My 54 Ford Project truck - Part 2

[Fordman75]

It's been a while since I posted anything on the progress on my 54. Work has completely stopped due to the weather ( around 12" of snow on the ground and temps under 20 degrees ) . I thought I'd start a new post on the 54 since the first one was getting a bit long . The first one is here: http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=16505

And since I stopped working on it I've been doing a lot of thinking about it. And due to some issues my plans have complete changed.

My daily driver/work/tow vehicle( 1987 light duty F250, 302/4spd ) is getting pretty tired and the number of problems with it are growing almost daily. It's got just under 260,000 miles on it with all the original drivetrain.

The truck I bought to use for a dedicated tow vehicle( 86 F250 supercab 460/4spd ) has a bunch of issues. It will need to be fixed before it can be used as a tow vehicle.

And I'm so far away from getting the 54 on the road it's not funny.

And like always I don't have enough cash to finish/fix them all. Add to that I'm limited on the # of vehicles I can have where I live ( And I'm currently over my limit ).

So here's my new plan. I've decided to build my 54 into my tow/work vehicle. By doing this I will get it on the road faster, I'll be able to drive it year round instead of just in the summer. And I'll get down to just one vehicle( which will allow me to get another Panther even sooner! ). I'm going to sell my 86 and use the $$ to finish the 54.

I'm going to mount the 54 cab and front clip on a mid to late 70's F250 4x4 chassis( with a 300/4spd ) . For a box I'm going to use a utility/service body. That way I can haul all my tools with me. So I'll basically have a mobile work shop.

This won't be quite as cool as a hotrod F100 but I'll get a lot more use out of it and will get to enjoy it sooner.


Now for some pictures.

After I changed my plans I found a guy that was parting out a 56 F600 grain truck. I got the front fenders( wider and larger wheel well openings ), shorty running boards and running board mounting brackets all for $50.00. They have some rust and need some repair but for the price I can live with them!









And I picked up a fiberglass utility/service body/box for $375.00.



Now I'm searching for a driveable 70's F250 4x4 with a rusty body in my area.

[gadget73]

I was all for it till I saw that utility body. I wouldn't ever put one of those things on an older truck, especially one I was fixing up for something. Understand its possibly useful or neccesary for your work, but I really don't think they look good at all. Also seems like using it for a work truck would end up putting a lot of wear and tear on the thing.

[Fordman75]

Yes the utility box isn't the best looking but it's the most functional. The stock style box doesn't look that great in a long box either and a flatbed is worthless for what I need.

I plan to paint the utility box black and maybe have some pinstriping done on the doors of the box.

[Tiggie]

The utility bed will definitly make it unique, I kinda like the idea for a daily driver.

[Fordman75]

Yes it will definately be unique. I want this truck to be simple to work on, bullet proof and realiable. I think it's going to be cool having a 54 F250 for a daily driver year round.

I'm going to have the inside of the cab(up to the dash ) sprayed with either Rhino liner or Line-X spray in bed liner. That way when I get a bunch of mud/dirt inside it I can just hose it out.

I'm converting the front clip of the body into a tilt one piece unit like a semi so it will be super simple to work on the engine.

The drivetrain is going to be a 300 inline 6 ( the toughest engine Ford built! ) with a 4V carb/intake and dual EFI exhaust manifolds, either a NP435 or T18 grany low 4spd manual transmission, A NP205 gear driven transfercase, Dana 60 rear diff and a Dana 44HD front diff ( Unless I get extremely lucky and get a dana 60 front diff ). This is about the toughest drivetrain combination that ford built.

[Mercmarquis]

Thats pretty sweet

My buddy from college is trying to buy a 49 ford pickup rat rod. Its been channeled and chopped, S10 chassis with a 302 and AOD and a 9in ford rear. Its pretty cool. I got a bunch of 5.0 4bbl parts he wants to get off me and I'll help him get it going. The hard work is done, just needs finished. He also has a v8 bug rat rod he is building, its pretty neat, but needs alot of work.

[Fordman75]

Well let's see plans changed again.

I've been doing some sketching and trying to picture the 54 with the utility box and it just plain looks like crap. But I'm going to need the utility box to set up all my tools. So I decided that I'll need a dedicated tow/work vehicle and the 54 won't be it.

My inner redneck keeps screaming that the 54 needs to be a 4x4. So I did some researching and the Ford 4x4 with the wheelbase the closest to the short box 54 F100 is the Fullsize Bronco. The 54 has a 110" wheelbase. The Fullsize Bronco has a 104" wheelbase.

So I'm going to pick up a 78/79 Bronco and mount the 54 cab and front clip on it then shorten the front of the 54's stepside box 6". It will be my year round daily driver. It will be unique and look pretty cool.

I just need to get it done so I can start on my big block 2dr Panther project!!

[Fordman75]

Well I found a rusty 78 Bronco with a 400/4spd. I'm going to go take a look at it Saturday. Hopefully I will get this one and this will be my final decision on the chassis!

[GoodSamaritan]

Oooh I like that utility bed. Not sure how it will look behind a 54 though. You need to it to me for the nice step side bed and frame I have from a 1960. IIRC the bed is correct, but the fenders might not.

[Fordman75]

I'm keeping the utility box. I'm putting it on my 86 F250. I decided since the 86 was in good shape besides the engine and trans I would just rebuild one of my 300's I've got sitting in my garage. Then swap it into the 86. I picked up a good used NP435 short tailshaft transmission yesterday for it.

The 54 is going to be a 4x4. If I wanted to keep it 2wd I'd just use the stock frame I've got for it. And I've got the stepside box that came on the 54 when I bought it. I'll just have to shorten it 6" in front of the fenders to fit the Bronco chassis..

[Fordman75]

Here's what I'm shooting for with the 54 ( except the one in the pic is a 56 ). Just a nice clean look that I can drive daily. But I'll be running different rims and the body will be some combination of Blue and black.

[Nathan in MI]

the body will be some combination of Blue and black.

That truck's gonna be a real bruiser...

[Fordman75]

That truck's gonna be a real bruiser...

Bruiser? Mr. Comedian!!

[351wcrayz]

Ummm...Why dontcha find a shitty old truck (2wd) and just cut the bed section off and mount the box to it, saving your 54 for what ever and the box would can be towed by whatever you have....IMO it would save the box, your truck and a lot of $$$, but its your truck and I am merelt giving advice, good luck on what you decide...

-Wes

[87_crown_vic]

i like the look of this truck i caught a picture of driving down the road.