Hi All, I'm looking to purchase a 31 Ford all original steel body pickup and box. Build includes: 1968 327 SBC thats been rebuilt. Edelbrock intake and heads. Tri-power Rochester 2 G. Comp Thumpr roller cam and valve train. Electric fan. Mechanical fuel pump. NV3500 5 speed standard transmission. 10 bolt posi traction rear end with 3.40 gears. 2 inch chop and 4 inch channel over frame. Original frame boxed. Steel wheels powdercoated with rings and caps. Whitewall. 4 wheel disc brakes. Paint 7 out of 10. Full interior. VDO gages except no tachometer. 32 Front grill. 3 core brass radiator painted black. Functional front window. Small bottle exhaust terminates short of rear diff. Stainless exhaust front to back. 11 gallon stainless tank in box. Let me know your thoughts? How much horsepower would you estimate motor at? Sounds really great with Thumpr cam. Has a really poppy and responsive sound. Also whats your thoughts on price. I haven't sat in it yet. Can a 6 foot tall guy fit? Thanks.
so, what is the asking price? doesn't seller know HP rating? before getting too excited better sit in seat and take a test drive - will be much cozier than your coupe
Edelbrock sells crate motors with their package if you compare 327 to 350's. Depending on compression I'll guess 330hp give or take 20. As for the size, I had a buddy with a '29, he was 6'2 and put a ton of miles on it, sometimes with 3 in the seat. I drove it 70 miles and was cramped. I'm 5'8. Price? It's finished and good looking. I think $22500 would be fair, they might ask 25 or 26, but might take 18 or 19. Let us know when you try to fit & drive it.
Chevys hot 327 made 300 hp, i would think this one should make that, but a lot depends on whats inside. Seating will be tight at 6 feet tall unless it was very carefully laid out, see if you fit first. I think redo 32 has the price nailed, asking price just over 20 with a sale price around 20 or maybe just a bit less. Sent from my LG-M153 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Also, if youre new to this, have someone who knows suspension and steering check it over. Thats where many builds fall short. Sent from my LG-M153 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Cool truck but very cramped,especially chopped and channeled.Nothing there is particularly hard to find or rare,which usually drives the price on an old vehicle. All the componants used to build it are readily available and at moderate prices ..Seems to be well put together.Still,i think you could find an A roadster with the same componants in the low $20's,which would generally be a much more desirable vehicle.I wouldn't pay more than $15,000 or $16,000 for it and thats if i really wanted an A pickup and didn't want to build one myself .Just my 2 cents. Bob
The pictures look good, but you need to try it on. If you can't stand to sit in it, it's not worth very much to you. JMO
It has been said already but it is important. DRIVE IT. Tight cab stock, but chopped & channeled??? With a 5 speed to boot you might find it quite uncomfortable. It is a nice looking truck though. I would like to know the asking price too.
I agree with the price range posted above, low 20's sounds about right. Nice looking truck. I'm 6' and yeah, it's a little tight in there, but I drive the hell out of mine, and would not be afraid to take it on a road trip, but I think I'd be looking at say ~300 miles per day would be my goal. Not a 500 - 600 mile per day kinda car. Mine is chopped I believe about 3.5", but no channel.
The channel is the killer, chops not so much. If you're willing to part with the money, you'd be nuts not to sit in it and drive it first. And not just around the block. You don't want an expensive decorator item.
Asking $35000 CAD which equates to $22750 US funds. Looks really good in pictures and sounds amazing in videos. Its a 7 hour drive. I'm planning to view it and bring it home. What would you guys think fair drive it away price is in US dollars. I add about 35% to that, to figure out CAD dollars. Would a pair of bomber seats buy me a little more head space. I'm not a really big guy. 160lb. just lankey. When it comes to resale someday do the pickup hotrods sell like the coupes. I've had two 31 coupes now. I'm thinking the motor is built to low 300hsp. That's what the seller mentioned. Do the original boxed frames kick up over the rear differential like the aftermarket frames do? My first 31 had problems with rear diff hitting frame rails over bumps. Not sure if it was a original frame or home made. I'd love to learn as much as possible before I leave in a couple days. Thanks. Great forum here.
Seat is a 3 inch thick base on floor and same for back which is vertical on the back of the cab. So you sit really vertical vs. on backwards inclined angle. Sitting straight up doesn't help for vertical clearance. My last coupe was 33 inches from seat to roof. This one is 32.75 inches. I had about 1.5 inches of headspace before. I would love to make it work. Love the A's and always wanted a peppy 327 in one.
Sounds like you really want this one. I certainly can understand those feelings. If you are 6' and only 160 lbs you probably are going to be ok. The chop is no big deal but the channel can be a big deal ( read that CAN BE not will be) I am sure the vertical seating was to get more leg room as opposed to head room. All different size folks and all of them come with different requirements. The 300 HP 327 is going to be plenty enough power to make you very happy in that light weight car with a 5 speed, I don't think you have any worries there. I personally just hate bomber seats, and if the existing cushion is only 3" as you mention I don't see a lot to gain by going that way. You just need to make the 7 hour trip and go see that critter, set in it and drive it somewhere and see how you fit. In the end only you can decide. Good Luck and be careful getting it home because from the way you are talking about the car I am pretty sure that it is coming home with you... Congratulations too by the way.
Thanks Hombre. Great advice. Nothing beats cruising with the arm out the window and sound of a nice engine note.
$20K US - already figured out crossing the Border with it? any extra fees/taxes for that? have insurance lined up on both sides of Border just in case you decide to bring it home. just because you travel 7 hours to see it should not factor in to your decision to buy it - for test drive do not just drive flat smooth level roads
My buddy is building the same truck. I'm 6' 1" tall. Unchopped my eyes are at about the top of the window. I say if it's chopped 2" and channeled without a z'd frame, you better get in it and find out how you fit. It's all in how thick the lower seat frame/springs are. As far as leg room, you're not going to have any...
Well ended up purchasing the 31 pickup and fitting in it rather well. First cruise after getting it home. Its a blast to drive with the 5 speed. 327 is no slouch. Need to setup the tri-power differently. Currently center is the main and at about 50% it progressively brings on front and back carburetor at the same time. When this happens most of the time it creates a bog. My last setup like this I ended up setting all 3 carbs directly and seem to run best. All please weigh in as to resources to look at or things to try. Carbs are Rochester 2 barrels. Thanks.
cool pick up... 20 years ago a buddy suggested that I chop my '33 coupe to go with its channel and section... he said I would enjoy telling guys that it was "chopped and channeled" terms from the day... I didn't chop it...
Post some pix of the carb setup and maybe we can spot some adjustments to try. I'd like to see more of the truck anyway.
What Stu said, my avatar (31 Model A PU) fits me ok but I'm 5'9", very thin seat back helps, sit in it first!