My 1954 F100/F250 4x4

[Fordman75]

I thought I'd post an update on my project. My build plans on this have change directions more then a car doing donuts! This is no longer going to be a tow vehicle. Just a year round daily driver/work truck. You can check out the old post here if you want to. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=51809

It's been almost 2 years since I last posted an update here on this. I've still got it and am very slowly making some progress. Since my last post I dumped the 78 F250 4x4 chassis and picked up a 84 F250 extended cab 4x4 with a 351W/T-18/BW 13-45. I yanked the body off it and slid the rear axle and suspension forward 45" and cut off the excess frame. This gave me a F250 4x4 chassis that matched my 54 F100 short box's original wheelbase.

Here's the 84 F250 4x4 I picked up.




This picture shows where the spring mounts will be moved to. The red arrows are the front spring mount, blue are the rear spring mount and the green arrow is where the frame will be cut off at.




Man this thing looks short!




Once I got the chassis situated I started mocking up the body again.















Oh yea and I decided to dump the 351W and go with the 300.

[Fordman75]

I did run into a few minor issues.

The first problem is a clearance issue with the front frame horns. I had the valance and air deflectors sitting on top of the frame yesterday. Doing that caused the front clip to sit a little nose high. But when I moved the cab forward it moved the air deflectors past the end of the frame. You can see it's pushing the air deflectors and front valance out. So I'm going to have to trim the frame horns a little to make some clearance. #-o




So I started by pulling the hood, front valance, air deflectors and radiator mount back out.





Next I pulled out Mr. Super Sawzall and lopped off the front frame horns. And that took care of my little clearance issue. I'm going to weld some 3/16" plate over the end of the frames. I'm also adding a crossmember to the top of the frame that will have the radiator mount built in and will give me a solid platform for the front frame extensions.






Next I reinstalled the radiator mount and air deflectors to check the frame clearance. No problems, plenty of room now! I ran out of day light so I didn't get the valance thrown back on.







Next I bolted in the front valance and then bolted in the grille. The truck now has it's fangs!




I pulled out my inner fender panels out and checked the fit. The front halves weren't too bad but the rear halves were a no go. So I marked them out and then cut them out with a jigsaw. I did another test fit and they were pretty good. there one spot on each of them that still needs a little attention. I'll fabricate the new rear halves once the cab is mounted and finished. Then I bolted them in place.













This shot shows how it fits to the inside of the frame. Never mind the markings on it those were from when I was test fitting them on the 78 chassis.




Along the way I picked up a 56 F250 long box parts truck. I'm using the hood and box off it. The box is taller and wider then the F100 short box is. The wider box fits the 80's chassis much better. This box was pretty messed up. I'm just using it as a mock up pattern. I'm going to build one from scratch with new metal. I started to cut down the box. I need to cut 8" out of the front half and 10" out of the rear half. I made 3 cuts and then decided to clean up and call it quits for the day.


Here's the front section of the box sitting on the truck. I'm going to have to raise it up around 4" or so when I mount the cab.




I finished cutting up the box. I left it long because I knew all my cuts would be perfectly straight. I've got plenty of extra length on each piece so I can clean up the cuts. I set the sides up on the frame to get an idea of what it will look like. The rear section of the box isn't on there so it's a little shorter then the box will end up.





The box is sitting a few inches lower then it will be sitting once it's mounted. But these shots give an idea about what the truck is going to look like. I think I like it.





Here's a picture from the back. The front box wall is a few inches too low. But the width is close. I'm going to be building a subframe out of 2" x 2" steel tubing that will sit under the box. That will give me a solid platform for the box floor and will make it easier to mount the box.





I dug out the rear fenders and put them on. I put some blocks under the front of the box to raise it. And I put a 2"x2" under the rear halves to support the sides.

I don't really like the short stake pockets right above the fenders on a shorter box. They will be removed.

Then I cut down the rear frame rails some more. I still left about 3" extra on the frame rails. Then I moved on to the rear box section. The rear box panel doesn't have cutouts for the frame rails. This panel actually drops over the end of the frame. Mine was pretty damaged so I cut out the panel so I could set it over the frame. I'm going to be making a new panel for it when I get that far. After I cut out the panel I set the rear box section up in place. I used a tie down strap to hold it in place. The rear section is sitting about 2" farther forward then it will. So the box is 2" too short right now.









