There's a good chance many who just plucked this edition of Custom Classic Trucks (on sale December 25) from the newsstand were surrounded by a winter wonderland as they walked into the retail establishment of their choice. It's a pretty safe bet- after all, this is the time of year when most of North America is buried under a blanketof snow or, at the very least, freezing cold. For the folks who are passionate about customizing classic trucks, it's the time of year when thoughts and dreams turn into hardcore plansand the show gets on the road.
This issue's headline, "DIY Special," expresses the theme that will span each issue of Custom Classic Trucks until the arrival of the July issue (on sale July 17, 2008), where we will have progressed from rolling chassis comparisons and crate motor dream guides to the final phases of completion that will include all the selections necessary to ready a customized classic truck to show and go in the summertime. A good story to illustrate the earliest stages of a build is the Barn Find big-window '56 F-100 I just acquired and the used '56 F-100 rolling chassis I bought a couple of weeks afterward. This is an excellent way to illustrate the two very distinct schools of thought when it comes to customizing a classic truck. The first is the wise old adage that you buy the very best example you can find and go from there. The second is to look for whatever you can afford and build it.
I didn't get my Barn Find '56 for a steal, and no, I'm not a rich guy. Back in the early '70s-or maybe it was the early '50s-I had an incredible desire to own a '56 Ford big-window, but the darn things were always way out of my price range. Now that I'm in my mid-50s and some friends are dropping dead around me like flies, I decided it was now or never. The next step was to put out the word, and in a flash "Boss" Bob told me about the '56 big-window Ford featured on these pages.The moment I rolled up and got a good look at the Raven Black beauty, I knew it was the one, and I swore to myself that I was going to do whatever it took to buy this truck. Long story short, I dumped my '05 Harley Road Glide and my hot-rod '26 T-roadster and ran up my credit cards.
One of the few modifications...
One of the few modifications on the Barn Find '56 was the exhaust system. Y-block-powered trucks typically tapped into the single-exhaust crossover and looped back a muffler shop-fabricated head pipe to run a dual exhaust. Not only does this type of arrangement look Mickey Mouse, it also runs a lot of heat right past the fuel pump and lines, which, needless to say, is a bad idea.
The engine in the Barn Find...
The engine in the Barn Find '56 is the original 272-inch Y-block betrayed by its yellow engine enamel color. The red four-barrel top end on the 272 is from a 292 or a 312. Once the valve covers have been pulled and we get a look at some part numbers, we'll have a better idea. Before it's all said and done, there's a good chance a ProCharger supercharger will reside above the generator.
Once I had the '56 parked in my garage, the next step was to research my options and decide how to build my truck. Right off the top, I'm going to stick with the Y-block Ford engine because there is no other engine in the world that equals the nostalgic percolating start-up sound of a Y-block Ford. But when it comes to performance, that's a different story. I've already latched on to a brand new Y-block distributor from MSD and started the wheels rolling on a few other super-hot performance items that I think you guys will dig.
Let's move on to the rolling chassis I dragged home. It's going to be a long road home rounding up the rest of the parts I will need to build a complete truck, but on the other hand, it's a good way to go for someone who needs an easy payment plan. One of the things to look at whether buying a complete truck or just the frame is rust. On this particular chassis, the framerails are in real good shape without any of the rust that often appears at the rear crossmember in front of the third member (differential), and there doesn't appear to be any signs of buckling or bends caused by an accident. You should see a lot more of this rolling chassis in upcoming issues, but it all depends on how fast I can round up all the other millions of parts it takes to build a customized classic truck from scratch. With that said, let's get back to the Barn Find '56 with a quick pictorial review before anything gets disturbed. After all, they're only original once!
Soon after I bought the Barn...
Soon after I bought the Barn Find '56, I contracted Y-block fever and dragged home a C-Code 292 plucked from a '57 T-bird. This lead to an intense thirst for knowledge, and then I learned about Y-Blocks For Ever, a great Web site packed full of highly nutritional information.
As soon as I put the '56 back...
As soon as I put the '56 back into service, the stock bench seat developed a bad case of dry foam dandruff. My plans are to reupholster the interior with red leather...ooh, sexy.
The odometer reads only 31,000...
The odometer reads only 31,000 miles, and it still works. All the numbers sit dead-flat across the bottom, a good indication this might be the right mileage. Thanks to the original owner keeping the '56 garaged, even the fluorescent orange on the speedo and gauge needle isn't faded.
The only thing missing from...
The only thing missing from the pristine original glovebox is the owner's manual, which is easily obtained as a reprint.
When's the last time you saw...
When's the last time you saw an original bed floor that was virtually intact? As nice as this bed is, I think Bruce Horkey might be getting a phone call real soon.
The special 20th anniversary...
The special 20th anniversary logo on the Cragar SS wheels is pretty much a dead giveaway the big-window that gave up its original chassis was customized in 1985.
Equipped with a Volare frontend...
Equipped with a Volare frontend and a 9-inch Ford rearend, this rolling '56 chassis is a tried-and-true combination. For anyone interested in an updated version of the chassis shown here, give Bob's F-100 Partsa call.
This is where to look for...
This is where to look for rust on an original frame. Rust damage can be repaired, but it's a lot easier if you don't have to deal with it.