I've known about this panel for about 17 years. We used to live next door. Was parked sometime in the 70's or so. I tried to buy it then, but it was one of those, someday I'll restore that thing and drive it deals. Well, that never happened and the bushes and tree's kept growing up around it. I contacted him again about a year ago and asked the question again, he said sure, come take a look. The first two pics were taken then, spring of 2018. Spring has sprung and the leaves were coming it quick. I told him I'd get ahold of him in about a year when all the leaves had fallen again. Feb 2019, after trying to find a dry weekend, I brought along my brother and a chain saw and we were able to get all the limbs and bushes cut and pulled away. Some help with a tractor and we were able to drag it out of the hold that it had sunk into. Borrowing some wheels and tires we were able to get it to roll, that was a couple of weeks ago. More to come on this as I try to bring it back to life. It is complete with engine and trans. Has a little 223 6 banger and three speed on the column. I have video of a lot of this and will be working on a YouTube video of it as well. Will share that out when its ready. Until then, more pics and progress to come.
I like these Old Panel Trucks. I have a 53 that came back after M.I.A. for more than 20 years. It needs about the same amount of work as yours now. Wasn't so bad when it left. Now,, Yikes!
A buddy in high school had one of these. He inherited it from his dad as an ex work truck with a thoroughly used-up six in it. He put a mild 390/Cruisomatic in it, that panel would haul *** until wind resistance caught up with it... LOL. You've got a fair amount of bodywork in front of you, but it looks very solid. You will want to insulate the inside pretty heavily, running his empty was like riding in an echo chamber. Only vehicle I ever rode in that was quieter with the windows down... LOL. Of the three years of the dual-headlight versions Ford built, I always though the '58 was the best-looking one, and the '57-60 the best looking of all Ford panel trucks.
Looks like an awesome project! Sure hope you threw that old gas pump in the back before you hauled it outta there!
I'm onboard and can't wait to see progress updates. Looks to be fairly solid and complete give or take a few parking dents. Is that rust/bondo on the p***enger side front corner of the hood? Have a friend here with a '58 *** PU.
Great save, we need more panels on the road. Looks like it has all the hard to find panel only stuff on it still, with 2!!! black plates and inner bump 16" wheels. Looks like the tree saved it mostly from rusting in the usual panel spots also. Clean it up, drive it and have fun hauling parts or camping in the back.
@mgtstumpy nope, no bondo on the truck, all original paint. That corner of the hood the inner structure of the hood has come unattached and the metal has stress cracked. Looks odd I know. @Crazy Steve The inside is actually full of wooden racks. I'll get some pics of it up. The panel was a delivery truck for most of its life. It was a bread/candy delivery truck and has shelves and wooden boxes where they would store all the items, its all still there. @evintho I'm working on trying to get the gas pump. @loudbang The DeSoto is off at a friends getting a four link and air ride on the rear. Not sure when I'll have photos. The Canned Monster is in a lot of pieces. The engine is back down with the Yblock guy, I need to do an update on the thread and explain all that out, its on my list of to do's. It has some sheet metal work that needs finished and I can get going on the body and get it painted, thats this years goal. Once the paint is done I can get the gl*** in etc. Lots to do. This weekend the weather looks good so am going to see what the engine does, maybe get it fired up. We'll see. More pics soon.
The pictures tell the story. It’s cleaning up well and we fired the engine. Need a fuel pump, water pump, thermostat and many other things. But, we ran it long enough to heat up the oil so it could be changed. Carb works decently, pulled it apart and cleaned it out. The starter wasn’t engaging so a few smacks with a hammer sorted that out. Compression check says 100lbs per cylinder which after sitting for a few decades sounds good to me. I’m working on a Part 1 video now and hope to have up on YouTube this week. I’ll post it here when it’s up. Enjoy the photos. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
When I was 14 years old (that would have been 1965) I worked for a farmer putting in hay that had a 56 Ford panel sitting out behind the barn. Me being the dumb*** kid I was asked what he wanted for it. He said he would give it to me instead of paying me the $1.00 an hour I was due at the end of the week. Six 10 hour sweaty ***ed days later it was mine. I come to find out the 223 was junk and the truck was rusted way worse than it looked. My buddy got his dad's tractor and we pulled it to my grandpa's, took a few parts off and junked it for $18. I have never worked so hard and sweat so much for so little before or since!
It looks like the taillights are in good condition. It is my understanding that they are next to impossible to find. consider yourself lucky in that respect.
P*** side is broken. It’s there but some of the lens is gone. Drivers side is nice though. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Not this time. The 223 seems to run well so far. But have only ran it for about ten minutes. Need to fix the fuel and cooling system to run it longer. Once that’s all done it will probably go up for sale. To many other projects and I want to get back on the G***er a**** others. Should have it ready in a few weeks I hope. I need the room and the $$. But the more I work on it the more I like it so who knows. Haha. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Not this time. The 223 seems to run well so far. But have only ran it for about ten minutes. Need to fix the fuel and cooling system to run it longer. Once that’s all done it will probably go up for sale. To many other projects and I want to get back on the G***er a**** others. Should have it ready in a few weeks I hope. I need the room and the $$. But the more I work on it the more I like it so who knows. Haha. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
I think I mentioned this was a bread and candy delivery truck. It came with three of these wooden boxes. They are from a bread company that was in San Francisco at one time. Pretty neat. I picked up some wheels locally from a guy who wanted white walls. Brand new wheels and under 2000 mile tires. I think I’ll paint the wheels white. Found a NOS water pump. Replaced the vacuum advance. Runs much better now. All the drums are junk. After looking at rebuilding them all it just makes sense to upgrade the front to disc brakes. Old part coming off. Master cylinder adapter. Cool photo my wife shot. Cleaning up the interior. Interesting there is no radio or heater in this truck and not even delete plates. My least favorite part. Cleaning off the grime. Many trips to the store to get the correct hose. They couldn’t seem to order in the right one. I’m a little ocd when it comes to hoses. They have to be moulded. I hate flex hoses. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Its nice to see the old girl come back to life. Lots of possibilities there! Did you pull the valve cover for a look?
Yes, lots of options. I'm working on a disc brake upgrade now and just ordered a new wiring kit for it.
Lancer, I think we all have a little o c d. Just some of us handle better that others. LOL.GOOD LUCK with her! Bruce.
Glad to see this, I am on the same time line as I just acquired my 58 f100 panel a month ago originally out of LA. I bought it from a family member who owned it since 62. been buying parts and doing research on obsolete parts as well. I will be making patch panels for door bottoms, roof to wall connections. all other body parts are in great solid shape. Thank you for posting these photos.
Jeez what a heap. Looks a lot better with all that **** cleaned off of it. I like the style of those, used to have a 59 pickup. It had vacuum wipers. They worked a lot better after I bought a double decker fuel pump with the vacuum pump on top. The manifold bolts used to work loose, had to tighten them up every couple of months. When I got the truck they were worn and wouldn't stay tight anymore. The six is a real work horse, I was happy with mine but of course, never expected any super sonic speed out of it.
The Jalopy Journal
