Picked up a "new" project...

[astroracer]

Don't ask me why... I guess because it was a good deal. I just bought a 1948 F-1 Ford Pickup. It's all apart and the chassis is started with a TCI MII front and rear leaf spring suspensions. The guy who started it is a friend and he just bought a new Mustang GT and decided he didn't need the truck project.
I am planning to get it running with a small block and 700R4. It comes with an S10 rearend also.
I really don't know where I'll find the time to work on this thing but it is a lot less involved then the van and, once I get the frame cleaned and painted, it will basically be a bolt together project...
I do need some front fenders so if any of you know where a decent pair is to be found give me a holler...
Mark

[zbugger]

Sounds nice. I bet you couldn't find the time to take a picture, huh? I'd really love an older, say 30's pickup to hotrod out. It'd make a fun cruiser. Oh, and you've got the time like I've got the money.

[astroracer]

I'll get photos. I haven't hauled it home yet. Probably won't for a couple of weeks. We have to bolt the stock rear suspension back in so we can move it and he has pieces parts stored all over in his house.
I'll be dropping some tubs off so he can start packing them. Once I get the chassis home I can have it rolling around in a couple of days.
Mark

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Keep us posted on your progress, Mark. And post some pics!

[astroracer]

Keep us posted on your progress, Mark. And post some pics!

I'll do that Ralph.
The motor and trans was dropped off at my shop last nite. The 350 runs good but uses a little oil and the 700R4 is out of an Astro Van.
I paid $500 for both and that included pulling it out of the van and delivery. The motor has a nice aluminum intake and a newer carb which is worth almost what I paid for the whole sebang. I'll pull the numbers off the motor tonite to see exactly what I got. And I might take some pics too...
Mark

[gearheads78]

And we get mad at our wife because she had to have the shoes that were on sale. :D

[astroracer]

And we get mad at our wife because she had to have the shoes that were on sale. :D

I am a very lucky guy to have the wife I do... She is no glamour queen or shoe horse and she is very understanding of my hobby/addiction/sickness... She gets a bigger bang out of buying stuff on clearance then she ever would paying full price for something... We went out to dinner last night and she looked very nice. She was wearing a brand new jean style jacket that cost her less then $5 and she was proud of it, and rightly so, the original retail price was over $70 bucks.
I don't complain when she brings "stuff" home, no need to, and she says my hobby keeps me off the streets and out of the bars so she doesn't complain either. Besides, I got a killer deal on this truck and I could easily flip it for twice what I paid...
Mark

[astroracer]

I am pulling stuff together for this truck. I have an email out to Theresa @AAW about their harness kits. Does anyone have some experience they can share about their kits? I have looked at theirs and The Wire Works stuff and the AAW kits are much more complete. Coming with all of the hardware and adapters for a few bucks more looks like a good deal.
I will also have to pick up a Ranger or Exploder rearend. The front bolt pattern is the smaller Ford style, 5 on 4 1/2, rather then the 4 3/4 the original owner thought. No big deal, I'll talk to my buddy about that today.
I'll be heading over to prep the chassis for moving. We have to temporarily bolt the stock rear back in and strap the front to a pallet with casters so we can haul it onto my buddies roll-back.
I'll get some pics tomorrow. There isn't much to look at though as it is just the cab on the frame right now...

[GBodyGMachine]

I might have a set of fenders. You know they are VERY expensive in good condition right? If you want me to look into it I will.

[astroracer]

Look into it! PM sent...
Mark

[astroracer]

I got some pics after getting the ford home Tuesday nite and I know ALL of you guys are chomping at the bit to see these...
The only thing attached to the frame is the cab and the upper control arms... We strapped a pallet (with casters) to the front frame so we could pull it up onto the roll back to get it home.
we stuck the stock rear suspension back on with one bolt in each hanger so we could move it.
The TCI front suspension and rear leafs should make this dude ride like a car...
I ordered an Eastwood chassis black paint kit this morning and will start getting the frame ready by removing the cab and running board brackets.
I need to get the motor and trans mounts mocked up but that's pretty straight forward and won't take long to do.




Thanks for looking
Mark

[astroracer]

Just a bit of an update. Haven't gotten a lot done on the truck other then stripping down the donor truck and getting the underside of the floors cleaned up, rust converted and painted.
I used the Eastwood two part Rust Converter and was impressed with the ease of use and the job it did on what surface rust was left after I power wire brushed the floors.
This first photo was taken after I had done the upper half with the wire brush. I used a knotted wire cup srtyle brush mounted on one of my angle grinders. Wicked...

After coating the top half...

With all of the floor done, I waited about an hour and then sprayed the floor with some cheap red enamel I found at Big Lots... Yea, I know it's not show quality but it will do the job to protect the floors and is much better then what I had...

Thanks for looking.
Mark