I talked to guy earlier today who told me he had several old Fords. I asked him if he wanted to get rid of any of them. He said well I guess I would sell my 56 Ford truck. He was aking $1500. He told me he had owned since 1965 and it was parked 10 years ago. He told me he had just had the 292 rebuilt before he parked it. Said less than 500 miles. He told me there was a little spot of rust in the cab corners but the rest of the body was great. It sounded good to me. Then he said but its a long bed. I have not seen it in person yet. So should I just forget about it and look for a short bed or buy it and shorten the frame? My main questions are whats a short bed in similar shape worth? Is a long bed a F250 and could it have the big back window (I'm thinking no)?
It could be a F250, but then again, it may be a F-100 Express long bed. Just slightly more than 25,000 1/2 T long beds were made compared to just over 137,000 short beds. To confirm if its a 1/2 ton long bed, check the VIN stamped on the Passenger side frame just below the firewall/floor to the drivers door plate, should start with F10XXXX. The F10 indicates F-100. The F-100 long bed was a "parts bin" model as Ford was re-designing the trucks and had plans to make a proper long bed for 1957. So in 1956, the first year for a 1/2 long bed, Ford took the 3/4 ton chassis (from the F250), installed 1/2 ton suspension, 1/2 ton fenders, the cab was common to all F-100's, F-250's and F350's. Then Ford installed a 3/4 ton 8 foot bed, which in itself was a 9 ft bed cut down. F350's, and the larger cabs had big back windows usually. F-250's could be either or just like the short beds. A long bed frame is shortened in two places to get it to be a short bed: before the rear diff and after the rear diff. Same applies to the box. Lots of work and sometimes, if you want a short bed, its cheaper to buy a used or new frame, same with the box. But then maybe you should look for a short bed if you're going to do that. The 1/2 T long bed can be hot rodded quite nicely and the big benefit, you don't see many of them, not like the short beds which are everywhere.
Hey, if that truck is indeed a legitimate F-100 L W B, Leave it the hell alone . The gentleman from Alberta is correct . This is indeed a keeper truck and don't be cuttin it up !!!! Scrubba
We have a 56 long bed. Its currently sitting & rotting Its a 1/2 ton with five hole 16 in weels. It came originally with a 272 and factory auto trans, electric wiper,s and 3.90 rear gear ratio. We last drove it 30 some years ago. I have a 351 cleveland and a FMX trans that might someday be installed in it. Old Wolf
I like long beds you can fit more in them and I think they look a little more streamlined and not so hacked off and stumpy.
sounds like a good price to me especially if you can get the original engine running and it was rebuilt.. longbeds are cool.. im a flatbed person my self.. but hell.. go for it man.. go check it out at least before you blow it off. its all about what you want. chris.
Yes indeed....you can carry more cold beer than a short box (18 inches more room), or better yet, a harley will fit in them and you can actually close the tailgate, try that with a short bed!.
I would have pre-judged this with a 'No WAY!' But not now... (I have a '55 F 100 short bed) This grey '56 is the cat's ass. I also notice a center stake pocket. Bet the tarp's longer than a story.....
I like long beds, they're different and I think look bad ass. But what do I know, I'm the idiot with a 4-door Chevy.
i really like the bed.. looks so sharp.. man i could drink beer and look at that wood all day.. curly maple would look good back there too. chris.
Go with the long bed!! extra stake pocket,wheel wells,keep it different,One bad 56, nice pics! The big window came on the long beds,forest service liked them because they see better when backing up.When lowered the long beds really look good.
I really like the wood in the bed, looks kinda like an old Jaguar dash. They used to burn the wood to get that tint I was thinking of trying it on one of my guitars
That looks good. I like it. I'm not writing off longbeds I just hadnt seen 56 long bed. I'm gonna go check it out tomorrow.
Its actually white oak (more open grain than red oak) stained black with 11 coats of clear on the top and 4 on the bottom. After three coats, wet sanded in between coats moving from 400 grit to 2000 grit for the last couple of coats. Here's a better pic in the sun.
Wow that's alot of clear it definitely shows! It came out great I'll keep that in mind when I build my next guitar
I've seen a cpuple one here in the mid west and a couple of different one's in the Pacific North West, I guess loggers liked them. They indeed look odd but they are what they are, may look real good dropped moderately kinda like a frieight train. If had a shot at one I would go after it myself. if I didn't like it after I owned it I do own an arc welder and a sawzall. 1500 is cheap for a running '56. I did read that right it is 1,500 and 15,000?
Yep $1500 It's not running right now. He said he parked it 10 years ago and it hasn't started it since.
Long beds are also wide and tall look at the pictures. A long bed tail gate will not fit on a f100 short bed. Look at this yellow truck it has been in several magazines. I think it is a Mr. Carpenters truck that makes f100 truck beds, not the parts guy. Look close it is a shortened long bed with the wide tail gate and inside finder flares. I think it looks really nice, not chopped up.
The long bed is 6" wider, notice the wheel wells. Looks alot better from behind on the highway. Short beds look narrow in the rear. Harley
I really like the way the long box looks. Plus I have an opportunity to purchase one very reasonable. Now to convince the other half. Gary
Well did you ever buy the truck? I gathered all the parts needed to convert my long bed to a short box. Got a short frame and bought a short PK bed trailer. But decided to keep it long bed. Ive also got a 53 250 parts truck. The 3/4 ton backing plates hubs and drums will fit on the 1/2 ton spindles.
Old Wolf, My truck/ project is a 1/2 ton long bed with the big window. I have had it for 20 years and planned to shorten it to a short bed. Not any more. In the photos you posted (second to last shows one board) I see the long running boards I need. Is that a working yard and where is it located. Thanks Jerry
Its actually part of my backyard hoard. The 53 running boards are better than the ones on my 56. I plan to use them on my long bed 56. However if you wait long enough its likely you can buy them really cheap at my estate sale LOL!
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