Lost Cause????
 

I have been thinking lately that I wish my family had a truck to hand down from dad to son and so on. The only option I have is my granddad's truck in the following pictures.

The story I got from my dad is that it is a 49 or 50 F-1 with a flathead V8 that he pushed into the woods back in 1967. Yeah, I hate Fords too. From what I can tell the passenger door, transmission and front end parts are missing.

It is a certainly the last truck I would pick to restore if it wasn't a family truck, but I am hoping I can save the frame, maybe some body and chasis parts, and maybe with enough metal work, the cab. I did a failed C10 project when I was a young and stupid, so I know what it is like to get in over my head, but have had much success with old trucks since then. But this looks a little scary.

I do have a fairly complete 72 C10 parts truck that I may be able to swap the drivetrain, but it would be cool to run the flathead. And if I can get my dad to let me use his detached garage, at least it won't be in my way.

Thanks, let me know what everyone thinks.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

F-y's are pretty cool. I'm not a Ferd guy either, but.... My son-in-law has two 50 F-1's. Both of them look much like this right now. It would make a nice 2nd project. I'd do it all up circa 1950 bone stock. There are a lot of parts available and I think they are the only F**d's that have any real collector value.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I think the truck is too far gone. That truck may have had potential 30 years ago. Maybe you can start the tradition by building a truck that you like and then pass it down. If you want to do that exact truck in memory of you grandfather, I think you should start with a truck in better condition.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

Drag it out, clean it up, do a parts inventory and offer it for trade on craigslist for a similar condition Chevy truck.. you never know, you may find a Ford enthusiast that has his grandfathers old chevy he doesn't want to restore.

J.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

The deal is that most likely your GF is not going to be handing down any more trucks-that being said this is prolly your deal if you wanna go that route. My GF has been gone since 67. I would love to have the chance to fix anything that was his. That being said, these Fords are coool (at least its not a Dodge). All parts are avail for it. Just have a reasonable expectation and know that the goal is to preserve your GF truck, not to make a show stopper.
I would go with the "Patina" theme and update the drive train and roll it and enjoy it

Re: Lost Cause????
 

i would for sure take those old twin 6v trumpet horns off that wreck and spend a bit of time cleaning them up and gettin them workin


whatever you put them on you'll b the loudest guy in the county with them
that was the old school hot rodders way of makin a very loud statement

Re: Lost Cause????
 

Greetings! I work in Cary, NC. That "was" a nice truck, but I'd have to agree that's closer to gone than I would be willing to start with.
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Re: Lost Cause????
 

I'd pull the horns off and restore them.. As far as the truck I'd put it in my front yard but I know I'd get a nasty letter from the HOA lol
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Re: Lost Cause????
 

The frame is likely toast. It's probably been sitting ON the ground the past 20+ years.
This one is likely too far gone for a full restore, but it's in perfect condition for the patina craze. New chassis & drivetrain, fix the floor with some old signs, throw a seat and a new door on it. Done.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

That truck's been sitting on the ground since before my truck was brand new.. It looks pretty far gone, but it IS Grandpa's truck..

I'd do like others recommended- drag it out and inventory everything. See what's missing and compile a needs list, go from there. It would be a tall project for sure, but it'd be nice if you could save it!

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I think you should save what you can. If you don't save it, it goes to the crusher and will never be part of a 1950 Ford Truck again.

Even if you don't restore it, take it out, and clean it up and take some very good photos of it. I see people in Michigan where I live use old vehicles like that for "lawn art". These vehicles like this remind my of old barns. Once they are gone and they are not coming back.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

Best bet may be to buy a decent 50 F1 and use and many of your parts as you can to fix it up. That being said if you really want to fix it, it can be bone.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I can't tell about the rust in the floor or much of the bed. I would be tempted to put the cab and bed on a later SWB frame with modern driveline. I redid a '50 F1 for a guy and kept the old frame. I wish I had gone to a later frame. It would have saved a LOT of headaches. If you look at the Ford truck web boards, there are people doing that kind of thing. I think the hot tip 10 years ago was a Ranger frame. I wish I had researched doing a 70's F100 frame and shortening it if needed. That would have resolved disc brakes, ancient kingpins, steering, motor mounts, fuel tank.....

I think you need to drag it out, clean it up, and take stock of what you really have to make an intelligent decision. How bad the rust is in the cab and what body stuff is missing may help you decide.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

It all comes down to $$$. If you have enough to spent you can fix just about anything. That truck would be a good start for a Rat Rod.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

Thats what I was thinking...get an S-10 frame to go under it, throw in a 350/700r4.

You have the spirit of you Grandfathers truck in a drivable, safe, non-bankbreaking form. Best of both worlds.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

It's too far gone IMO. I would clean it up and use it as a lawn ornament.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I tried to buy my uncle's truck after he died. My aunt refused to sell it to me. She sold it to someone else without us ever discussing price. I have never forgiven her.if it won't break the bank, restore it, drive it, and keep it. Don't go overboard moneywise.
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Re: Lost Cause????
 

It is grandpas truck. Looks far gone but if you found a parts truck you could probably do something with it.
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Re: Lost Cause????
 

Anything can be fixed. It just takes time and money. I would take the time to put it on a late model frame and fix it up if it was me just because THAT truck was GF's.

Heck, look at the thread on my daughter's '46 International truck in Alternate Tinkering. It looked about the same when she drug it home.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I would build that truck in a heartbeat. It's far from gone, IMHO. Those trucks have a great following and parts support, it shouldn't be to hard to find the parts its missing and needs.

Again, IMHO, It looks worse sitting where it is, Drag it out and get it on hard pack, then see what ya got.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

That's exactly the first thing I would do. Once you can check it out on solid ground, you'll know whether it can be saved or not.

Re: Lost Cause????
 

At least pull it out of there and clean it up. If you dont make a build of it somebody is probably looking for parts. If you do build it jag front ends go under those trucks really nice.
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Re: Lost Cause????
 

New frame, motor and trans, seat and some wires, yours good and its grand daddy's ride!

Re: Lost Cause????
 

The most important thing is to preserve the family connection for future enthusiast. You cant fake Grandpa's truck!
There was one at the Atlanta World of Wheels (Several years ago when WOW included ATL) that looked similar to this one (patina) on a late model chassis (most likely S10) with rockin wheels and it always had a crowd around checking it out. It was a rust/dent bomb buy was waaay cool

Re: Lost Cause????
 

I've seen much, much worse restored to show winning condition. It can be done, it's just a matter of how badly you want to save it and how capable you are of doing it yourself or paying someone else who can.


Check out the barndoor VW bus section on thesamba.com if you want to see some unreal restorations of what would be trash to anybody else.

That basket of green patch panels are just a little bit of the patch panels going into this bus... 10k worth of patch panels isn't unheard of in the Barndoor bus world!!

Here's the build thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=471779

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/d8baf98e.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/dd48dad5.jpg

http://i557.photobucket.com/albums/s...m/4e525c59.jpg