The rear fenders are going to need some work. The passenger side is pretty decent. It just needs the usual lower front patch where the running boards meet the fender. The driver side fender is thrashed. The spare tire well is rusted thru ( going to close of the spare well anyways ) . And the whole front section of the fender is rusted and thin. I still don't know if I"m going to fix it or try to find a better fender.








I decided something was missing so I also dug out the tailgate and put it on ( just with the chain latches not hinges ) .







I'm really starting to like the way it's looking. It was actually looking more like a truck now instead of a just pile of parts.

[Fordman75]

Well shortly after I got this far I got a notice from the city giving me 7 days to get rid of my inoperable vehicle. So I had to tear the truck down and pack it away in my garage.

I tore the front clip off it. And slid the cab off the 54.










Well I finished tearing down the 54. I still need to cut the U-bolts off of both differentials and pull a couple more brackets off the frame. I bet this looks much better to the city!!



A couple days later I got it all packed away.

[Fordman75]

about 4 months later I got sick of not working on the 54 so I pulled the cab out of the garage. I was a little bored and had a few minutes before the football game started so I decided to play with a couple rattle cans. All this paint will come back off when I get to the body work. I just wanted to see how my planned paint scheme was going to look.

I think it's going to look pretty good. Kind of smurfy but I like it!



There isn't going to be any chrome, polished stainless or aluminum on the truck. I can't afford all new or rechromed parts. So everything that was chrome/stainless is getting painted white. It's going to be a little different but I think it will give it a little more of a service/farm truck feel.


I decided to try and fit most of the parts I've got for the cab and see how everything was going to fit.

I started off by installing all the gauges and the indicator lights. I think it looks pretty good.






Then I tried out my steering column and turn signal assembly. This isn't the way the column is going to be mounted. I'm going to move it closer to the dash and raise the the firewall end of it. But I'm going to have to do some cutting and welding on the steering column mount to do this. I'm going to paint the steering column blue to match the dash. I'm going to paint the turn signal assembly too. I haven't decided yet if it's going to be white or blue.




I then bolted on the steering wheel. I'm not totally in love with this steering wheel ( only paid $20.00 for it new ) . But I'm still searching for something I like better that won't cost a million dollars or be too large of diameter. I'll need all the space I can get!








I then checked out where the pedals would work. It's hard to get a good picture of them by holding a pedal in one hand and the camera in the other. I will need to make up a mounting bracket for the pedals.








And over the winter I sold the black steering wheel and picked up this blue metal flake one.



And I got this Offenhauser gas pedal assembly for Christmas.

[Fordman75]

I also got a little more metal work done on the cab before winter. I've still got a long ways to go. But I'm hoping to have the metal work on the cab finished by the end of this coming summer.

I still need to do a lot of work to clean up my ugly welds. I just ran out of time.











The flat vertical panel on the firewall recess is where I'm going to be mounting my hanging gas pedal.




I left the floor toe board section a little long just so I made sure I had enough material when I install the firewall next spring.





The part of my transmission tunnel panel that is sticking up above the existing transmission tunnel piece is going to be trimmed down so it's flush with the top of the tunnel. And I'm not to thrilled with the section that extends up to the point. I think I'm going to cut that point off and just add a horizontal strip across the top front of the tunnel. I'll figure it out once I get the passenger side in. next spring.

[Luckyman]

Very Nice! Thanks for the update & pix. That will be very cool when done, especially with the six. Looks like you are doing some really good work.

[Fordman75]

Thanks,I'm hoping it will be a cool ride. It's just taking way longer then I was hoping. When I started I was thinking it would 6 months to a year. And it's already been 4 years with no end in sight. But not having the cash to build it doesn't help.

I really love the exhaust note of the 351W. But I came to the conclusion that was the only reason I was running it. So I just had to go back to the good old 300!

[Luckyman]

Thanks,I'm hoping it will be a cool ride. It's just taking way longer then I was hoping. When I started I was thinking it would 6 months to a year. And it's already been 4 years with no end in sight. But not having the cash to build it doesn't help.

