Projects Homemade shoebox p/u

This is a project I've been working on for a bit now, we found a rusty 51 ford for sale that was gone beyond saving, but the front doors and roof were in ok shape.
I had a random vision in my head and took a saw to it, I had no regrets as it was a parts car at best plus the back was cut for a couch.


I started by cutting the body from the b pillar forward, and with that base I searched for a frame, I found what I believe was a late 20s Chevy with parallel leaf springs that has been sitting in a feild. And it used to be converted into a trailer to tow behind a tractor at a farm. I then stepped the front of it and mounted my engine of choice.
It is a 59-ab Flathead that I picked out of a different feild with a 4 speed behind it

From here I took my measurements and cut the rockers off the body due to them being rust, took 10 inches out of the front of the body and 12 out of the back so that it tapers and channeled it 7 inches. I was going to chop it but decided against it. I then mounted it to the frame
After this I found were on my frame I could step it up plus the rear of the frame was cracked and not safe, so I stepped it up roughly 12 inches and made the new back using box tubing and the rear out of a old Jeep Cherokee, I wish it was something else but it's all I have and it works with my budget
The front needs lowered but it's close to where I want it

Now that I have narrowed the body I must narrow the dash I'm using the original from the car
And this is where I am at as of now I'm still deciding on the back of the car but the original idea was to make it into a truck
I hope you like it and any input is welcome
Thank you,
Dillon

 

That’s using what you have, I hope to see you make something out of it and I will be looking foreword to seeing it come together. I may have more input after work today

 

Good for you using the things you have available. Will be different but should be cool.

 

Thanks, that's the goal for this project is stuff laying around or handbuilt.
I found a few more pieces for the ol hotrod today, I got some pedals, a battery box, a hood my brother had laying around im going cut up,and a old pair of headers I'm gonna cut up with a driveshaft and make a set of lake headers

 

Thing looks wild!! cant wait to see more progress!

 

A shoebox pickup! I love it!

 

Less Z in the back would help it in my opinion. (smaller tire in front will help some too)

 

RPU? Rough, rough sketch but I think you will make something out of it....Nice shop!

 

hmmmmm…. roadster pick up...
a lot less of the difficult body work than building a cab back...
also, in the future you may stumble onto another rusty body you like,
and it may fit that double stepped chassis...
…. go rocus go !

 

This guy used the back of a 53 to 56 f100 cab to box his ranchero in.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1949-shoebox-ranchero-build.1130961/

 

I think an rpu would be cool but I'm not worried about the body work I'm in this car for the Long haul and to challenge myself so anybody works that's thrown my way I'll take it I do like the 49 Ford rear cab idea though, the car will be low when done so I think I'm going to keep the step in the back the height it's at plus I want to hide a lot of the stuff for the car under the frame back there, I'm also toying around with a different idea instead of a pickup.

 

Use the Hood to Create a Boattail Shoebox....???

 

Got the dash mounted today and the hood cut down to fit, apparently 41 Chevy hoods fit perfect on a narrowed 51 Ford also another picture of the Flathead, I never get tired of looking at it, the front of the car definitely needs to come down a few inches

 

You are good. Got to give you credit.
Keep cranking and keep us posted.

 

Thank you and I will keep you posted as I build I'm mounting the steering column as we speak LOL

 

I think woodie is going to be my choice of action but I did set the hood on the back for giggles and oddly enough the body lines of the hood fit perfect to the back of the cab

 

Here is where I'm I'm calling it for the night I mounted the steering column and was able to sit behind the wheel for the first time I quickly realized after sitting in it and pretend I'm driving it the shifter hits the steering wheel so I heated that up and bent it right up

 

did you make vroom noises ? I have and when doing so I have never missed a shift...

 

I also vroom changed pitches while downshifting and the occasional peeling out and dumping the clutch screetches

 

At first I actually thought " OH MY GOSH" but now after seeing your progress I just have to say that you've got some vision and mad skills. I like where this is going , keep at it ,,,Mitch.

 

Interesting. I like what you did with the dash.

 

Took a break from the hot rod and built a trailer for my job today got a lot of welding practice in I am a manager for the top haunted house in Colorado terror in the corn I'm lucky enough all year I get to scare people or build things that scare people for a living, but sometimes I do jobs for the farm it's at, like this goose neck trailer that tows behind a John Deere Gator, not hotrod related but a little tidbit about myself, also a picture of me and one of my characters I use to chase people with chainsaws, fun fact our chainsaw we use is from the 1950s and still kicking

 

Had me worried with the chain saw and bloody face photo, thought you had had kick back.
Normally I just flat cannot get into this type of build but it is more than obvious that you saved pieces that otherwise would have been tossed for scrap and that works for me.

 

Yes this car was about to be parted out and scrap I see it as a way of me giving it a second lease on life also the frame was just going to rot in that field along with that engine

 

If you were closer @Old wolf has a F1 panel truck roof that someone tried to mate to a 58 Desoto

 

Ive got the exact same model Poulan chainsaw that leather face used in the Chain Saw massacre. Ive had it running. However the diaphragm in the carb is bad and it needs a kit or new carb. There is a chainsaw thread on the antiquated forums.

 

Ive already gave that Desoto Ford cross away. I intend to go help the guy get it.

 

That thing is a sight to be seen for sure lol

 

That thing is sweet maybe I will look into that thread I'm always looking for ideas and cool antiques for our haunted house