My 48 ford shop truck

[jgb7038]

Thought I would post up some build pics of my current project that Im working on. Its 1948 F1 pick up. I kind of think of this as my "leftovers" build,being that 90 percent of the parts are left overs from other projects.
The idea is to build a low budget high fun truck,that I can use to haul parts in now and then.I had always wanted a fenderless pick up and one day all the stars aligned perectly and the 48 showed up.
I got it about 3 years ago as an abandoned project from a guy I worked with. He was going to junk it so I offered him some cash for,but he declined. He told me that if I really wanted it,that I could have it for FREE! He even delivered it to my house.
It already had a 3" chop,shaved door handles and a good amount of the body work done to the cab and front fenders.It sat on a s-10 chassis.even with all this done it was no pristine truck.





It sat at my house for about a year.I kept looking at trying to decide what i was going to keep and what was to go. I realized that I did not like the rear track width,and that the front suspension arms were pretty hacked up by the prior owner to try and get the front track to fit the fenders. I had a 70 c10 short bed that is getting a full custom chassis and bbc, so I had a extra full rolling chassis and drive train to use in the 48. The front and rear track width fit the 48 much better than the s10 did so I made the swap.




I tried for almost 2 months to give the s10 chassis away,but had no takers,Ithought surely some one would take for free.We were ready to have the new garage built so it had to go.I ended up doing this to it:


What a waste of a perfectly good chassis.

[jgb7038]

The truck waited patiently until April 2009 when I started on it full throttle to try and get it up and running. By this time it had moved into the shop.I had even started installing a 59 chevy dash I had laying around.



My first order of business was the rearend.By using the 70 c10 chassis, I was able to use aftermarket suspension parts for it. I used a 5" lowering kit from cpp. Had c-notches,springs,adjustable trac bar,shocks,shock relocaters and all the hardware.



Still thinking I wanted it lower I z'd the frame 3".

[jgb7038]

Being a tall guy,(6'4") I wanted a little more leg room in the cab,so I cut the back of the cab off and added 5 1/2" to it and welded everything back together.

[jgb7038]

The reason the prior owner got rid of the truck,was because it did not sit right on the chassis and he was going to have to cut the floor back out.I had cut most of it out when I swapped chassis.I used 1' square tubeing to make the frame work for the floor.



Before I added the sheet metal I ran the exaust.I also add some heat wrap so the wife doesnt melt.




With that done,I closed up the floor.

[jgb7038]

To finish out the sheet metal,I needed a recess in the fire wall to clear the motor.I used a steel wheel barrow tub.I was free,and it works well.





Being a fenderless truck,I used a 40' ford front axle,with a spring over conversion.Mounted to a simple bracke welded to a tube cross member.

[jgb7038]

Having it as a roller,I push it out side a lot to get a better look at things during the build.I use a lot of cardboard to mock up parts and panels.At this ponint I decided how the bed and front sheet metal should look.



Found a used bed online and figured out how much it needed to be modified.



Made some patterns to add some lower fillers.Also made a roll pan and plate recess.





Did a little custom work to the tailgate too.....

[jgb7038]

Framed the bed floor like the cab.Added some storage"compartments" under the floor in the dead spaces along the frame.



With no fenders,the front would have to be all custom made.started by shortening and pie cutting the hood.




Mocked up my side panels and grill opening.

[jgb7038]

With the basic design layed out,transfered everything to steel.Then added the head lights.

[jgb7038]

That brings me to the current state....
Been working on finishing out the dash board.

[Sven]

You're a freaking artist, mate! Not sure about the grill yet, but I have confidence you'll make it look effin' awsome! The treatments on the dash and doors is just ridiculous ...

Can't wait to see the next installment and the done pics ...

-Steve

[desertrat]

[67ChevyRedneck]

Dude... Love it

[samwise68]

Oh hell yes.

[nuke1]

that is one amazing job you have done there, great work!

[sams60gmc]

man thats sweet. love the exhaust.

[NONHOG]

At first I was wondering, having seen fenderless trucks and thinking they were just o.k. This is way more than o.k. Nice work and nice vision.

Also do you happen to have the original grille? If so could you measure it width and height I am wondering if one would fit in my 49 GMC?

[jgb7038]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

At first I was wondering, having seen fenderless trucks and thinking they were just o.k. This is way more than o.k. Nice work and nice vision.

Also do you happen to have the original grille? If so could you measure it width and height I am wondering if one would fit in my 49 GMC?

Thanks,and yes I do still have the grille.It is basically 5 horizontal bars.Each bar is about 28" long and not quite 2" tall. I stll have the panel they mounted to as well.Hope this info helps.

[NONHOG]

Thanks that helps alot !

[idonutn0]

Incredible work!! Cant wait to see more.

[kyull67]

Man, this thing is cool! Love the wheelbarrow firewall. And the tailgate reminds me of one I sold a while back. Can't wait to see it finished.

[big_al_71]

Holy mother of craftmanship!!!! you are the man, that looks beyond words cant wait to see the finished product.....

[GREASEMONKEY72]

thats some really good work

[jgb7038]

Thought I would update this project......first here are a couple of more current pictures of the truck:




Ive been trying to do a little bit each day/evening,hoping to not lose momentum. With a 6" channel,I needed to make a little more room for the shifter linkage.I built a "bump" in the trans tunnel,kinda hoping it would look similar to a factory 4 speed hump.Didnt come out exactly like I wanted but it still works just the same.

[jgb7038]

Im running a vega steering box,but before I could mount it,I wanted to clean up and box the frame rails.I welded up the extra holes,and trimmed the lower part of the frame rail to match the upper.That will let the boxing plate sit square.I boxed the inside of the frame and welded sleeves in for the bolts to mount the box.

[jgb7038]

The box mounted,the steering shaft has a nice,relativly straight shot to the steering column.Only had one small problem......the steering shaft runs right thru the middle of the first header tube.I cut out the offending section,and tried to come up with a solution.




I used a couple of left over header pieces and mocked up a re-routed tube layout with tape.