Customs The first custom F-100 ?

OK folks... I finally have an update on the truck. I sold the canopy, so now I am getting started on the changes I mentioned before. It looks alot better without the canopy, so then I removed the truck mirrors and installed the custom tailgate that was part of the changes made in '64 when the truck was changed to red and black... even better! Next, I will install a set of vintage Firestone wide whites. The original tonneau cover is in good condition, but has shrunk quite a bit... Waiting for a nice sunny day to lay it out and try to stretch it back out. If anyone has any experience with this, I would appreciate any tips or tricks.

BEFORE...


AFTER....




A few more pics...

 

More Pics...

 

Excellent! Glad to see this thread come back to the top with some progress.

Also, I'll go ahead and say I'm digging the 60's look it's currently rocking, especially the Polara tails.

 

Thanks Tinman ...

I will post more pics soon. The period white walls should help the "60's Look" The truck runs good and it's fun to drive, but still needs some minor repairs and tune-up.

 

It's looking a lot better already.

 

Hey,

Again, no way in hell I'd repaint a "greek'' paint job!

As for the vinyl cover, I'd snap the front on, unroll and let it sit in the sun (do you guys have sunshine in Wash.?) anywhere it fights you for fit up, I'd hit with a heat gun, & gently warm up the vinyl until you have movement. You may wanna start with washing the cover in a tub of hot, hot water. Then install wet & pull until she fits.

I'm headed over to work on my '54 F100 this afternoon, it's been sittin in my monster-inlaw's driveway for bout a year, now.

" The problem with america is that the guys who really know how to run the country are all tending bar and cutting hair. " - George Burns -

 

No plans to repaint!

Sunshine is hard to come by here, but supposed to get some next week. The heat gun had crossed my mind, but I hadn't thought of the hot water idea... Thanks!

 

seems oddly familiar . . . .

 

Great story and a cool truck.

My dad too was into mid 50 F100s and in '69 joined a club called Cl***ic Pickups, an off shoot of Pickups Limited here in so cal. I joined a few years later in '72 when I was 16 and still have my plaque. Wish I had one of the several pickups we had.

 

Very cool!... Tell me a little more about the truck in the photo... Thanks!

 

That's cool... I bought my first F-100 when I was 12 years old (A 56 Big Window that I still own). Where I lived in Oregon, there were no clubs to be affiliated with, so I ordered a catalogue from SoCal Pickups in CA and corresponded with members of the CA clubs through hand written letters. Those guys were very helpful to a young kid with big dreams and always answered my questions.

Not a long shot to think you could find an old "club truck" from that period still lurking in a garage somewhere... Best of luck to you.

 

I keep looking for your truck in the neighborhood, can't wait to see it in person.

 

Take a look in my garage!
I haven't driven it much, but will be driving it more as the weather improves and car shows come up.

 

I've had it about 10 years. The contents page of the very first Rodders Journal had a picture of it and my 39. ( i didn't own it at the time) So when it came up for sale I snapped it up as quick as I could.

Drove it that way for about 7 years. When it's turn came up for refurb, I decided to bob the fenders and go with the Greek tribute paint-job. He was a local hero and had recently p***ed, just wanted to remember him.

 

Just an "FYI", if you ever want to recreate the old R&C cover shot, it looks to be taken at the Quad on the Stanford University campus, facing the Hoover Tower. I don't think things have changed much from that time. I know that both structures are still there.

 

Beautiful F100, I like that you're keeping the paint!Nice to see you'll be able to enjoy it this summer. Any luck on the mor-drop?

 

Thanks... Looking forward to driving it more.

I found a local guy who can drop the axle. Another HAMBER told me about him (Same guy who dropped the axle on Rolf's new '32 project), so I just need to call for price, etc.

 

My first truck was a big window too.
I've always liked the '54 grill and have been thinking of getting another f100 so I've been checking out the slant cabs for sale around here. Never had one of those, in fact I haven't had a f100 since 1977.

I bought an axle from Sid's two years ago for my A bone. He does nice work and handles F100 stuff too.

My old plaque.

 

Wildcycles, glad to see these thread back to the top. I'm now part of the F100 crowd with my custom 55 F100. Look forward to seeing it with wide whites( are you going to run the Olds hubcaps ? ) One of my favorite custom f100 of all, ever since seeing that F100 on the little pages cover, had wanted one myself. can't wait to see more updates

 

looks nice, but take those aftermarket mirrors off

 

Mirrors? What mirrors?
I took them off right after taking the canopy off...

 

Do tell, I know a kid that has a 56 and wants his axle dropped.

 

wish I had those running boards ! Mine had chrome ones also at one time, but were way to far gone ! I went with padded covers .

 

The '53 through '56 F-100's are in a cl*** of their own. They looked good just as stockers and it was all an improvement from there. They are still an eye catcher in my opinion. The nicest '56 I've seen in years is right here in my home town and it just ******ed the Big Trophy at the local Show held as a Fund raiser at a local Tire Store parking lot. We had over 100 entries and I hope it done again next year.
Normbc9

 

Well... I have made a little more progress on the truck, so here's an update:

We finally got some sunshine here, so I put the tonneau cover over the bed and started working to stretch it to fit again. I don't think it has been on the truck in over 40 years, so it was really shrunk, but with a little sun and patience I got it back on!

 

And then the wooden bumper had to go!

 

Another angle...

 

I love that truck. first time I saw it in the Hot Rods & Customs of the 1960's book, I knew what my '55 was going to look like. Nice find and I'm glad that one is still around. Oh well looks like I get to make some adjustments to my plans.

 

Looking good. Keep us posted

 

Sid's is the place to get your axle dropped. He has done research on the elements that are usually overlooked: king pin bore size, King Pin Inclination, and desired camber.
His quality standards are very strict, but as he is in Oklahoma, there is postage.
Sid comes west for the swap meets, and will bring your dropped axle with him, if so desired. He can drop one from one of his cores, then take yours back as a core...or you can send him yours.
Mor-Drop's Marty Costello has been ailing, very ill I heard.