Hola (I'm practicing my Spanish as it seems English is soon to be a second language in California), After viewing from the periphery for a year or so, I figured it was about time to actually join this thing. For those not familiar with Northern California, my once quaint town of Folsom (known primarily for its granite walled prison) is located along Highway 50 about 20 minutes east of Sacramento at the base of the Sierra foothills in the heart of the California Gold Country. Anyway, enough geography for now. I'm currently working on a '53 F100 with my soon to be 16 year old son. We (meaning I) thought it'd be a great father-son project and a way to properly introduce him to all things automobile rather than a*****ped out Honda with a coffee can-sized muffler and more wings than a Fokker DR1. I picked up the ex-Farm Bureau truck from a gentleman who had intended to do a full frame-off restoration. Once the frame, stock drivetrain and initial bodywork were done, he decided he no longer wanted to put in the time or money. Perfect, I wanted something that had all the "core" work finished so I could focus on the aesthetics and hop-up the motor a bit. The vision is to remain true to 1950's technology and style in order to create a truck that would have found itself sitting outside any respectable speed shop. We are nearly there and I'll provide some pics in the near future. I'm working hard to get it done for her coming out at the Sacramento Poor Boy's Midnight Mass later this month. I just picked up a pair of sweet Stromberg 97s to sit atop the Navarro intake and now am looking to get the induction end squared away. I'm in the process of gathering all the required bits to convert to an electric fuel pump and get her on the road. Every day is a learning experience with these Flatheads as this is my first one having previously been in bed with early Mustangs and Sixties Cadillacs. If you are in the area and know a thing or two about wrenching on these babies, I can offer a cold beer, hot barbeque and some mean jambalaya for a bit of expertise. I'm sure that is enough for now, so Hello all and in the words of our Governator, "I'll be back" Pistol Pete
The Jalopy Journal
