Featured History 1951 FORD F-1 ---- 51 STYLE SHOP TRUCK

Wrong bumpers????
Yes the front bumper is ‘48-50... primarily.
It looks very nice. There is a possibility it came with the early style bumpers, not likely but very possible.
Engine color.....
F-1s had red V8s from the River Rogue plant. Maybe it’s a shade lighter than the factory red but it looks good to me.
Black fenders.....
Absolutely not!!!
No stock F1s came with black fenders unless the truck was black. The fenders were body color. The bumpers and running boards were black like this truck.
Early 51 the grilles could be argent (silver). By ‘52 grilles were off white.
Brown vinyl was the standard seat color ‘48-50. In ‘51 Ford offered the 5 Star cab with upgrades on the inside. It’s obvious that the seat has been recovered but is very tasteful using the original seat.
The fan shroud is an addition. As far as I know fan shrouds were only offered on the bigger trucks.
Of course for a stock truck it should be 6V with single exhaust.

This very, very nice F1.
I dare say better than 90 percent of what’s out there today.
Very nice!

 

thanks for the kind words... I really like the truck...few little mods and it's done...

 

so looking at RODDING USA mag... issue #67, at the pics of the florida show...page 77... and theres this same truck in the show pics.... that was oct. 23....so it been coast to coast???...

 

Be advised when you mount the rear plate with all the factory brackets the cop following you will not be able to read the whole plate and will pull you over. Ask me how I know you say. I've got a '48 with all the same hardware and I've been stopped twice. No tickets, just verbal concern. Funny thing is, I've never run a front plate and never been hassled about that. They were too busy busting me about the tinted windows.

 

My avatar truck is a Canadian F47 truck- Vermilion and black from the factory. Yours is a nice truck.

 

Looks like a really nice pickup! I documented lowering my beater 51 HERE with a dropped axle, etc.

 

Different wheels, wider tires, lower front, sounds like good plans. Nothing wrong with an automatic transmissions, the modern one's are much better then the old autos were. If you intend to use it on the highway a lot, an OD may not be a bad addition to the automatic transmission.

After your planned improvements, all it looks like it needs is for you to drive it 30,000 + miles and enjoy it.

 

so some progress... got the 3'' lowering springs in..lowered it 2''... got the rear bumper moved up and in and mounted the 3rd brake light , bed was on all funky so delt with that,.. tire guy said the rear tires came in and pick them up in the morning...

 

more progress... got the new tires and wheels om... they moved the rim out 2''... looks pretty good....

flipped the rear spring hangers...found out you can't bolt them in the same holes.... if you do the spring will bind... so anyone that did it that way.... thats why it rides ruff...

next cut all the exhaust off.... the manifolds had broke bolts on both sides...but the bolts holding the manifolds on came out easy...sooooo,.... what a great time to put headers.....the pass. side fit... but the dr. side needed mods to fit.... gonna be dual lake pipes when done...gonna do it with aluminumized lake pipes as I'm not sure if I want black or chrome...

 

Got any pics of progress? I love these trucks, especially when they are done as a hotrod. I painted this one a few years ago.

 

it's at the shop,... I'll post up some when the lake pipes and tires are done..

 

In this pic....moved the bumper up and in...changed out the rear rims and tires... went to 2'' wider (7'' reversed) 7 x 16'', and went to 700-16'' tires..
removed all the exhaust to the motor, headers and dual lake pipes... flipped and moved to the rear more the spring shackel... so lowered about 1.5''

 

here you can see the rake I ended up with,..kept the same tires and wheels up front... did the speedway 3'' lowered springs...lowered the front about 2''

as you can see, the lake pipes filled in the step where the fenders hang below the running boards,... makes the whole truck look lower

 

another angle that shows the tires tucked to the whitewalls front and back, and the hot rod rake I was after...pretty happy with it so far...

 

full back view shows the shin slicer exhaust tips gone... bumper in and up to the bed... lic plate moved from the side to the center and a so cal lighted chrome frame w/ 3rd brake light

 

the boys at our shop fabbed up the lake pipes,... left them raw aluminized as I wasn't sure if I want chrome or not,,,, kinda like it as is... but might go chrome down the road...

 

thanks Sir, was hoping you would like it... fun truck to drive...putt putt shop truck

 

Now I would drive that one !

 

Looks great, I have 2 completed trucks, I have been driving my 51 F-1 for 38-years and my 51 M3 for 6 years. The Mercury is flathead with a 5-speed. Original paint, I have not washed it in 18-years.
The important measurement when lowering is to keep at least 5-inches at the front of the running board, this will save the running boards when you drop over speed bumps.
Your back bumper is perfect. The front bumper is 1950 but could be left over and used in 1951.
And remember the grille has KNUCKLES not teeth. Ford wanted the tough image.

 

nice trucks....!!!!more pics please...

 

Beautiful truck!!!!

 

notice to all... feel free to post your F1... and any and all comments welcome...enjoy

 

About the only thing I would change on this sweeeet F-1........
6sally6

 

I got 7.5 as it sits right now, thats to the bottom of the lake pipes..