I Must Confess

[Joe Flanagan]

After 23 years, I sold my Toyota pickup truck. It was beginning to rust to the point where it was becoming another project. It was very hard to let it go but my wife and I have resolved (kind of) to try and get by with one car. The truck was very handy for yard work, house work, etc. Of course my first thought was to replace it with an antique truck and my confession is that I can't stop looking at 48-52 Ford pickups. I just love the way they look. I really like the Dodge pickups too but it doesn't seem like there are a whole lot of them out there. But I am crazy about the Fords.

I broached the idea with my wife, who is very practical, and we all know what that means. She mentioned something the other day about maybe having to replace the old Toyota at some point. So of course that got me looking at classic pickups. I don't need or want another project. I've got too much on my hands right now. I'd be looking for something that's ready to go, of course you have to pay to play. I could settle for something that runs and is useable that can wait for a restoration. But first my wife has to come around to the fact that we really, really need a truck.

Anyway, please let me know if you hear about anything. No harm in looking, as they say.

[Don Coatney]

Joe;

Lots of used wives out there. Be very careful as they do not all run the same.

[Joe Flanagan]

Ha ha. And an undercarriage inspection won't tell you everything you need to know about the internal workings. When I told her what I was thinking about, she said, "So, you want to get a truck that is even older than the one you're selling?"

Answer: Yes.

[oldodge41]

Joe, I understand your reasoning completely. I have a practical wife as well. For some strange reason she thinks 2 antiques, a pickup truck, street bike and two daily driver cars are enough for the two of us. Ok, I understand her thinking, but, when my daughter is home from college we increase the amount of drivers in the house by 50%. That is at least 2.5 more cars in my opinion. Shhh, here she comes...........

[oldmopar]

Joe

I have more then my share of old trucks a 48 B1D 1 ton dump truck ( 4 sale in the forum classifieds) a 1976 Dodge d100 also have a 59 w200 and a 69 w300 finally a 2000 s10. The old trucks like the pilot-house or the fords you are looking at are fun to own but not the best for daily drivers. I think you would find a 70's truck to be more useful ,old enough to be fun to drive and easy to work on (no computer). They travel well at highway speeds and around town and something you will not worry about if you park it in the home depot parking lot. As a example my 76 dodge d100 has a 8' bed ,318 with a auto trans ,disc brakes and power steering. I have used it to load lumber, sell scrap and tow a few old Plymouths home. It does not have to be a dodge in fact like the old vehicles the parts are still more available for the fords or chevy/gmc.

Ed

[Young Ed]

Joe if only you were closer I'd hook you up with a sweet deal on a 66 dodge 1/2 ton with a /6 and a 3spd.

[Rodney Bullock]

Wow, Joe you should be a use car sales man. That did not take no time. I would drive the Chevy over there but I don't want to get you in trouble:) I mean I hide my projects down my Grandfathers until the project is so far along that The wife using her spidy sense figures out that I have a new project. All the books and catalogs that show up she puts 2 and 2 together and it coms up project. I don'r dare get another project now so i know how you feel.I have my eye on a model A 1930-31 but My dear wife has told me in advance if she sees something resembling that I better learn to run:eek: So much for the traditional hot rod I wanted:cool: Gee I can't have nothing I want:confused:

[JIPJOBXX]

Joe whatever you do, DO NOT BUY A 1987 DODGE DAKOTA FOUR CYL!!!! I HAVE ONE AND ITS A PIECE OF DOG POOP!!!!!! NO POWER TO SPEAK OF WITH THIS FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE.

[JIPJOBXX]

Joe out here if you have any type of rig that is older than 30 years than you can get classic plates and then you never haft to buy plates again! Of course there are restriction on that? But most of the time when I use my Dodge or my Wanderlodge (It also have classic plates I'm going to an auto show or a get together of other car nuts!!!

[Flatie46]

It seems hard to find a truck from the 40's or 50's that's in good enough shape to drive as is and a possible canadate to make a nice one from one day but still be reasonably priced. They're either really nice and you wouldn't think of hauling stuff in it or they're in need of time and money before they'd be up to the task. I do know where there's a sweet lookin' 48 ford truck in satin black, don't know what the price is does look sharp though.