Recieved & understood. I started a project in the first part of 2006 and just got it running fall of 2010. Still lots of little stuff to do. My project was not nearly as ambitious as yours either (very little cutting and welding or body mods/work) . The older I get the longer it takes to get stuff done. (Long, Cold winters dont help any either)

[Fordman75]

Recieved & understood. I started a project in the first part of 2006 and just got it running fall of 2010. Still lots of little stuff to do. My project was not nearly as ambitious as yours either (very little cutting and welding or body mods/work) . The older I get the longer it takes to get stuff done. (Long, Cold winters dont help any either)

I definitely jumped into the deep end of the pool with this project.

Since I don't have a shop to work in my project gets put on hold every winter. But that's not completely a bad thing. It gives me a chance to try and save some cash for parts over the winter. It's just getting harder to come up with the cash for it.

[Luckyman]

Still really cool. I think its great.

[Fordman75]

Thanks.

[Nashtooth]

We have ways of making you(r big six) talk

[Fordman75]

We have ways of making you(r big six) talk

I think the 2.5" dual exhaust with Hooker Aero-Chamber mufflers, dual carbs, bigger cam and eventually dual Eaton M90 superchargers will help with making the big 6 talk plenty.

[woodbutcher]

Good grief.He`s at it again.
Good luck.Have fun.
Leo

[Fordman75]

:beer: Good grief.He`s at it again.
Good luck.Have fun.
Leo

Well I will be once the snow melts and I get a caravan that's sitting in my driveway parted out and cut up.

[Fordman75]

I did a little work on the 54 today. But mainly I spent a lot of time staring at it trying to figure out some of issues I'm having with parts of it. I threw the doors on it ( man they are going to need some work! ) . And I started to figure out what I 'm going to need to mount the seats in it.







Since I'm not using the stock heater I'm going to remove the louvered section on the passenger side of the cab.

Here's what I started with.





I got the louvered section of the cab cowl side panel cut out.




And I got a good start on the filler panel. I had some pieces of the original flamed hood ( I cut it up a last year ) and it was close to the right contour. So I'm using it for the filler piece. I got the piece cut out, I just need to do some minor filing/grinding in a couple areas to get a good fit. Then I can weld it in.

[bubba22349]

I did a little work on the 54 today. But mainly I spent a lot of time staring at it trying to figure out some of issues

Yeah I do that too. That looks like a great project

[Fordman75]

Thanks.

[bubba22349]

I like those old pickups still have a 56 F350

[Fordman75]

The 56's are cool trucks. My very first truck was a 56 F100.

[bubba22349]

Yeah me too in a 56 F100 was my dad's old pickup

[tom954x4]

There was a '56 F-250 in MINT, restored, condition for sale in Oregon recently on E-bay, dark forest green. 223 - six (YES!), four speed granny low, no OD. It has a 4.56 rear ratio if I remember right. This wasn't a truck, it was a piece of industrial artwork. I'm thinking it would look nice parked in my garage.

[Fordman75]

Well here's a little update. I bought another donor truck!!! I've been looking for a donor truck to get a good engine for it. I found a few and the deals fell thru. Friday I found one and Saturday I went and checked it out. It looked good to me and I bought it and hauled it home. I am once again the owner of a 300 powered truck!

I think I've got a damn good deal on this. It's a 1978 Ford F150 Ranger XLT Lariat 4x4. It has a 300, NP435 4spd, NP205 transfercase, 9" rear ( 3.50 gears ) and D44 front. It's got some rust, but the chassis is solid and it runs and drives. It does have some minor issues like a low brake pedal, clutch linkage needs adjusting, there are also plenty of oil leaks. It started right up and ran decent. Good power, no smoke or bad noises. But it does need a little carb work and could use a tune up.

The guy I bought it from and his son decided to scuff and black out all the trim. I like the look but it ruined a lot of straight trim that I could have made some cash on selling. Now it's just more scrap. They also removed and tossed the lower body trim and used bedliner on the lower portion of the body.

Anyways here's my newest purchase. Oh yea, I paid $500 for it!:D








Here's the mighty ( greasy ) 300!





And here's the spiffy Ranger Lariat interior. Yes that is a cb!












Since I've got my diesel for towing I'm seriously thinking about using the entire chassis from this truck for the 54. I'll slide the rear diff forward 23", have the rear driveshaft shortened and call it good.

