Yeah, it's not a biggy, but it's not bad for an old retired guy spending most of his time doing work on other folks' stuff. It's beginning to look less like a work truck and more like a speed-shop push truck/parts shagger. The dead-nuts copy of an F-1 bumper, in stainless, is done by Sacramento Vintage Ford, and it cost less than what it would set you back to have a good stock bumper plated. The stainless grille trim was also picked up at Sacto, but I'm not sure if they are responsible for it or if it's a Dennis Carpenter product. No, the quality is excellent. The wide-white radials are from Diamond Back. They said delivery would take two weeks; not true, got 'em 12 days after ordering. Excellent quality in addition to good service and price. Concentricity and lateral runout rival high-quality Michelins, and acceptable amounts of weight were required to balance them. I've driven them only about five miles at freeway speed -- and they felt great -- but I'll withhold judgment until I've logged a few thousand miles on them. Everything I've heard about Diamond Back WWRs on the HAMB, however, tells me I have reason to expect good life and performance from them. I'm pleased with the decision to do the new wheels in body color. A couple of ivory stripes on each one will finish the job. It's looks like I might need some more-agressive lowering of the front end than the yet-to-be-installed reversed-eye main leaves will provide. Looks like I might need an axle from El Polocko's pal in Phoenix. I don't want to stand the truck on its nose, but it needs to look a little less 4X4 than it does right now. BTW, I realize this post sounds like I'm shilling for the parts providers, but I receive no favors from any of them, and paid full boat for everything. I just wanted to give them a public attaboy for doing what all merchants should do. So, here you are, work truck on its way to speed-shop truck . . .
Very tasty, Hatch! Don't even mind the restrained chop, although I prefer F-1s to have a full-height turret to maintain a pleasing aspect ratio of the elements above and below the beltline. Would you mind redoing it as you did except for te chop and e-mailing me a file? I'd appreciate it and would love have that image for my files. I'm pulling this version as well because of it's restraint and tasteful execution. Thanks for the attention you've given the truck.v You're the gun!
I gotta start using "layers" ...hope this is OK...do you want to save it from the board or have it emailed?? ...oh yeah...I agree...those bodys cant take much ...if any chop...and still look right.
sinister -- Yes, that is a factory color. In fact, it was the color of the very first F-1 to roll off the line at Ford's Atlanta assembly plant in 1948. My F-1 is an early '48 assembled at the Richmond, California, plant.
Yes, that's it! Would you please send me both files as e-mail attachments? I like what you've donw, and I have a couple more F-1s in mind including an LSR production pickup plus a tribute to Chuck Porters custom/hot rod F-1.
I love it as it sits. Maybe I'd just do the reversed eyes...I'd wanna keep it totally useable as a truck. Didn't realize how sweet those trucks really are! Bill
I think I need a bit more than the springs can provide, and 3 inches of drop in the axle won't position the hard parts below the scrub line. In combination, the springs and axle will knock it down 4 inches in front and give it a noticeable rake, just about right.
Are you going to (or already) put disc's on the front?? Or, do you have any plans for the front binders other than stock??
The truck looks great, av8. I wish my '52 F1 looked near that good. Also, I happen to have a nice Mordrop axle for that truck collecting dust in my closet. It's dropped either 2.5" or 3" over stock. I decided to leave my truck at stock height, so I will not use it. I would let it go for a reasonable price if you are interested.
Sometimes the beauty is in the restraint.....knowing when to leave a good thing alone. Beautiful truck..... Brian
[ QUOTE ] It's beginning to look less like a work truck and more like a speed-shop push truck/parts shagger. [/ QUOTE ] Sweet. Any plans to add a simple "Speed Shop/Auto Parts" logo on the door? It looks good as-is but would look cool with a vintage styled logo.
Hey Mike how bout a removeable push bar for the Bonneville trip? Maybe a padded push bumper that picks up existing holes in the bumper? There was a 53-56 F100 at the SK500 with a piece of old tire tread mounted on his. Maybe someone has a pic? I like it. Very tasty F-1 Mr. Bishop.
I sure like your little truck. Guy down the street has a couple of nice ones. I posted the pic of the running black one a while back. Are you going to make the varnished oak stake bed sides and paint a speed shop logo on those?
klazurfer -- Very nicely redone! Would you please photoshop it with these added changes . . . 4-inch body section 1-inch section of front and rear fenders above character line 2-inch section of front and rear fenders below character line 2-inch section of bed eliminate bottom grille bar one version with the tasteful chop you did, and one version with a stock top TIA Mike
Hatch, Mike -- Check your PMs. haring -- The truck will be lettered to honor my flathead-building mentor, Ed Binggeli. "Bing's Speed Shop" was a well-known NorCal go-fast emporium for drags, lakes, and circle-track. Here's the logo on a very successful hardtop built and sponsored by Bing . . .
Mike, that is one nice vehicle!!! If you can post a pic of the Bing's logo complete, I'll bet it'll be Photoshopped to your delight by somebody within 10-12 minutes!!! Steve
av8, i've been looking for a way to improve on henry's f-1 sheetmetal design since i bought clarence in '73. i used to think that if you sectioned the bottom of the front fenders by the width of the bottom grill bar and eliminated the hump in the lower grill opening that it would look cool. did i describe that well enough to understand? what i mean is that the grill opening would then be an oval (technically a rectangle with rounded ends) instead of the factory shape. then about 7-8 years ago i spotted an f-1 at pueblo nsra mini-nats that had done exactly that. i took a few pix and looked at it for a year or two and finally decided that the ford designers were probably correct and that i liked the factory look better. i don't know if this is the look you're trying to get with the bottom bar removal or not. if this is what you're getting at let me know and i'll look at home and see if i can find the pix i took.
also: 1. rodshop's brother pie-cut his f-1 hood and i like it really well. maybe he could post a pic of that truck if anyone's interested. (rodshop - you on here today?) 2. another look i've often thought of is to "close in" the grill opening to a rectangle (with an inch or so radius at each corner) just around the grill bars; fill in the area around the headlights; and then cut new holes to tunnel/french the headlights in, but a little farther apart than they are now. maybe use another grill bar at the top to eliminate the parking lights where they are now and then put some '48 ford passenger car parking lights tunneled in under the headlights. could someone photoshop that idea for me/us? i'd really like to see what it would look like. sorry, mike, if i got this off-track. i mean this to be helpful and not unnecessary clutter.
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