The 1953-56 Ford F-100 pickups are nose-heavy due to an out-of-proportion front wheel opening. The front axle actually sits in the middle of the engine. This means quite a bit of the engine hangs in front of the axle. I've always felt these trucks handled heavy, and the front wheel placement is really out of proportion. The front wheel openings are very big for the smaller wheels we run on hot rods. The ideal way to help this truck handle and look better is to move the front wheels forward six inches.
I installed a Heidt's front crossmember kit six inches forward of Heidt's recommended specifications for a stock F-100 chassis. The boxing plate needs to be modified and moved slightly forward to the stock crossmember.
After the front end is installed, we're ready to fit the front wheel openings. Take two inches out of the top center of the opening to make it fit the smaller wheels better. After the opening has been modified, a seven-inch piece will fill part of the altered wheel opening.
Save the two-inch piece you cut out, as you'll need it to extend the bottom-front of the wheel opening to make the body lines come out right. After all these pieces are put together, you can stand back and really appreciate how Ford should have done these trucks originally.
When you look in the engine bay, the crossmember is now even with the front of the engine. Final results are better handling and a better ride due to a longer wheelbase. Your truck now sits 4.5 inches lower than stock and has greatly improved cornering capabilities. It also doesn't look like all the rest of the Ford pickups at the shows. Check out the photos and captions and learn how to do it yourself.
Here's what an F-100 looks...
Here's what an F-100 looks like after the front wheels are moved and the fenders modified to improve its handling and appearance. Please read on, honored vintage custom truck enthusiasts.
Closely inspecting the driver-side...
Closely inspecting the driver-side wheel well, wheel, and tire confirms this body and chassis surgery is worthwhile, especially when you're behind the steering wheel and cruisin'.
Before doing the work, a stock...
Before doing the work, a stock F-100 looks thus.
From a more immediate perspective,...
From a more immediate perspective, see all that empty space around the tire and wheel? There's much room for improvement.
We marked both fenders for...
We marked both fenders for performing the cuts. The front squiggly line area represents 5 inches of metal to be removed. Above the tire, the center squiggly area is the 2 inches to be taken out, which will close the wheel opening. Together, they will make a 7-inch filler piece behind the front tire/wheel.
Once you've removed the sheetmetal,...
Once you've removed the sheetmetal, as we did, it's too late to turn back....
...You might as well proceed...
...You might as well proceed to make your Effie a better cornering and appearing pickup.
We installed the Heidt's front...
We installed the Heidt's front crossmember 6 inches forward of the front axle's stock location. We had to move the boxing plate forward to accommodate the moved crossmember.
With the front end in place...
With the front end in place in the enlarged opening, you can see the wheel/tire has moved forward.
I trial-fit the removed driver-side...
I trial-fit the removed driver-side fender sheetmetal. You can readily see where the 7-inch-wide fill piece will go.
We tack welded the fender...
We tack welded the fender well in its new location for both front fenders.
I tack welded the...
...7-inch-wide fill piece...
...7-inch-wide fill pieces.
To make the bottom of the...
To make the bottom of the fender look correct, we added a bit of material to the metal to improve the reveal's appearance.
Now that all the welding and...
Now that all the welding and fill metal is in place, the bodywork and paint prep can begin.
If you don't agree that the...
If you don't agree that the finished front fenders and wheel and tire fitment in the wheel wells look better...
...than what Ford produced...
...than what Ford produced from '53-56, we can recommend an ophthalmologist.
The B&B Excavating Ford F-100...
The B&B Excavating Ford F-100 now has a righteous hot rod hauler stance, is no longer nose-heavy, and handles better than any stock F-100 on the road. Why not take a load off your Effie's front wheels? Stay tuned for more tech tips from Doug's Automotive in future issues of CCT.