54 Ford Truck
Laura started this. She has always wanted a 53-56 Ford Truck. I'm a Chevy man that works for Mercedes Benz. Ford is just not in my thought process. I thought the truck would never happen, until my son's friend told Laura that there was one in his backyard.
For Sale. Priced right. So it happened on 8/01
Below are the photos.
My goal is to keep the exterior looking as stock as possible, under the skin anything is possible.
Click on the photo for a bigger image. Hit the "back" key on your browser to return.
See page 2 for the finished truck
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The truck waiting the flatbed. Steering felt funny, engine was frozen, tow was necessary for the 2 mile trip. |
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Out of the driveway and on to the flatbed. Right rear tire goes flat. |
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Interior. Needs work. At this point not sure what will be done. Priority is to find a seat as the milk crate is uncomfortable and I think illegal. One positive note, it can be adjusted to just about any position. |
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The engine. It had sat for about 10 years like this, so it came as no surprise that the carb was junk, and that cylinder 8 was full of rust, looked like a seriously infected cut when I inspected with the Borescope. Of course it was the last one inspected, all others looked good, which elevated my spirits, until looking in 8. Tear down showed had already been bored .040. Needs block, crank, right head. |
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Building new engine from PAW. It is a 4 bolt main 350 block bored .060 with a 327 crank, flat top pistons. Mild cam. |
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Shows first version of engine ready to install. I connected a 200 4R trans to the engine as it only seemed right. At the time I ordered the trans from Bow Tie I had a 4.09 rear end by my math, so the overdrive made sense. At this point it now has a 3.73 posi unit as the old ring gear was junk (someone had left a extra lock plate in the housing at one time that went thru the gears), so this will be a freeway cruiser. |
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Engine in. At this point I had also rebuilt the complete front suspension and stock steering box, installed 15X8.0 rims with Goodyear Wrangler tires, installed front disc brakes with power booster under the truck. |
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Engine in its current configuration. I installed a Oldair A/C system which required new mounts for the alternator, plus other changes. I installed 2 -12" fans on the backside of the radiator, a Mopar unit with 3 row core, and my own temperature controller. The front side has a 14" fan that comes on with the A/C clutch. As of 8/03 I installed a engine fan from a S55, works much better. |
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Other side of engine. That's a Holley 650 spread bore, Corvette exhaust manifolds into a single 3" exhaust to the back thru a Flo-Pro muffler. Sounds good. |
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Interior with Dolphin Gauges. The shift linkage is on the tree, my own design and construction, hole for radio is in place, A/C controls have been installed in the dash. Vents are underneath. I think I found a original steering wheel, thru E-Bay, and its installed. Glove box door has been lengthened to cover the ash tray as well. All extra holes have been plugged. |
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This is a bench seat from a 98 Chevy truck. Fits nice, had to make a mounting frame for it. I installed 3 point belts with a center lap belt. After the paint work it will be recovered in black. The windows have a modified Mercedes ML regulator which works good, and only cost $40.00 for each window, which makes it even better. |
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Photo of truck as of 12/01. |
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Photo of exhaust, rear axle, etc. |
It's been 4 month's of weekends and nights to this point. The truck runs. Laura drove it for the first time and commented that it needs Power Steering. Hmmm. The project continues......
I installed a steering rack and most of the column parts from a ML320. This project actually fell together as the tubes all matched each other one way or the other, even the threads on the pressure hose from the rack fit the GM pump that I used.
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Steering column after power Rack and Pinion installation. One problem that is yet to be over come is the slip joint connection to the rack, as it is mounted to the axle. The stock joint does not have enough travel, so suspension travel would have to be limited, or a longer slip joint found. Other than that it works great. More to come on this..... |
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Shows the rack mounted to the axle. The main mounts are connected to the spring shackles on both sides, and are hidden in the photos. The stock drag link tube was threaded for the rack's links. Added braces were add, see photo here |
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View from the front. The "C" bolts are not the only mounting brackets. |
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This view shows the pump, routing of Pressure hose, and linkage. |
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Getting ready for paint. The old wood bed was removed with a cutting torch as all the bolts were rusted and the body holes were rounded. Richard got into using the torch. |
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The new and improved column with GM slip joint. Not shown is other half of joint and universal joint on rack. Works good. Has more than enough travel to handle anything. |
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Things are starting to take shape. Still needs bed, rear glass, etc,etc... |
Click here to continue on to page 2 of the photos
Nit pickers will find that the front grille is from a 56 truck. I found that out the hard way after buying 53 model front running lamps and headlamp doors that did not fit.
Thanks go to Kyra and Phil for a gentle nudge to do this page
Please rate this site at The Ford Truck Hot 100 - Top Sites Ranked by UsersLinks to the place's I've spent my money.
PAW - Performance Automotive Warehouse
In & Out Paint and Body Centers
Enoch's Muffler in Burbank (bought all the exhaust parts there). No website.
Sagona's in Burbank for the seat upholstery. No website
