Thread: WOW, Where to start? 52 Ford Pickup

Tweet

Originally Posted by Bumps52Ford

I got a 52 Ford pickup and am about to embark on a full body off restoration in hopes of it turning into a high HP, complete custom pickup. Should I start by taking it all down and get the frame all redone and then get going on suspension and drivetrain? Where do most start?
Thanks for your time Guys!

Joshua, like I said in the welcoming post and like others are telling you here you've got tons of planning and decision making to do before you start major disassembly. Specific to your question, once you have decided on your cruise ride height, suspension and power train you will be ready to start working the chassis, cutting off all the OEM brackets that you don't need, fabricating suspension brackets, motor mounts, etc, etc to get it rolling, then to get the power train all in place. You're probably going to get the truck fully assembled, or very nearly so, before you blow it all apart to paint the chassis, then tackle the final body work, then wire it, then interior. From the very start you need to be thinking about wiring and plumbing - where are the wires going to run for each compenent, and how much time and money do you want to invest hiding them, like conduits inside the frame rails, or even running your fuel lines inside the frame?? Lots of details, but if you review build threads here, go to shows and talk to people about how they did things, why, and what they would do different you'll be getting a head start on the build. Sorry if this is not the kind of info you want from your opening questions.

Originally Posted by rspears

Joshua, like I said in the welcoming post and like others are telling you here you've got tons of planning and decision making to do before you start major disassembly. Specific to your question, once you have decided on your cruise ride height, suspension and power train you will be ready to start working the chassis, cutting off all the OEM brackets that you don't need, fabricating suspension brackets, motor mounts, etc, etc to get it rolling, then to get the power train all in place. You're probably going to get the truck fully assembled, or very nearly so, before you blow it all apart to paint the chassis, then tackle the final body work, then wire it, then interior. From the very start you need to be thinking about wiring and plumbing - where are the wires going to run for each compenent, and how much time and money do you want to invest hiding them, like conduits inside the frame rails, or even running your fuel lines inside the frame?? Lots of details, but if you review build threads here, go to shows and talk to people about how they did things, why, and what they would do different you'll be getting a head start on the build. Sorry if this is not the kind of info you want from your opening questions.

Roger,
I am very thankful for any and all information given on any scale. I am still trying to get all my information together on vision for the truck before I start the disassemble.

Originally Posted by Bumps52Ford

Roger,
I am very thankful for any and all information given on any scale. I am still trying to get all my information together on vision for the truck before I start the disassemble.

I saw a later F100 last summer, like a '59 or '60 that had a dressed out Ford 4.6 modular in it - they look massive out of the confines of a Mustang. If you have the room (width) a wrecked late model Mustang would give you engine, tranny, computers and harness, plus it's Ford in Ford Just a thought....