Projects Very new to all of this

Hey y'all I just had a 1950 Ford Custom 4 Door fall in my lap it's a bit of a basket case at the moment. I have a few questions as the previous owner did some things I'm trying to figure out how to undo or work around. First they shaved the door handles and the fuel fill door, I need some suggestions on a way to put some type of fuel door on it to have a filler neck. Second it needs seats but they altered the floor for some reason in the rear seat area so I need some suggestions on seats that might bolt into the car it is 90 % original and I'm trying to keep it that way. Has a flathead V8, triple deuce carbs, with the manual 3 on the tree. I will get some pictures as I start getting it back together. Thanks in advance

 

They might have fixed the rusted floors with flat sheet metal this loosing the stock high and lows and mounting points For the seats. Your gonna want something that is 49-55ish Ford bench. Check a craigslist type place fire people parting similar cars. Then you light have to make a spacer or a bracket to mount it.
If making seat brackets and figuring out a filler neck/door is too much to do. It might be more of a project than you bargained for or within your abilities.

is the original gas tank in place. If not most people put a mustang tank in the rear and just have the filler neck under the trunk lid.

 

I guess you could put the filler neck in the trunk or I’ve seen guys use a popup style motorcycle filler cap and bung. That might be cool. Door handles that are shaved usually have a button under the door that you activate with your foot. Can either be done manually or electrically with door popper solenoids.

 

Thanks I was not super concerned with the door handles it was more the filler neck being they did the body work and closed off the original. So I didn't know if anybody had any input I can just get a bolt on filler door but I was looking for some cleaner ideas from folks who have built these cars before

 

It's not that I can't figure out seat brackets or a filler door I was asking more experienced people for some cleaner ideas to keep it close to original I can put an aftermarket fuel door on it but I wanted some that would look clean. That's why I came here since y'all have all done this before.

 

Fill neck in the trunk vented to the outside of the car

 

Your car sounds like someone was building a mild custom. Many here would find that much more desirable than original. The flathead probably isn’t the original engine either. There are plenty of ways to build it. If you look through the mild customs threads or the shoebox threads you can get a lot of good ideas that will work. It sounds like you want to keep it simple and not do a full restoration on it. I would agree and since you have a great start on it, I would recommend you build it as a period correct mild custom. You could incorporate the custom features you want and the car would retain value. Thrown together isn’t worth as much. Restored might not bring as much as a nice mild custom. Especially if you add features like power brakes and steering. Or maybe even make it nice enough to do some local shows.

 

Pictures would help.

 

Thank you for the input, yes I'd like to keep it as original as I can beyond what has already been done.

 

I will get some ASAP and post them

 

If you fill out your profile with at least a general location there may be some HAMB members from that area that could see exactly what you've got and offer some better suggestions.

 

I didn't think of that great advice I'll do that

 

Or maybe make the tail light swing away and have the gas filler behind it,

 

What part of the ozarks? I'm about 70 miles north of osage beach.

 

Camdenton

 

Where do you search for parts like scrapyards around here

 

try around buffalo or lebanon

 

There is a scrap yard in Buffalo?

 

https://auto-salvage-yards.com/directory/mo_buffalo.htm and Reeds in eldon.

 

Thank you for the information it really is much appreciated

 

Early 50's Ford filler doors were shaped square and shaped to the body, so going back to original is going to require welding, and bodywork. Best to just get the filler located inside the trunk as mentioned and make it easy to do and not affect paint.
A 1965 Mustang gas tank works well, but will require a short piece of filler hose, and a vent out the side of that hose run down through the floor to keep gas smell out of the interior. The Mustang tanks a dirt cheap, and for around $150-$175 come with sender, hose and fittings you might need.
https://www.cjponyparts.com/fuel-ta..._source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Best

 

That's what I ended up doing with my 47 except I had to make a frame lifting the trunk floor

 

I am concerned about a few things mentioned.....

Shaved doors....
Missing fuel filler....
Something done to the floors....
I assume missing interior.....
It's a Fordor.....

In my mind I'm picturing a mucked up Bondo Buggy. Sorry without photos to go by, that's my default.

We really need to see photos.

It could be a great car.
It could be a parts car for a more complete Coupe or a Tudor Sedan.
What I'm hearing so far, it sounds like the latter.
We need pics.

 

It's still in pieces at the moment but I think I have ine

 

As soon as I figure out how lmao

 

As you are learning the quirks of the functions of the forum don't get discouraged. On a completely different car forum 13 years ago I signed and never figured out pics for a couple years. Generally the only way I got pics posted was to text them to buddies on the forum for them to post for me. In that period I pioneered several swaps along with several methods of repair(one is known as the "l67ss trailing arm mod"). And I was a young guy then from the generation proficient with tech. So don't think too much into it.

 

If that is a Bondo buggy like someone else suspected it sure is a pretty Bondo buggy

 

So far, the car looks really good.
It looks like the work that was done is legit.
An option for you concerning the filler.....

The '49 had a simple filler neck going through the quarter. That might be an option for you. 50s and 51s had the filler door on the quarter.
If the inside parts of the filler door are still there, I might consider replacing the filler door. If not, there's always doing it like the 49.

With the front sheet metal off, this may be a good time to get the engine running since you have access.

 

There is how the fuel neck is done in my Mercury, seems like the most common way it was done when the door was shaved. Kind of a pain at the gas station, but it looks good from the outside.