Projects '48 - '50 F1/F2 Running Boards: Before and After

As many of you know, I've been working on a '50 F2. Unfortunately, the guy before me determined that the running boards were too far gone, and pitched 'em years before I ever saw the truck.

So now I'm left with getting a set for an F1 and hoping they'll reach my rear fenders (it's a long bed), or trying to find a set of workable ones (financial reasons - everybody's piss poor around here). God knows, the Bonus Builts look pretty damned stupid without 'em.

See?




Which leads me to the reason for this post: does anybody have any before and after pics of running boards (car or truck)? Just curious as to how restorable they are, and whether or not it's worth it to put a set of new ones on my wish list.

I'm also real curious as to how far gone some have been when found, and how well they turned out!

And if you have a set of Bonus Built '48 - '50 running boards near Kansas City, hell, PM me! Maybe I can trade you something for 'em.

But enough about my sob story - show me your running board salvation photos!

Well, or tell me that I'm crazy for wanting to find a "workable" set and am better off getting new ones.

Also, I know there's a lot of revulsion with Fiberglas, but are they really THAT bad? I mean, they're just running boards, but are they strong?

~Jason

 

My 52 F2 originally had running boards that stopped just behind the door. Mine was an 8 foot bed so I assume that F2 trucks that had an 8 foot bed came this way stock. Did Ford offer full length running boards for a truck with an 8 foot bed?

 

Jason, your F2 has a 8 ft. long bed and an F1 should have a 6.5 foot bed. The wheelbase is different. You must have the long boards. As far as I know they don't make them in the aftermarket line. You might not have any choice other than buying some old ones to restore. They are usually very rough from farm use. Or you can use the real short ones from F4 and F5 big trucks that only go as far as the cab but they are also wider. You could also put a short bed on it and cut the frame and drive shaft down to correct length. Then you could use F1 running boards.

 

I put new ones on my F1 a couple of years ago from Rock Valley Antique Auto Parts in IL and I think they were about $600. They were just perfect.

 

They sure did have full-length running boards.



~Jason

 

Therein lies the rub.

I'd hate to order a new set, only to have to immediately butcher them, compromising their strength. I think I may have seen them available via an obscure source in Canada that doesn't advertise through regular channels... but who wants to pay all that dough to Customs?

AT any rate, I asked Flat Top Bob if he has any, and put the word out. Hopefully someone has a set. When I took this on, I'd decided to embrace it's 3/4 ton-ness, 8-lug wheels, big springs, and all, so I can't go with a smaller bed... no way.

And besides... the chase is half the fun!

~Jason

 

As far as I know no one reproduces the F-2, f-3 running boards. You might be able to cobble three F-1 boards into a set fo longer F-2 running boards, it will be a lot of work to make them look right. You also have to remember that the F-1 rear fenders are a different width that the F-2s so you would have to modify that area. You might be better off going to a metal fab shop and seeing if they can fab a set close to the length you need and doing the finish detail work yourself. As long as they look close to the original boards no one will know they're not.

 

Wow!

The white looks pretty good!

~Jason

 

Why not just build some? I would think the ones you would find on a old 3/4 ton truck would be pretty beat, i know the 2 F-2's around here and the boards where really bad. My 1952 F-2 had short boards that ended at the back for the cab, truck had 69K bought from the orig owner when i was 9 for $75.00 and had to feed his cows for a few months, man i wish i still had that truck but i thought the 4x4 world was where i wanted to be.

 

LOL! Ain't THAT the truth?

This running board deal is turning out to be a lot harder than I thought! My Holy Grail, so to speak. You wouldn't think F2 running boards would be THAT hard to source!

I mean, they don't have to be perfect! If they're too nice, I won't treat it as a driver, which is my whole aim of the truck. You know, maybe tow stuff with it, maybe haul an occasional couch or tv, or swap meet motor home in it. So even a little beat on is fine... but they're all gone, it seems.

~Jason

 

It's looking like I may have to... or run without 'em until I'm at the right place at the right time for some to fall into my lap. I mean, it shouldn't be too hard to make some, but then again, you'd think I could take the easy way out and find a set that only needed a little fixin'...

