first timer...

[firsttimerodder]

im looking for ideas for my project. im looking into building a 1948-1956 Ford truck. i was thinking of chopping it and raising the bed a few inches to get bigger boots underneath it. the power plant would be a fuel injected 5.0L out of a early 90's mustang hokked up to a 9 bolt rearend out of a bronco. the front would have mustang II suspension but i am still deciding to go with either air bags or leaf in the back. my father has to rear air bags left over from his street rod i could use for free... the only thing is that im a 16 year old highschool student with a limited budget consisting of my pay checks every 2 weeks. anyone have some input/ideas?

[dkaok]

I have the perfect truck for you. Its half completed. 1948 ford F100. Mustang 289 engine with a blower. Front end has brand new disc brakes and "A" frame suspension with power steering rack ( just need the pump) It has a C4 transmission with a shift kit. The list is end less. All the body panels have been removed to facilitate painting which is the last step. You could take it from here and finish it if you like????

[firsttimerodder]

i dont have the money to but that haha. i really with i could but ya.. i have like a grand saved up right now. but thanks for the offer.. where are you from? if its close to me i would like to come see it and get ideas..

[LEADFOOT]

well I like the low budget build. and for me I try to keep them under $2000

what I do is find a low cost vehical that runs to start from. and right now My pick for ford truck builds is the 86 to 89 lincoln town car. with the 5.0l fuel injection, aod, and 4 link coil 8.8 rear end. its hard to beat. I have made the frame work under 51 to 79 ford trucks.

but with the 48 to 56 f1 a person needs to move the side frame rail in about 11" or the frame sticks out from under the cab.

so for about $200 to $400 a person can pick up a running 80's licoln town car. That will give you the engine, trans, steering, suspention, brakes, rear end, and the all electronics. for fuel injection..............

the lincoln frame is 10 ga sheet metal, what I do is bend up some 10ga sheet metal on a press brake 5"X1.5" with a 1 lip to make a boxed rail, that quick/simple to fit. and cost about $100.

the body of the lincoln has some good weight to it so it can be sold off to the scrapper along with the cut out frame parts & bumpers. for about $125.

when it comes to the 50s trucks around here, 1/2 tons or (f1) costs way to much, so I pick one tonnes. the M3, F2 ,F3 can be had at under $500. and seeming as all I use is the cab and front sheet metal the flat head, trans and rad I sell or trade. to keep my build costs down.

chopping the top is getting a little old to me, and if its your first build it can open up a big can of worms for a person, what I have bin doing to keep things simple and to make my own style I cutting the bottem 3" to 5" out of the cab/door, not only dose it chop the rust out but I belive it helps the look of the 48 to 53 cab. I also remove the vent window because with the vent window the door looks alot like its off a VW bug.

any way good luck.