Customs The truck that ate my brain, workin on my F-100

I hate to borrow the title from Von Franco, but this truck really ate my brain. I have been going to shows in this since I was new, and I'm 33 now. Some of you might remember I pulled my dad's truck from his garage last year. It has been off the road for several years. I have finally started working on it.

The proportions of an F-100 bed have always bothered me. So I shortened this one 4in. The gap between the front stake pocket and the fender are now the same as the rear. Well of course that means the frame, running boards, and bed sides have to be cut down. It started off by lots of looking and planning.The tape shows where the front stake pocket will end up after the cut down

I started by shortening the frame. I took 4 1/4in out of it. After I rewelded it I put a 1/4in fish plate inside the frame over the seam. When it is time to finish the truck the whole frame will be boxed.
The layout

 

I started with a brand new bed. Using a spot weld cutter I took off the front stake pocket. Marked out 4in and cut it off.




After putting the bed side back on I was happy with the new look. I was afraid it might look too short. It is hardly noticable, until next to a stocker. My buddy Kenny brought his truck over and you could really see the difference.

 

right on ! looks great

 

The next thing on the list was to get rid of the square bed. The whole truck is round, and the bed is way too square. I wanted a slight curve on the rear of the bed. After cutting off that stake pocket, lots of looking and mockup were done. I kept taping different angles with welding rod to the back of the bed.The pocket will also be extended into the roll pan.

Once I found one I liked I made one out of cardboard just to check the look and the fit

Once I was happy with it, I had to make a stake pocket out of sheet metal.



Next up was to make new side extensions to extend down to the roll pan. I had already had a pan rolled by a friend of mine, so I had to make the extensions fit it. I tacked them on for a trial fit with the curved pockets.




Pan after being welded and ground


Now I have to weld the pan to the truck so I can get the pockets fit and cut the curve into the bed side. Back to work, more updates to follow.

 

Subscribed!!!

Awesome work on the frame and the bed. I've been thinking about doing the same thing on my '37 Dodge, I think a few inches out of the bed ahead of the fenders would really help the lines. I just keep thinking that's a lot of work to take 4" out of the bed! But with it laid out in pictures it looks a little more attainable. Definitely something to think about.

Keep up the good work!

 

great work!! i always thought a couple of inches out would look better. love the metal work you've done!!!!! keep it up

 

Wow very nice work. Keep us updated on your progress.

 

Nice work! Classy Mods

 

Thanks guys. I like little subtle tricks that make people think "is there something done here". The 4in is just that. Got a little more done tonight. I will keep taking pictures and keep everyone posted.

 

I've gotta keep an eye on this.
Keep up the good work

 

Luvin it!

now the top corner of the bed side towards the bed roll looks hinky....I always envisioned the bed side following your funky new stake pocket, then curving back out to the bed roll as a wing/fin.

 

That is what is going to happen. Now that the pan is on I can start to fit the stake pockets. Once they fit nice, I am going to cut the back of the bed to follow and then cut the top of the roll back into a kinda-sorta fin. Like a '57 Ford car, just a little fin.

 

Subscribed also...could read threads like this all day long

 

cool keep posting pics thanks

 

Oh God, i guess i better subscribe too....

 

Whoa. Most excellent.

 

A little update....
Spent the week getting the pockets finished up for installation today. After checking several times I laid out the cut lines for the back of the bed to match the new pockets.



Before I welded the pockets on I put a piece of 3/8 flatbar inside for something I'm planning for mounting the tailgate. I also put some primer on the bare metal.Then I made my cut.


After cleaning it up, I clamped the pocket on and plug welded it in place and welded it to the roll pan.




Then I started planning the back cut for the little fin.



Here is a little teaser for how I want to end the bed roll


And here are some shots of the whole truck for those that don't remember it

 

Looking good man..Big difference from 10 hours ago...
Welded up my floor to too...Man it was fuckin HOT out.

 

How much wedge is in the hood ? Good looking truck.

 

very hot today. Yeah, I did get quite a bit done today. Still a bunch more to go.

 

Thanks. We took 3in out of it.

 

Todays update is only a little one. I shortened the drivers side running board. I wanted to see the whole side done and together. It was probably the easiest part to shorten so far.

Here is after cutting and fitting it before welding


Welded and ground down

 

Looks great!

 

you have a keen eye for proportion and clearly a steady hand with the fabrication...very nice looking so far. Your modifications are subtle but the difference between a good build and a great one is the details...

 

Looks like you should have chopped the cab another inch or so at the front, it looks like it is leaning backwards.

 

He wouldnt have been able to do the chop because he wasnt even born yet,
His Dad and friends did that chop in 69-70?
He has a history of pics..

 

That's the way the cabs are built. You have to take a little more out of the front than the back to make them look "level". Or so I've been told, never done one myself.
Larry T

 

The truck was chopped 4in front and rear. F-100's have a natural lean in then. When my dad chopped it in 1972, he did not have room to stand back and look at it to see the lean. With the vent window in it, the lean is not as noticable. And Squigy is right, when he chopped it I was not even a twinkle in his eye yet.

 

Is it an optical illusion or is the front of the truck modified? I noticed a slope at the front fender/grill area and the front wheel is close to the front edge of the opening, unlike the original.
Good idea on modifying the bed & stake pockets. Your mod really helps blend in the bed with the rest of the truck. I really like what you're doing with the truck and will be following the build.

 

good job!


will you be shortening the wheel opening on it too? there's a lot of open space.