~Jason

 

I'm selling a 48 f2 in the classifieds that has a beautiful rust free set but you have to take the whole truck.
Also parting a 51 F3 that has a great rust free driver board and the passenger side has a 12 inch section in front of the rear fender where something sat that caused rust thru but nice otherwise. Of course the 51 boards don't have the added portion that goes under the cab and bolts to the frame. Let me know and I can send pics.

 

Man, torturing me with that '48! There's lots of bits I could use, but it's way too nice to part. You're on the right track selling it complete.

Will the '51 boards fit a '48 - '50?

 

I can feel your pain, Abomination,. I have a 51 F1 Panel. I can not find the running boards for this on. Not reproduced or in ads yet. I was looking in a LMC cataloge, running boards fit48-52 in years, in F1 and F2. hope this helps.

 

Are these what you're looking for?
1948-52 Running Boards *Specify* Stake Truck Panel $250.00pr

http://www.mercurypickup.com/mcmillan.htm



Mac's has cab skirts (rubber) for your panel for $46.95/pair...

LMC lists running board hardware for the F2, but not the actual boards... at least to my knowledge. Are you sure they have F2 running boards?

~Jason

 

Abomination, Hey thanks a ton. I have not found this site. This might work out for me. Thanks.

 

No problem, man. But remember, they're in Canada, and you'd have to pay Customs, etc.

~Jason

 

Man, I understand. I've got two F-3 Marmon-Herrington projects and both came with trashed boards. I bought a whole parts truck just to get its good boards. You'll probably agree, the worst area is the outer lip on the passenger side where the old farmer couldn't see when he was too close to the fence posts. That and rust under the supports and cross braces.

I don't see any benefit to cutting up F-1 boards. It's a waste. You could maybe check with Mike Dennis up near Omaha. He advertises in Hemmings a lot and probably would have some. Might even have some that aren't nice but would be fixable. What I've thought about doing is taking bent and rusted pairs and cutting out and piecing together a set from the bits. Then maybe coat the underside with Rhinoliner.

On your question about whether the late boards will fit an early truck, and vice versa, the answer is yes. The late ones just don't wrap up as far as the early ones. As long as they are '48 to '52 they'll work. Stu

 

By not "wrapping up" as far as the early ones, do you mean they aren't as close to the cab (but are the correct, full length)?

~Jason

 

Yes, the early ones have a flat area at the top that attaches to the frame as I understand. The late ones, like my '51s and '52s, stop at the top of the curve and only attach to the brackets. Both versions attach to the front and rear fenders the same. Stu

 

Don't forget that you are also gaining around 20% right now with the exchange rate which should offset most of those costs I would think. His prices are in Canadian dollars.

 

Im going to check into it, might be worth it. Never know.

 

Hey - good point!

~Jason

 

Is that gap between the cab and boards usually filled with a couple of pieces of long, flat rubber, or "Cab Skirts"? Would filling this gap be only a question of using '51/'52 "Cab Skirts", as opposed to the '48 - '50 Cab Skirts?

~Jason

 

Thanks, it's just off white primer.

 

The girls and I have been trying to figure out what color to go with on the truck. We've been toying with a cream cab/chocolate fenders two-tone, or maybe a root beer brown cab with black fenders... but that off-white really looks good, and we may add that to our list of considerations!

Then again, on a driver, it might get pretty dirty. LOL!

Earlier I posted a question about the rubber cab skirts that go between the cab and running boards - based on your pictures, they appear to fill whatever gap there is between the cab and said boards. Is this the case?

~Jason

 

Yes boards will fit your truck, you can't tell the difference unless laying under the truck in my opinion.
I am not sure I read the post correctly but who is in Canada? I am in Colorado.

 

Never mind I figured it out, got up too early...
You can use big truck running boards on the panel trucks, from an F4 thru F6. You just cut a relief at the back of them for the door post on the panel but otherwise same boards. Easier than finding original panel boards.

 

That Mcmillan Cash And Carry fiberglas guy is in Canada. Dude needed some running boards for his Delivery, and that guy's probably the only one around with 'em.

~Jason

 

You know, I may take you up on those F3 boards. PM sent.

~Jason