Youth Complex

The 1940 Ford.

Weld wheels mount Goodyear...        read full caption Weld wheels mount Goodyear rubber at the corners. Parallel leaf springs from Chassis Engineering and airbags from Air Ride Technologies provide the perfect ride height and comfort. A Maverick 8-inch rearend handles the torque.

An internally stock 1993 Mustang...        read full caption An internally stock 1993 Mustang 5L engine sparkles under the peaked hood—electronic fuel injection and a few Ford Motorsport items dress it up.

The extended cab gives 6-foot-tall...        read full caption The extended cab gives 6-foot-tall Edward plenty of leg and headroom. Notice the seatback angle on the Pontiac Grand Am bucket seats. The half-wrapped Weld steering wheel and all interior panels are covered with chamois-colored Ultraleather by James Carter.

Dakota Digital instruments...        read full caption Dakota Digital instruments provide information on vital fluids. Vintage Air A/C keeps the cabin cool.

The space behind the reshaped...        read full caption The space behind the reshaped seat backs is filled with a variety of Rockford Fosgate Fanatic speakers.

After extending the cab, Ed...        read full caption After extending the cab, Ed figured side-hinging the tailgate wouldn’t be too difficult a task. The bed was filled with sturdy diamond-plate steel, and the rolled rear pan houses custom taillights.

The project was in pretty...        read full caption The project was in pretty sad shape when first brought home—the grille was toast and the original bed and rear fenders were gone. The cab eventually needed patching all around the bottom 5 inches.

Here’s the bare chassis;...        read full caption Here’s the bare chassis; it shows some rust in front of where the rear axle was mounted. Ed started by patching these areas, boxing the inside surface of the framerails, and constructing new crossmembers for a modern drivetrain.

After a fair amount of deliberation,...        read full caption After a fair amount of deliberation, it was decided to extend the cab 12 inches and shorten the bed an equal amount. As he was extending the cab, Ed discovered that the rear panel of the cab needed to be widened about 1 inch, adding to the labor involved. At that point, however, there was no turning back. The exterior door handles were then shaved as well.

An overhead console was built...        read full caption An overhead console was built down the center of the extended roof. Notice how the 1/2-inch-square tubing was formed and welded overhead.

The firewall was fabricated...        read full caption The firewall was fabricated from 10-gauge steel and notched for a Mustang 302ci engine and a four-speed AOD trans.

New dash panels, new floor...        read full caption New dash panels, new floor panels, speaker pods, and a custom instrument console were fabricated from fresh sheet steel. Edward started to learn how to bead-roll the edges of panels. As a result of all the new support structure, the cab started taking on greater strength.

Fresh sheetmetal was formed...        read full caption Fresh sheetmetal was formed and welded around the windshield opening, including the A-pillars. If you check the front 3/4-shot, you’ll notice the windshield glass is now flush with the exterior sheetmetal surfaces—a nice touch. The driprails were filled as well.

In this photo, the modified...        read full caption In this photo, the modified body panels are coming together for a trial fit before heading to the paint shop. Ed welded the hood seam, the running boards were smoothed, and the small panels (shortened now) below the bedsides were finessed—another neat detail.

As we mentioned, the original...        read full caption As we mentioned, the original grille was unserviceable. Edward decided to make a new grille rather than purchase an original or reproduction grille. Anyone who has attempted to create such an item will tell you this is tougher than it looks. Edward did an excellent job geting a very clean and modern look that has continuity with the rest of the details.

After Bruce Lenhardt sprayed...        read full caption After Bruce Lenhardt sprayed the DuPont Guards Red, the chassis was prepared for body panels. Brake and gas lines were plumbed. A Heidt’s front crossmember mounts Mustang II A-arms, and Air Ride Technologies airbags are plumbed for a cockpit-controlled adjustable ride height.

Next comes wiring all the...        read full caption Next comes wiring all the electrical components: instrumentation, stereo, ignition, lights, etc. A Painless panel was employed under the dash. Ed says that the wiring was wrapped up in one weekend. During the building of the truck he learned many skills from his dad and friends, such as Tony Vargas and Bob Schumaker.

Two Optima batteries are mounted...        read full caption Two Optima batteries are mounted in the seat riser. The extra battery is primarily to power the high-amperage Rockford Fosgate Fanatic speakers.

During Americruise 2000 we...        read full caption During Americruise 2000 we selected Ed’s pickup for a Passing the Torch Award. Unfortunately, someone else was also selected for the same award, so we presented Ed with a Just Because Award and sweetened the pot with a photo feature in this issue. The cover photo was a bonus and reflects the fact that Ed learned more than mere fabricating skills from his dad and friends.

Any group of vintage car or truck lovers will eventually tackle this subject of conversation: the future health of our hobby and how many young people are involved with older cars and trucks. Businesses that manufacture parts are, understandably, even more curious to know about the buying habits and interests of the next generation. Since old trucks are a bit more affordable than Deuce coupes, they often allow an enthusiast to build auto equity with a lower entry fee. A little coaching from experienced friends and relatives is all these next-generation car nuts need to prove they’re ready to carry on their own love affairs with vintage vehicles.

Edward Lipowicz IV of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and his cherry 1940 Ford pickup came to our attention in Lincoln, Nebraska. As we were taking a few event photos, a family friend mentioned how Ed was only 18 years old. Our first thought was that someone had likely parented the very well-built project 1940 most of the way, but testimony from friends and family didn’t support our assumption. We also learned a little about the Lipowicz family’s values. Wise fathers try to impart lessons in responsibility and sacrifice when their sons reach the age of want-ing their own wheels, and this project was just such an opportunity—plus quality father and son time.

A rusty hulk of a 1940 Ford, minus the bed and rear fenders, was found somewhere in Kansas for $500. The grille (and everything else) was trashed, but the long-forgotten 1940 must have sent out some kind of vibe to the then 15 ½-year-old Ed. Otherwise, it’s doubtful this project would have ended with such wonderful results.

Fortunately, the Lipowicz family has friends who have demonstrated their personal love of old cars by building their own. These friends offered to lend a hand when the task required more experience or finesse than Ed might have provided—like painting and upholstering. As the project progressed, Ed discovered how much he enjoyed the hands-on use of tools. He liked it so much he is now seriously considering making his involvement with old cars permanent by choosing it as his career.

If that’s the case, old-timers shouldn’t worry about the future of our hobby. It will obviously continue to evolve (barring restrictive legislation) and will continue to be based on personal taste and economics. The next generation will bring as much desire and dedication to the hobby as the last generation. Their cars and trucks may not look exactly as we might imagine them, but that’s OK—ours didn’t look like our fathers’ either.