This truck has everything I want and it's drivable. So instead of having to make a new transmission crossmember, make new rear frame crossmembers, mess with trying to work around the front leaf springs, I can just use this chassis. The coil spring front suspension will make fitting the front clip tons easier.

So I'm starting over again on the chassis! My plan on this one is to just leave it together, get plates and insurance on it. I'll drive it around and figure out any issues it might have and fix them as I can. Once I get the 54 cab and front clip buttoned up and done I will pull the body off the 78. Then I can move the rear diff/suspension forward, clean everything up and paint it all. I plan to replace the suspension bushings, shocks, brake pads and shoes and fix any leaks ( plenty of them ) .

Well that is this years plans. At least until I change my mind again.

[rikard]

I've been following your build and I have to agree that a running chassis will certainly speed things up. Even though I like EFI the carb set up should also simplify getting it done. My first truck was a 56 ex telephone truck with a utility body and the 223 six. I drove it from Boston to Milwaukee in 1971. Neat truck.
I see an old early fifties Chevy PU body for sale on Route 4 when I go up to Maine and I would like to put that body on a 92-96 300 5 speed. It would be a gas to see the faces at cruise night.
Great job with the photos and the updates.
Thank you
rikard

[Fordman75]

I've been following your build and I have to agree that a running chassis will certainly speed things up. Even though I like EFI the carb set up should also simplify getting it done. My first truck was a 56 ex telephone truck with a utility body and the 223 six. I drove it from Boston to Milwaukee in 1971. Neat truck.
I see an old early fifties Chevy PU body for sale on Route 4 when I go up to Maine and I would like to put that body on a 92-96 300 5 speed. It would be a gas to see the faces at cruise night.
Great job with the photos and the updates.
Thank you
rikard

Thanks.

I don't know about it speeding things up. But it will simplify some things.

I'm a carb guy. Carbs are just easier to me.

My first truck was an old 56 F100 ex Wisconsin DOT with a 223. I never got to drive it but I did get it running.

[bubba22349]

Have a 56 F350 the org. chassis is in decent shape yet. Want to update to later front and rear axles (with the better brakes & steering) it also will get a 300 swap. Keep up the good work is an interesting big project.

[Fordman75]

Have a 56 F350 the org. chassis is in decent shape yet. Want to update to later front and rear axles (with the better brakes & steering) it also will get a 300 swap. Keep up the good work is an interesting big project.

Thanks.

Yours sounds like a cool project too. That's how mine started I just wanted newer drivetrain and steering. Then it just kept snowballing and got to be a bigger and bigger project. You keeping it a 2wd or going 4x4? And is your 56 a single rear wheel or a dually?

[bubba22349]

It's going to stay as a 2 X 4 it was built really just for highway use to haul a car on the back. Has a stretched WB with the wide singles on the back ride is fairly good. Mostly it needs a fresh engine and the paint is old lacquer that is cracked so it needs to be stripped off.

[Fordman75]

It's going to stay as a 2 X 4 it was built really just for highway use to haul a car on the back. Has a stretched WB with the wide singles on the back ride is fairly good. Mostly it needs a fresh engine and the paint is old lacquer that is cracked so it needs to be stripped off.

That's cool! Does it still have the original 56 rear end in it?

My big truck is a 91 F-Super Duty ( F450 ) . It has a solid I-beam front axle with leaf springs. And the rear diff is a Dana 80 with disc brakes ( 5.13 gears ) and duals . It has a 10 lug hubs and the tires are the standard 235/85/16 load range E 3/4- 1 ton size truck tire. I thought it would be pretty cool to find an old 53-56 F350-F600 and swap over the entire suspension/steering drivetrain out of one of these trucks. That would give you the classic truck that could handle anything you could throw at it for hauling/towing. The biggest down side is with the gearing you really need 2 overdrive gears if you want to run at highway speeds ( 70 mph or so ) . Mines an old 7.3L IDI diesel, but with a 300 and the 5.13 gears you could move mountains!

[bubba22349]

Yes most of the chassis is still stock 1956 parts front, rear, steering, etc. it dose have the optional hydro brake booster. Engine trans were swapped out to a 66 Olds 425 & Turbo 400.

