'56 Ford F100 build

[gearhead65]

My dad recently gave me his '56 Ford F100. I'm so excited to start on it. Unfortunately, it is about 250 miles away so work on it will progress very slowly. I plan to get it running and replace as little parts as possible. Because of the sentimental value of it, I'll be hesitant to replace anything other than what I need to drive it or make it safe. Here are the pictures I took of it last weekend:

Someone was snooping under the hood:








272 V8. It was running when it was parked....20+ years ago



Amazingly, all rust you see is only surface rust. I didn't see any panels that were rusted through. Seems very solid, plus the glass is still intact.

[cffisher]

That would be cool to just clean it up and drive it

[gearhead65]

That's exactly what I'm going to do! By talking to my dad, I know it needs axle bearings for sure, possibly a clutch, a battery, belts, hoses and the rest of the regular stuff that needs replacing since it's been sitting there so long. I'm pretty sure it would fire right up with a little bit of gas in the carb and a battery. But, the first step is to remove the spark plugs and squirt oil in the cylinders. I'll be like a kid in the candy store when I hear it start for the first time in 20+ years!

Oh yeah, and that seat has to go. I need to look into how much an upholstery shop is going to charge...

I need a bigger paycheck. LOL!!!

By the way, this is just the latest of my many projects. I also have a '75 GMC Sierra Grande, '72 Chevelle, '71 Vega, and a '65 Chevelle. So, I have a lot to keep me very busy for a very long time...

[lamin8r]

Nice lookin old truck..Thats the best place to get them from..Dry climate like that..My 1960 F100 came out of NorthHills Ca.,with a little rust in the usual places....Front cab mounts,bottom of doors,,but very little..easy to patch..Enjoy it..I would be using it like it is,too..

[Bob Parmenter]

There's plenty there to work with, and worse have been brought back to nice. Looking at those lower cab corners you probably have a little more rust than expected, but not the end of the world. These F100s are strongly supported, so you might look at a reproduction upholstery kit specific to this rig, they're relatively easy to install and would go with the "preservationist" theme.

Like you, I get a kick out of some of the descriptions folks will use, especially in for sale ads. "Ran great when parked" is almost a standing joke. Might as well say something like......."Looked terrific when it was new!". Enjoy the ride.

[roadster32]

I really miss my 56 F100, should never have sold it, Mine had been in england for quite a few years so was rotted out and dented all over, It was a lot of work to get right but worth it.
Heres a pic to keep you enthiused

[johnboy]

The poms have a nasty habit of salting their roads in the winter to de-ice them.
It doesn't do steel much good though!

.

[gearhead65]

I really miss my 56 F100, should never have sold it, Mine had been in england for quite a few years so was rotted out and dented all over, It was a lot of work to get right but worth it.
Heres a pic to keep you enthiused

Very nice! I was thinking of putting whitewalls on mine...

[gearhead65]

So, I've decided that instead of buying nice wheels I am going to paint the ones I have on there and just order new shiny trim rings. One of the rear wheels still has a trim ring on it, LOL! I wish all of them were there, I'd just polish 'em up. So, the question is, what color should I paint the wheels? I'm thinking either black or red with the polished stainless trim rings. Eventually I'd like to add the original style hubcaps as well. I'd have to order new ones of those too though.

[bluestang67]

Shoot it just in a satin clear coat and preserve it the way it is . You can also use CLR with a scotch brite pad to knock off the sun burned rust , a lot of time the color may still be under it just try a patch , then satin clear coat it .

I have seen this done on a few cars and it amazed me .

m

[randyr]

So, I've decided that instead of buying nice wheels I am going to paint the ones I have on there and just order new shiny trim rings. One of the rear wheels still has a trim ring on it, LOL! I wish all of them were there, I'd just polish 'em up. So, the question is, what color should I paint the wheels? I'm thinking either black or red with the polished stainless trim rings. Eventually I'd like to add the original style hubcaps as well. I'd have to order new ones of those too though.

I think I'd go with dark red on the wheels. You can get the trim rings & reproduction hubcaps from Bob Drake 1956 Hubcaps & Beauty Rings Looks like he has them on sale right now.

[bluestang67]

Randy good thought some deep red enamel wheels with trim would look great on it .

m

[randyr]

Would look sorta like this....


or this one has a patina on the truck....and I think this darker red would look better on your truck....

[bluestang67]

You have one of my most favorite trucks ever built buy Ford , Randy is right the darker red with the patina would look really good .

[gearhead65]

We got power! Hooked a battery up, headlights turn on, engine cranks over!