old trucks don't stand a chance out there. Their only practical use is parades and car shows. Second, I like the modern comforts and convenieces. I'm almost 64 now and I am old enough to have driven these trucks in their time so all the crap about how great they are to ride in doesn't wash with me. I suppose to young people who fix them up they are a novelty. For me it's a case of, been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

As for your comment on estimates of project cost, I don't make them for just the reason you stated. More often than not I am inclined to halt a project while waiting for the right deal to come along. I'm not on any schedule so it doesn't matter. Besides that I always have four or five things going on so I can switch around. I'm retired. If I start expecting to get things done on a schedule I might as well go back to work.

I'm not sure how long your reply has been posted as I don't get notification by e-mail and I don't look here very often. So, please accept my aplogy if you reply has been up for a while.

You mentioned location... Where are you located? I transport custom and classic cars during the good weather season. Who knows, I might be going by you sometime.

Later Man...

[dave boley]

Hi again Restoguy,
I spoke too soon... After the last reply the notice of your reply showed up on my e-mail. I guess you must have just posted it right before I happened to look. Apparently the e-mail notice feature is working.

Since you are into these old trucks, are you a member of the FTE forums?

Later Man...

[ymurf]

Hi Folks,
New guy here... I just recently found this site and I have been asking afew questions and lurking a bit. I saw this forum and I thought I might as well ad a little website I started for my projects. CLICK HERE to see what I am starting. So far I have a pretty good idea about what I want to do. A lot of this is mechanical plans but I also have some serious body work to do and I am sure I'll be on here more as I get into it.

I have been thinking of a radical plan for one of the F-100's. I am doing some measuring and considering the possibility of grafting the rear section of an Aerostar on to the cab and making a psuedo panel truck of sorts. Of course a lot of modification would have to be done. I really wanted a panel to go with my pick-up but finding one I can afford has been fruitless so far. Even the worst case rust buckets are 2K or more. That's just not in my range for a lump sum expendature.

All comments, questions and criticism is welcome.

Later Folks...

Nice shop.Great to have tools to make what you need. I work in a large machine shop.I have use of mills lathes and we have 4 water jets and my main job is the brake press planner programer and operator.

[Restoguy]

Actually, I have not dropped by here in a real long time. Just happened to catch your posts, and I am a fan of the 53-56 having spent many of my younger years in one. In those days, there was no money for anything, and when the automatic transmission went out on my 55, it was easier and cheaper for me to swap in an Oldsmobile motor and hydromatic than fix the fordomatic. It was as close to a bolt in as you will ever see. Had to know about the shift pattern, or you would end up going backwards instead of forward. Dad blew up the olds motor, and the truck was gone soon after that. Wife and kids you know. Needed something reliable that someone else could drive.

I can appreciate that these old cars and trucks are useful for little more than art. It is still sad to see them go.

I am retired now, but do not have a minute to breathe. Hopefully I will get to the fleet one of these days.

Oh yeah, I am a little outside of Boston.

[another2centsworth]

Hi Folks,
New guy here... I just recently found this site and I have been asking afew questions and lurking a bit. I saw this forum and I thought I might as well ad a little website I started for my projects. CLICK HERE to see what I am starting. So far I have a pretty good idea about what I want to do. A lot of this is mechanical plans but I also have some serious body work to do and I am sure I'll be on here more as I get into it.

I have been thinking of a radical plan for one of the F-100's. I am doing some measuring and considering the possibility of grafting the rear section of an Aerostar on to the cab and making a psuedo panel truck of sorts. Of course a lot of modification would have to be done. I really wanted a panel to go with my pick-up but finding one I can afford has been fruitless so far. Even the worst case rust buckets are 2K or more. That's just not in my range for a lump sum expendature.

All comments, questions and criticism is welcome.

Later Folks...

Hey man I think there's one of those in a field down the road from my house w/a tarp cover.

Happy posting!!:cool:

Later, Tim

[dave boley]

Actually, I have not dropped by here in a real long time. Just happened to catch your posts, and I am a fan of the 53-56 having spent many of my younger years in one. In those days, there was no money for anything, and when the automatic transmission went out on my 55, it was easier and cheaper for me to swap in an Oldsmobile motor and hydromatic than fix the fordomatic. It was as close to a bolt in as you will ever see. Had to know about the shift pattern, or you would end up going backwards instead of forward. Dad blew up the olds motor, and the truck was gone soon after that. Wife and kids you know. Needed something reliable that someone else could drive.

I can appreciate that these old cars and trucks are useful for little more than art. It is still sad to see them go.

I am retired now, but do not have a minute to breathe. Hopefully I will get to the fleet one of these days.

Oh yeah, I am a little outside of Boston.

Good to hear from you... Yep, Boston is a bit of a stretch but not out of the question for my travels. I hauled a small plane to Phoenix last year which is considerably over twice the distance from here to Boston. It usually depends on what I line up to haul. A lot of times I try to get a run going someplace where someone has a good deal on a vehicle or parts. It's pretty tough trying to line up a trip back with something so I usually have to charge enough to cover dead head expenses. I also only run in nice weather. trying to make a few buck in the Winter is not worth the risk. The last thing I want to see is that big trailer going by me backwards that looks a lot like mine.

If you arent already a member take a look at the FTE and their '48 - '60 Forum. I have the same user name over there.
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum41/


Later Man...

[dave boley]

Nice shop.Great to have tools to make what you need. I work in a large machine shop.I have use of mills lathes and we have 4 water jets and my main job is the brake press planner programer and operator.

Thanks for the nice comments... Water Jets !!! Now you are making me drool. Hey, I just got a plasma cutter last Summer. My mill is pretty cool but my lathes aren't the best. the stuff does what I want though and my friend and neighboe has a really nice LeBlonde lathe with a big swing that will do about anything I can't do here. We kind of trade off as I have some pretty nice Lincoln welding machines. We have no CNC stuff though. The closest we come to high tech is the Acurite DRO on the Bridgeport.

Thanks for the welcome and the conversation.

Later Man...

[dave boley]

Hey man I think there's one of those in a field down the road from my house w/a tarp cover.

Happy posting!!:cool:

Later, Tim

Yeah, there seems to quite a few down in that area. One of mine came from the Atlanta area.

Later Man...