So my husband just purchased a 1936 Ford 1.5 Ton Stake Truck for me. Even though I think he likes it more than I do at this point. Well technically he put a deposit down and will complete the purchase is a couple of weeks. The truck was brought down from Michigan and we purchased it in Miami. The truck frame is in great shape. The car has a 1936 Flathead V8 in it. I assume it is the original engine but can't be sure yet. The truck runs and has the original 4 speed. The truck will drive but needs a few things before we put it on the road. The glass, tires, lights, gauges, some basic body work and resolving a fuel tank issue. My husband's initial plans are to get it on the road, more or less, as it is. He wants to keep the stock ride height, with the stock steel wheels and the Flathead. Our plans are to use the truck. Our intent is not build a show car. We drive and use our cars. I like the look of the stock wheels but I would like to lower it a bit. How to accomplish this, not sure. I also want to set up two spun aluminum tanks on the sides for fuel. I saw photos in another thread with the side/saddle tanks painted in black and I think it looks cool. I'm not sure what size tanks would fit though. Here are some pics of the truck. I love hearing different opinions, thoughts so don't be shy! At the end of the day I am the parts buyer. So what I buy goes on the truck, whether my husband and the friends agree or not. These shots are the ad photos, so a bit grainy. These are shots my husband took when he saw the truck. The seller had bought the new floor for the truck and will give it to us. These are some of the areas that need body work. There is not a lot needed, in my opinion. The cab and body are in good shape. The frame and suspension. Banjo differential Thanks...
BTW... we have some experience doing some of this and a fantastic consultant/tech that helps us as well. We are finishing a resto-mod 1977 Corvette. We did a complete body off restoration. We upgraded suspension, brakes, built an engine for it, did all the fiberglass body work, etc.... We are not afraid to get dirty. We have a few toys to help like a small sand blasting cabinet to clean parts and a couple of paint guns to refinish parts. We also have a group of friends that will gladly come and help so a build off day or weekend is not out of the question. My initial plan is to: Clean off and POR-15 the frame, suspension, differential, etc. (I HATE RUST! ) Go over the engine, sandblast and repaint things in the engine bay Get two steel wheels to set up as a dually Sandblast the wheels and repaint the complete set - Get tires Convert to 12V Electrical Get the fuel saddle tanks setup Get headlights and brake lights in ANY tips tricks on these would be greatly appreciated! Things that would be helpful are the 12V conversion, places to buy parts, etc. THANKS A TON AND A HALF!
Sweeeeeet ride! I think I have it's younger cousin - a '41 Chevy. Mine will be a big dually pickup. I have already purchased a 9ft Stepside box for it. I was also thinking about the saddle tanks. Please keep us updated when you can!
We'll definitely keep you updated. We are looking at bed options for ours. Originally it was a stake truck but we have nothing now. Where did you get the bed? Is it a newer bed? Custom?
My bed is actually from a 1952 GMC. The 9ft beds are extremely hard to find. I was looking for an 8ft when this one showed up. Try using "craigseek" to find one. It searches all Craigslist postings throughout the US. It might take some time, but I am proof that they do show up. If you can get by with an 8 footer, they're easier to find. I just saw an 8 or 9 ft Model A or T bed in really good shape someplace. I will see if I can find it and forward the info on to you Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Check out item # 161178835587 on Ebay. I'm still looking for the other one. Brian Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I have a '36 1.5 ton Ford just like yours (this one stayed in Michigan). I have an early Hemi that is going in it. Most of my changes will be to the driveline. I would like to keep the wheels somehow, modified so they would be safe at today's highway speeds. I saw where a guy on the HAMB took a Winters quick change and modified it to accept dually hubs. These trucks need more reasonable axle ratios to drive anywhere but around your farm. Subscribing to this thread...certain to teach me a few things. Best of luck on your build. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
interesting start for a project. without getting too involved with all of the exterior repairs and just get to be a safe local driver would be good.
Hell yeah! That truck is sweet! Once roadworthy it will be a blast... Still have mechanical brakes? I have two of those 4 speed truck trannys that came with the flat heads I used in other car projects. I went with a T5 instead. Let us know if you need one. They came from late 40's trucks.
I read someplace the rear ratio is around 6:1. Lucky if this truck will hit 45 MPH. Agreed that we will have to change that rear ratio somehow. I am curious why you say the rims on there are not safe at highway speeds? Why is this? I'd figure they would be good as they are strong as hell.
Yes. Still has the mechanical brakes and they are working. Kind of scares me to be honest, but I figure if it's lasted this long on a truck rated as high as this, they can't be that bad. My husband says he might go hydraulic in the future though. We may decide to pull a trailer with this at some point. The 4 speed in there is good however, the gearing may be limiting. A T5 option is interesting and I saw in some searches that bell housings are available for the Ford Flatheads.
I have a '36 pickup waiting its turn to be fixed up. I'm thinking it would be a great daily driver for my 11 year old grandson when he gets old enough to drive.
I was getting ready to make the same observation. That's good news unless you're a purist. By that time a lot of the quirks of the earlier versions had been worked out. More horses too! Good luck with the truck. Looks like it will be a blast!
