1956 Ford F-100 - Creating Custom 'Boards

By installing Cleco clips through the running-board end caps and the front and rear fender, Rob mocked up the running board.

He held up the piece that would cover the chassis tubing under the door and determined how the metal piece would need to be bent.

At the stretcher tool, he radiused the sheetmetal to the correct shape.

In anticipation of seeing how well the running board fits the opening between the front and rear fender, Rob Cleco-clipped the various sheetmetal pieces together.

The mocked-up driver-side running board is ready to be welded together.

To cut the stylish and intricate F-100 logos, Rob programmed the FlowJet, which uses a mixture of very high-pressure water and garnet for cutting. These two logos were cut out of aluminum.

To cut the stylish and intricate F-100 logos, Rob programmed the FlowJet, which uses a mixture of very high-pressure water and garnet for cutting. These two logos were cut out of aluminum.

Logos fresh from the FlowJet await cleaning and installation in the F-100.

In order to install the F-100 in the custom running boards, No Limit needed backing plates. Again, Rob programmed the FlowJet to cut two 5.5 x 11-inch ellipse inserts, this time out of sheetmetal.

The aluminum F-100 logo will actually float in the base. If you ask Rob politely, perhaps he'll tell you the secret of how he's going to float the logos.

Before installing the F-100 logo in the running board, No Limit needed to weld the custom 'board together. While still between the front and rear driver-side fenders, Rob started tack-welding the pieces of the running board together.

After removing the running board from the truck, Rob methodically laid down more tack welds. He had to be slow about his work, since he didn't want to overheat and possibly warp the sheetmetal.

Still more strategically placed tack welds from the TIG torch to eventually form a continuous bead.

In preparation of cutting out the Blue Oval opening for the aluminum F-100 logo, Rob drew the ellipse in the back of the running board. He used the metal backing plate to trace the oval.

With the Blue Oval traced in the driver side, No Limit was ready to cut at will. Their trademark is cutting up new parts and making 'em better, after all.

To better dissipate the heat from the plasma cutter, Rob rested the running board on one of the shop's custom chassis and commenced cutting out the ellipse.

Utilizing the trusty die grinder, No Limit smoothed the edge of the oval.

Painted metal is more challenging to weld than raw steel. However, if you're mating two large unpainted surfaces, rust can result...

...Rob elected to prevent such a possibility by spraying both surfaces with Rust-Oleum primer.

No Limit welded the backing plate and finished welding the running board, being careful not to overheat the steel.

Excess weld material was ground smooth...

...You're not seeing double.

To show that the F-100 logo floats in the running board openings, Rob held the logo in place upside down. The secret of how No Limit Engineering floats these logos is safe with CCT.

Check out how cool the F-100 oval looks from the top.

When was the last time you saw a custom F-100 running board that looked this great? We know the answer--never. Stay tuned for the next No Limit F-100 SuperNationals 2006 giveaway truck tech article in an upcoming issue.