Ford F-1 Pickup Truck Project, Rat Rod, Hot Rod, Street Rod,chopped/channeled on 2040-cars

VIN: 98 Year: 1948
Mileage: 200,000
Make: Ford
Exterior Color: Primer
Model: Other Pickups
Trim: Standard
Cab Type (For Trucks Only): 4" Chopped standard
Drive Type: NONE Ford T5, 5 speed ready

Condition: Used: A vehicle is considered used if it has been registered and issued a title. Used vehicles have had at least one previous owner. The condition of the exterior, interior and engine can vary depending on the vehicle's history. See the seller's listing for full details and description of any imperfections. ... 

This truck is a good start on a Rat Rod or a Street Rod. Some assembly required. I have owned this truck since 1972, and it was last registered in 1972. I DO NOT have a title. I sold the original 1950 cab along with the title. I had bought a 1948 parts truck with a better cab, in 1989, to replace the cab I sold, and had intended to register the truck as a 1948 after it was running. The fabrication work was completed, but I never got it finished and never applied for the title. The truck is rust free and has been in California except for nine months in Ohio in 1973/74. It is located in Fairfield Ca. I DO HAVE the bill of sale for the 1948.

The first photo shows a stock F1, with a cut and paste photo below of the final dimensions of this truck. It is about the size that a 1948 Ranger would have been.The top was chopped 4" and the cab channeled 4".  The firewall and rear of the cab was sectioned to complete the channel. This dropped the cab to eliminate the running boards. The top of the cab is at shoulder height as it sits now.

The frame and wheel base have been shortened 12". The bed has not been shortened yet. When the bed is shortened to match the wheel base, the rear fenders will cover the whole bedside. There are two sets of fenders. A set for a 1948 and a set for a 1956.

The rear suspension is a 1990 Mustang 4 shock coil over adapted to a Ford 9". I believe that the rear gear is a 4.11. If not it is a 3.90. The front suspension is a 1968 Torrino with power steering and disc brakes. The whole subframe was grafted to the truck frame under the firewall.

There was a new exhaust system hung on it sometime in the '90s but it was never used. It was set up for stock 5.0 Ford headers. It is rusty so I don't know if it any good or not.

The frame is set up for a Mustang 5.0 and T5 World Class 5 speed. The gas tank was removed from the cab and mounting brackets for a stock 1957 Chevy gas tank was located in the rear of the frame, under the bed. The frame was shortened 12" just behind the cab. The frame was sandblasted after the fabrication work and painted in black Dupont Urethane.

The interior of the cab has a roll cage with solid door bars. The dash has been molded and drilled for Standard gauges and speedometer. The channel makes the inside tight, but a 5" high seat bottom should put an average persons eyes at the center of the windshield.

The bed is in fair shape. The front is bowed out and the sides are fairly straight, but, the entire side will be covered by fenders. The wood is bad. The Ford Script tail gate is good or better. Both sets of rear fenders are good.

There are two hoods, one good and the other fair. Neither have been cut to match the section/channel. As can be seen in the conceptual photo, I had planned a Kenworth tilt for the hood section. The hood hinge pockets in the firewall have been modified to match the section/channel.

The top and tops of the doors have been finished with minimum plastic and primer. All metalwork fabrication on this truck was professionally done by Contemporary Metalcraft in Vacaville Ca. All welds were hammer and dolly finished. The rear suspension, roll cage and motor mounts were done by HAR Industries in Fairfield Ca. All fabrication was finished with the intention of the truck being a finished, painted Street Rod. In other words, no Rat Rod short cuts were taken.

Just as a point of reference, here are a few figures to consider. I know these numbers aren't right on, but they are close enough to be a reference. All of this labor was done years ago, but the man hours are still close. If labor is figured at 60.00/hr and some of the parts involved are ball park priced, the rough total is over 12,000 just for the basic fabrication.

Top Chop 50 hours                                     3000.00
Body Channel 50 hours                               3000.00
Frame shorten 8 Hours                                 480.00
9" Ford Rear with 4.11 or 3.90                     1500.00
Mustang Rear Suspension                             500.00
Install Suspension 8 hours                            480.00
Torrino front suspension                               500.00
Install front suspension 16 hours                   960.00
Roll Cage 10 hours                                       600.00
Engine/trans mounts 8 hours                         480.00
Tank mount 3 hours                                      180.00
2 extra rear fenders                                      500.00
Extra hood                                                  300.00

Total                                                      12,480.00

Questions can be answered by email. Send to: larryskwikcolor@yahoo.com

Note: Body is sitting on frame and is not bolted down. It most be strapped to frame to transport.