Hello- Does there exist any source for rear door panels or whole doors for the F series panel vans of the '50's? I have a candidate spotted in a junk yard that I'd like to take on, but no rear doors. I'm guessing that I'm looking for something that probably isn't being reproduced.. In which case I wonder what might be out there that could be close enough to adapt - rear doors from something else? Hack and splice front doors? Totally make doors up myself and learn how to use an english wheel to replicate some kind of curves that will line up with the body curvature? Is there a place out there that junkyard panel vans congregate and have an abundance of rear doors available for salvage? I'm not sure how strong this body even is... I don't remember if the frame is present, no windshield, the front sheet metal is not, the engine is not... And from the 5 photos I have you can't tell because the gr*** and weeds are too high. But it has a couple 50 gallon drums in it that are sitting on the floor, so maybe it's got hope... But I see not having rear doors as a potential speedbump on this plan.
You might give Bruce Horkey a call as he used to have a whole bunch of used F100 parts. https://www.horkeyswoodandparts.com/ Good luck
There's no aftermarket for Panel rear doors, also the rear bumper and gas tank are Panel truck only. They like to rust above the front gl*** and the roof to side body seam. Where are you located as panels pop up around here fairly often.
I'm in Michigan. Funny you should mention it, I got a '56 cab from the same junkyard as this one and 30 minutes into my drive home, the roof flew off! Yep, it rusted all the way around at the roof to side body seam.
You might inquire over on the FTE forum......ford-trucks.com in the 48-56 section. Several panel owners there.
If you must have an early F-100 Panel Truck that needs back door work for a Project I have a much better Canidate. I have a 53 F-100 that is all there and stock the back doors are with it. The Truck is Sectioned and Channeled, runs and moves under its own power that is 302 and C-6. Back doors need a lot of attention as in total rework from what is now installed changed back. I have a plan for that part. The big deal here is that I'm just outside Portland Oregon. I've been into 53-56 F-100 since the 60's and even back then the back doors for these Panel trucks were impossible to find usable ones. I built this thing from 1968 through 1970. I'm responsible for the back door mess. I drove the truck 150K miles and sold it off running and driving looking much better than its current condition. I sold it off around1956 I think, and it got turned into a Mess and now is a total project again and found its way back home. I don't have it in me to do it again given my age and other projects in front of it. I would love to see it brought back to where I stopped building and ready to go another 100K miles. Yes it had paint and upholstery in it, not so much now. It would take the right guy for me to sell it again. If it don't grab you at first sight it's probably not the project for you. It's a very sad story how it all happened. This is how it sets today minus the Chrome wheels. This is the back door mess however it does open and close very well. So you know it was all done in 1970. You had to have been there to understand. It was built and used as my Shop truck, it was driven every day and hauled parts and towed my trailers and did it all very well. I hate seeing what it turned into after I sold it. You must have some basic body working skills or it's not the project for you. No smart *** comments please. if it's not your flavor we don't all need to hear it.
Every back door I've ever seen in a Yard are rough. You're not going to have multiples to choose from.
When I still had my '54 I did find some decent (meaning fixable) rear doors, but didn't need them at the time AND they were $1500. The running boards are panel only also, funny thing is I did find a set in Michigan for sale (hard to find anywhere), Denise got them for me and held onto them until BenD could bring them to LARS. I've since sold off all my panel stuff, minus the spares for the current Chevy panel. There are aftermarket for the running boards, but they're not ribbed like the factory.
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