My big truck is a 91 F-Super Duty ( F450 ) . It has a solid I-beam front axle with leaf springs. And the rear diff is a Dana 80 with disc brakes ( 5.13 gears ) and duals . It has a 10 lug hubs and the tires are the standard 235/85/16 load range E 3/4- 1 ton size truck tire.

Yeah that is also what I had been thinking what the track wedith of the SD F350 or 450 axles were. Would be a nice package late axles, steering, & brakes. With 5.13's it would for sure need an OD trans, use to have a 65 F-350 with a 240 & NP 4 speed it had 4.88's. When I later put in a 300 and the tallest radial 16's I could find on it, pulled and hauled about anything with ease though on the freeway at anything over 62 it was screaming for another gear.

[Fordman75]

What I've got is different then the Superduty trucks ( 99+ F250-F550 ). It's the F-Super Duty, It's a beast! You hit a pot hole with this thing you'll know it!






Mine has a ZF 5spd. But 60 is about as fast as I can go without revving the diesel too much. I'm looking for a Spicer/Brownie auxiliary transmission so I can add a second OD gear. I was asked "why not just swap rear end gears?". But it pulls too damn good to mess that up with taller gears.

[bubba22349]

That’s a nice rig that looks like a real workhorse of a truck am a fan of that body style I wonder if the axle tread width would fit in the 56's. Have one of those Brownie aux. transmissions a 3 speed unit was going to put it in the 65 F350. That 65 got traded in long ago when I found my 94 F150, doubt I will ever use the Brownie now.

[Fordman75]

What model Brownie do you have?

[bubba22349]

It's a 6231-A

[80broncoman]

.....My big truck is a 91 F-Super Duty ( F450 ) . It has a solid I-beam front axle with leaf springs. And the rear diff is a Dana 80 with disc brakes ( 5.13 gears ) and duals . It has a 10 lug hubs and the tires are the standard 235/85/16 load range E 3/4- 1 ton size truck tire. I thought it would be pretty cool to find an old 53-56 F350-F600 and swap over the entire suspension/steering drivetrain out of one of these trucks. That would give you the classic truck that could handle anything you could throw at it for hauling/towing. The biggest down side is with the gearing you really need 2 overdrive gears if you want to run at highway speeds ( 70 mph or so ) . Mines an old 7.3L IDI diesel, but with a 300 and the 5.13 gears you could move mountains!

I have always wondered if you could spin a NP205 backwards and use it as a 50% overdrive in low. should work good with a 7.17 rear end gear. it would like a 3.55 gear in low and a 7.17 in high.

[Fordman75]

Do you happen to know what O/D gear that one has? And if you want to part with it how much would you want?

[Fordman75]

.....My big truck is a 91 F-Super Duty ( F450 ) . It has a solid I-beam front axle with leaf springs. And the rear diff is a Dana 80 with disc brakes ( 5.13 gears ) and duals . It has a 10 lug hubs and the tires are the standard 235/85/16 load range E 3/4- 1 ton size truck tire. I thought it would be pretty cool to find an old 53-56 F350-F600 and swap over the entire suspension/steering drivetrain out of one of these trucks. That would give you the classic truck that could handle anything you could throw at it for hauling/towing. The biggest down side is with the gearing you really need 2 overdrive gears if you want to run at highway speeds ( 70 mph or so ) . Mines an old 7.3L IDI diesel, but with a 300 and the 5.13 gears you could move mountains!

I have always wondered if you could spin a NP205 backwards and use it as a 50% overdrive in low. should work good with a 7.17 rear end gear. it would like a 3.55 gear in low and a 7.17 in high.

The problem with using the NP205 like that is you'd have to stop to shift it. That is fine unloaded but loaded that wouldn't work so well.

[bubba22349]

Ratios are 1.24 to 1 (Under), 1.00 to 1 (Direct), 0.86 to 1 (OverDrive). This one was out of an about a 1 ½ or 2 ton International truck about mid 1970’s. Is fairly complete unit with front and rear yokes, front mount bracket, some linkage ends, about everything but the shifter. Make me a good offer.

[80broncoman]

That 79 is equipped exactly like my 77 was. Mine had the same drivelin and green paint.
It now no longer green excep inside the cab and some on put a 400 in it.

[Fordman75]

Well I've got a small update. First I've finally pulled the 78 off the trailer a couple weeks ago.