Thanks for the info. As far as being purists... We are not. We will be using the truck so we want it to be practical. The later Flatheads seem to have more aftermarket parts available. We are good with the newer engine. I found vanpelt.com and saw that you all saw the front water necks that sets this as a 1949-53 engine. Are there any good sites you all could give me to find mote detailed info on the Flatheads? How to differentiate them? I have seen that alternators, aftermarket A/C, starter, heads, etc....are different for the later engines so it's important to get it right.
That's awesome. Our daughter was told she would inherit the '77 Corvette we are doing but she does not want I to drive... She wants it for the financial benefit?!?!?! ... We don't know where we went wrong....
To me, the best flathead site on the web is this : http://www.flatheadsrus.com/viewforum.php?f=6 Their "techno" index is full of good stuff. The Ford Barn and Early Ford V8 forums are right up there as well.
OK. So the wife (Annemarie) and I bit the bullet. We purchased the truck and it is now sitting in our yard. The truck runs but we do have a number of things to do. For example, we need to do some body work. We need to get rid of some rust. We'll be getting the required panels and we'll be working on the body in the coming weeks. For now, its the engine and some basics. Those basics mean an oil and filter change, new spark plugs and wires and a new set of belts. With that, I should be able to confirm that the pumps work. We may go ahead and just replace the pumps to be safe. Beyond the basics, the first thing we want to do is resolve a fuel pump issue. We are missing the push rod from the engine to run it. I'll get that ordered and we should be good. Right now the engine is running from a small tank and the carb is being gravity fed. The second thing we want to do is go to a 12V from the 6V system. To do that, the plans are to change the solenoid, the coil, the starter and go to an alternator. In both of the above cases, I need to identify the engine and make sure I have the right thing in mind when it comes to the year. I tried the obvious by looking at the casting numbers on the block. What I have is this but I the numbers don't jive with the charts I have found. So the other option is to identify with other visual cues. Right now I am thinking I have a 1950 to 1953 version of the engine. What leads me there is that I have front mounted water necks and I also have separate bell housing. That tells me it is a 1949 and later. The main reason I am thinking I have a 1950-53 version is that I seem to have the narrow belts (I think the 1949 version had wider belts). In addition to that, I have a three blade fan. The first question I have.... Am I right?
First mystery we have is that there seems to be some unneeded hard line coming from the oil filter. I have no idea what this is for. Here are some shots. This is the filter image. That cut line is coming from the top fitting on the filter. There is a T-fitting there. One line comes up from the back of the engine. The second line is the cut one. Here you see the T-Fitting on the filter. Below is the origin pf the top line of the oil filter. The line leaving the bottom of the the filter heads down past the exhaust and into the oil pan. The question here: Can I simply remove that cut line? If not, where would it normally go?
There are a couple of sensors on the top of the heads. I would assume they are water temp sensors. The other is a shutoff of some sort. What are these? A fitting to bleed air out of the cooling system? Would that valve normally be there? Why not just a plug?
The next thing is that the vacuum on the distributor is not connected. Where would that normally be plugged in?
Last thing is the Fuel Pump... I wanted to shoot this for you in case it helps in the identification... Shots from a few angles....
Given I split the questions up and I had not gotten any replies... I will repost the questions in a single reply. These are all refering to the photos of the engine above: 1) Casting numbers on the block don't jive. Right now I am thinking I have a 1950 to 1953 version of the engine. Am I right? 2) I seem to have an "extra" line going to the filter which is now cut. What was that for? Is it needed? Was it being fed from the PTO? 3) On the heads I have two sensors (plug with electrical connections) that are connected to each other and I have a valve on the passenger side. What are those? What is the vent for? Bleeding air out of the cooling system? 4) Vacuum line to the distributor cap is disconnected. Where would that normally go? 5) Fuel pump. Did not ask... but when I removed that, there is simply a hole down into the block. There is no push rod. I can get that, not a problem, but I don't see a bushing or way to keep that rod in place. Any idea/comments on that? Is there a bushing that should be there? Thanks folks!
...can't help on your ?'s but was wondering about those radiator hoses,...do the connections where 2 hoses meet have a metal sleeve in them, seems they would have to have, never seen any done like that. I realize you'll probly be changing that set-up. Good luck with your project.
Yep... those hoses will be replaced. I'll likely see what I can locate in silicone. As for the connections, that's how we got it. Thanks so much.... hopefully we can get it on the road soon!
So moving onto some progress we've made. Last few weeks we've been dis-assembling and getting into the work. We started. Mostly just taking it apart. We discovered some more things, but overall, pretty much what we expected. Front rotors seem to be in good shape examining it externally. We'll be pulling them off, sandblasting them and then putting some high temp paint on there. The fenders as they are now before we removed them. We have dozens of photos of the lower area where the bolts sit. On those.... they will all get replaced with stainless steel for certain. Most of the bolts where good but with a great deal of surface rust. Almost all the washers disintegrated as I was getting them off. About a third of them had complete destroyed nuts. As we took the left fender off the rear lip that bolts into the left step is completely destroyed. The front fenders removed. With everything off.... And the future owner of the truck.... He "called it" for himself. LOL
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