OT New project OT (54 Furd P/U)

[Dennis Hemingway]

Went to see a friend of ours today and this followed me home, it's a 1954 Furd F100 P/U. I could not pass up the deal.

It has been setting in their yard for about 17 years. (Ran when parked)

It has a Unknown size Mercury V-8, and unknown auto trans, 15 inch rear and 16 inch front rims, and it looks like the rear end has been changed. The first thing that will go is the camper shell, then I'll put on some tires that will hold air.

Dennis:D

http://s12.photobucket.com/albums/a227/barstowoldfarts/54%20Ford%20F100/

[JerseyHarold]

You left-coasters have all the luck. If that truck were sitting in this part of the country, it would be a pile of rust by now.

[greg g]

Ya know as Fugly as that camper cap is, it is kinda unique in a Canastoga, Donner pass kinda way. Might hafta have it for my Studebaker, suppose you can ship it Greyhound??????

[Dennis Hemingway]

Sure Greg, They can strap it to the top of the bus. The only problem is that it weighs a ton, All Steel.

Dennis:eek:

[Heavy Flat Head]

I am glad that I am not the only one that has older steel follow him home. If I can just convice my wife of this fact I would be a step closer to heaven. The only problem that I see with this is it is a

F

___________O

_______________________R

___________________________________D!

All kidding aside great find:cool:

I have look high,

I have look low.

Pictures, were are the pictures?

Did I mention I am blind!

[Dennis Hemingway]

Heavy Flat Head, I'm lucky, my wife loves the old cars as much as I do. She was the one who told me to buy the truck and she even wrote the check for it. She also had my 30' X 50' garage built so I have someplace to go now that I'm retired.

Dennis:D

[Dennis_MN]

Dennis

Keep the camper and tour the country with this group

http://www.tincantourists.com/

Dennis

[Norm's Coupe]

Dennis,

That model Ford Pickups can really make nice rods. I agree, the camper has to go. Ruins the whole truck. As for the Merc Flat head, they have a larger crank than the Ford flatheads. That was the reason my brother in law built a new motor for his 36 Ford, so he could use the larger Merc crank he picked up.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Dennis_MN, I don't think thats for me, My wife likes a clean bed and room service.

Norm's Coupe,The Mercury engine is an overhead V-8.

Dennis:D

[Norm's Coupe]

Hmmm, I didn't think Ford and Merc's had overhead valves in 54. Sorry. Thought the switch came in 55. Just did a double check of the book. Was one year off, the switch came in 54. That was the first year out for the overhead valves. At least on the cars. I don't have a book that covers trucks.

[wldavis3]

The air cleaner housing looks "GM" to me. I kinda like the camper.

I say keep it and use it.

[Norm's Coupe]

Dennis_MN, I don't think thats for me, My wife likes a clean bed and room service.

Dennis:D

:D That's what my wife and I always say. When we go for a weekend or vacation, we don't want to worry about making beds, cleaning the bathroom, cooking, washing dishes and general housework. We can stay at home and do that any day we want. Have the same feelings towards eating out cafeteria style. We serve ourself at home, when we go out we want someone to bring our food to our table, that's one reason for going out to eat to begin with.

[Brendan D25]

Norm, you weren't completely wrong on the Ford changeover from flatheads to ohv. The big changeover didn't happen in Canada until 1955 model year.

[62rebelP23]

gonna show my "true colors" here and identify that engine and possibly the trans if from the same car; the engine (if all the parts came from the SAME car) is from a 1960-64 fullsize Mercury more than likely a 390 and not the less common 410. Mercury didn't use the 352 and the only other big block was the 430 which didn't look like this. IF the trans came from the same car it's a cruisomatic. the giveaway on the year range is the coolant surge tank, used on FE engined cars from 1960-64. that air cleaner isn't right for the truck OR the car, indeed it does look GM-ish but could be Chryco or AMC.

beware the frame being cut up at the front to accomodate the FE; there are replacement parts available from LMC for almost the whole truck. Dennis Carpenter has a lot of repro stuff for them too.

nonetheless, you are fortunate to acquire even one as tattered as this. over here in the salty sea air they don't last....

[62rebelP23]

quick update; more of a suggestion really; locate the correct wheel size and get them matching, clean out and fix the cab, hood, remount the grille, do a complete mechanical freshening and have the existing paint sealed and clearcoated AS IS. you'd have the ultimate cheapa$$ old gopher truck in the USA! talk about PATINA..... this effie has it in spades!

[Guest restoringmy49]

Nice looking 54,If it was mine I would put a 56 grille in it. The 54 grille just don't look right. In trucks 1952 was the first ohv 6 cyl it replaced the 226 flathead 6. 1953 was the last year for the 239 flathead v8. It was replaced by the 239 ohv V8. I belive in 53 you could get either V8 (I'll have to check)

[Normspeed]

I'm with Rebel, keep the patina and put it back together for a great parts runner.

[BobT-47P15]

Dennis, looks as if it has the official Ford racing steering wheel, too.

I'd say this truck is at the point you oughta do whatever you want with it,

be it stock or a bit customized. Whatever you do, just have fun with it.

[Norm's Coupe]

Actually, I don't think it would take all that much work to make that truck into a nice looking ride. The grill is in the truck bed. Body doesn't look all that bad (except that camper topper, it's gotta go), and the interior is not beyond repair either. Who knows, may even be able to get the engine running too without too much trouble. For $2,000 to $3,000 you could have a nice looking truck, then whatever needs to be done to the engine. Could make it look sharp and get it running for probably under $5,000.

BobT, it's about like your 54 Savoy you just picked up. That one should be an easy fix too. I wouldn't part that out, I'd keep it and fix it up.

[Dennis Hemingway]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I plan on getting it running and then driving it while I do the body work, then a flat black home paint job. But first things first tires and brakes.

62rebelP23Thank you for the info on the engine, It gives me a place to start looking.

Dennis:cool:

[Reg Evans]

That camper is a collectors item. Don't junk it.....put it on eBay.

[Young Ed]

Ya I kinda like it. Maybe doesn't fit the look you are going for on your Ford but I bet someone would take it. Reg probably has an extra truck or 2 laying about that could use a topper

[Reg Evans]

I do...and it would give me some more dry storage for parts.

[Dennis Hemingway]

That camper is coming off as soon as possible. I will keep it stored in my yard. It is made of steel and weighs a ton, 2 guys cannot lift it. Maybe I'll be able to put it on a trailer and deliver it up to the Gold Country or not.

Dennis:D

[Reg Evans]

Hey....one new project isn't really enough. Maybe you'd like to take this one on too.

You could come and get it and drop the camper off. $1000 outright or $700 + the camper. Just an idea. I'm getting ready to list it on the Bay.