I pulled the stupid bug deflector off the front.





Here's a shot of it with most of a 2000 Dodge caravan in the box!





And after some more thinking ( yes I know that is dangerous for me! ) I have come to the conclusion that I'm not going to change the wheel base of the 78 F150 4x4. I've been looking over the frame on the 78. Sliding the axle forward just wasn't going to work. Due to the rear kick up and it's formed notches for shock clearance. So that would leave actually cutting out a chunk of the center of the frame. Since I don't have a welder that would handle welding the frame together I would have to buy or rent a bigger welder or pay someone else to weld the frame. And then I would still need to have the rear drive shaft shortened and correct the pinion angle on the rear diff. So that's what helped me decide to keep the wheelbase the way it is.


So that means I will have to make the body fit the frame. Instead of just making it a long box, I decided to make a change that will make the truck more comfortable to drive. I'm going to make it an extended cab. That will give me some more leg room and more clearance for my fat gut! Plus I'll also have more room for storage and speakers!

I figure I can find another 53-55 cab and some rusty 53-55 doors fairly reasonable. It's going to take quite a bit of sheet metal work but I can handle that. And I'm pretty sure I can do it without having to change much of any of the floor work I've already got done. This will definitely be a one of kind truck! The difference in the chassis is 23". I'm also going to make one suicide rear door on the passenger side.

These pics were posted on another forum. This truck has a 2" chopped top too ( which I'm not going to do!! ) . But the pics give you the idea of what I have planned.

[bubba22349]

Good idea somemore leg room can't hurt

[Fordman75]

Well today I hauled home some more junk!


I found a cab I can cut up for my extended cab project. And this ones in bad enough shape I can cut it up without feeling guilty. The guy I bought it from was going to swap it onto a Ranger chassis but gave up on the project. He already did a lot of the cutting so that saves me some work.

Here it is.





It does have some rust. I'm going to have replace the cab corners and the lower door jambs.








I also got a pair of doors. The passenger side is pretty nice.




The driver side has been stripped to the bare metal and needs some rust repair to the lower door skin and inner structure. And it has some damage to the door skin higher up the door. I'll get some better pics of the doors once I unload them out of my van.




I also got a box of parts from the cab and door.

[Fordman75]

After doing a little staring, scratching my head, some measuring and some more measuring. I came to the conclusion 23" wasn't going to be enough stretch on the cab.

At 23" that would leave me with a 14" rear door. A 14" door would be pretty useless. Plus I think the rear side windows would look too narrow, when compared to the front door windows . So instead of 23" I'm going to extend the cab 29". That will give me a 20" rear door and a 6' box. That should work out a little better and also look better.

Oh yea and I found another pair of rusty door shells. I'm going to make a trip tomorrow to pick them up.

[Fordman75]

I went on a little 150 mile road trip yesterday and picked up the last pair of doors I need. The one is a little rougher then I thought it was. But they should both be workable. So now I have 6 doors. That should be enough for one truck.

Here's the pics of my newest crusty doors. The blue door looks worse then the white one but it's actually quite a bit nicer.

[woodbutcher]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.Six doors.Do I smell a 54 Ford F100 LIMO in the future?

Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Fordman75]

Nope no limo! But when I cut the 4 doors in half will that count as having 10 doors then???

[woodbutcher]

Nope.Eight.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Fordman75]

:rolflmao: Nope.Eight.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

I'm going to need lots of luck on this project.

And don't say "bee safe", Yesterday I started tearing down a dodge avenger to scrap it out. I opened the passenger side door and discovered there was a wasp ( Yes I know not technically a bee ) nest in the passenger side rear view mirror. I got swarmed by the little bastards. One stung me right in the center of my upper lip!! My lip swelled up and hurt like a ***************! I sprayed the little bastards down with a can of raid today.

[woodbutcher]

Hi Ted.My sympathies to you.Wasps can be a real witch.Got hit four times on the right side of my face and neck,in about 4 seconds.Looked like I had gotten smacked with a 2x4.Hope the swelling goes down fast.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

[Fordman75]

Man 4 times? that would suck seriously! The one that got me was bad enough. It just ticked me off more then anything. I just broke out an ice pack for my big old fat lip. The swelling was pretty much gone after a couple hours.