[Joe Flanagan]

That's exactly what I found. Either too rich or too poor. Is this Ford truck for sale?

[Flatie46]

That's exactly what I found. Either too rich or too poor. Is this Ford truck for sale?

Yea, It's for sale. I don't know what engine it has. Looks pretty strait from the road, been lowered just a bit. I could stop and get a pic and some info if you want.

[greg g]

hey Joe, I can store this for a while I have a barn in the same town.

http://syracuse.craigslist.org/cto/2580504762.html

[Joe Flanagan]

Ah, Greg. The plot sickens. Thanks very much for that. I'm looking at some other things but will keep that in the mix. Would a truck like that be able to cruise at highway speeds with the original transmission and rear end?

And thanks, Flattie46, for the offer. I wouldn't mind seeing pictures.

[greg g]

it would have a flat 6 green diamond motor or if later an OHV 6. Both are very stout engines. I believe IH used Dana rearends so the gear set should be interchangable.

Usually IH's tended to be work trucks and probably had either a granny gear low and or a pretty numerically high rear end. 4.54 or 4.11 re;ated to hauling loads.

Either of those should give you 50/55 without to much trouble but neither would be considered a cruising set up.

But they are well built, not seen often, and that one looks suprisingly solid for stuff that spent it live around here.

info here maybe

http://oldihc.org/

[1940plymouth]

There is a '51 Ford Pickup about two miles from here for sale. California truck with a small block Chevy engine in it. It is in primer, but the body is in good shape. I have no idea what it has for a drive train other than like I mentioned a small block Chevy engine.

Edited September 10, 2011 by '40Plymouth

[Flatie46]

Joe, went by to check on the truck and it was gone. I knocked, nobody was home. On the way back it hit me, they're having The Shades of the Past rod run in Pigeon Forge. That's not that far from here and if I had one I wanted to sell that's where I'd take it. Bet that's where it's at. You know, you could take the wife on a little trip to Pigeon Forge.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thank you both, and thanks for the pictures, 40 Plymouth.

[PhilJohnson]

Joe

The old trucks like the pilot-house or the fords you are looking at are fun to own but not the best for daily drivers. I think you would find a 70's truck to be more useful ,old enough to be fun to drive and easy to work on (no computer). They travel well at highway speeds and around town and something you will not worry about if you park it in the home depot parking lot.

My vote is for 65-66 Ford F series. It has styling that could have came from the late 50s yet has Twin I-beam suspension, gearing good enough for highway speeds, and parts are readily available. Get one with a 300 six and a 4 speed manual and you have a pretty much bullet proof combo. Plus I see them for sale for cheap all the time on Craigslist.

This was my only working vehicle for over a year, a 65 F100 with a 240 six and 3 speed manual. I drove it 20 miles one way to work 5 days a week, it started when it was over 20 below out side, hauled many loads of scrap with it too. I replaced the brake shoes and front wheel cylinders, one brake line, and a rag joint in the steering in the last 20,000 miles. I bought a disposable beater for this winter while I attend to a few minor issues here and there that didn't get done because I had to drive it every day. I only paid $650 for my truck, pretty cheap transportation I'd say.

[yourpc48]

This was my only working vehicle for over a year, a 65 F100 with a 240 six and 3 speed manual. I drove it 20 miles one way to work 5 days a week, it started when it was over 20 below out side, hauled many loads of scrap with it too. I replaced the brake shoes and front wheel cylinders, one brake line, and a rag joint in the steering in the last 20,000 miles. I bought a disposable beater for this winter while I attend to a few minor issues here and there that didn't get done because I had to drive it every day. I only paid $650 for my truck, pretty cheap transportation I'd say.

I see you used the cardboard over the heater trick to warm it up a little in the cold temps... I have used that before as well.

Like the camo paint. Did you do that?

[Joe Flanagan]

Phil,

Yes, I like those too. I was looking at a 66 Dodge D-100 that looked alot like that.