Besides redesigning parts...
Besides redesigning parts and pieces of the truck in a computer 3D modeling program, Xavier Villanueva also imagineered what the finished project would look like.
Fate is a funny thing. It arrives when you least expect it and, more often than not, in a package you hardly recognize. Brothers Xavier and Sergio Villanueva used to work in the off-road and dragster-building world in Santee, California (20 miles northeast of San Diego), back in the late ’70s.
Xavier’s talents would get him into Vel Miletich’s Torrance–based VPJ Enterprises, in which Vel was a partner with racer and Indy winner Parnelli Jones. VPJ had cars that won the Indy 500 in 1970 and 1971 (with Al Unser driving the Johnny Lightning cars) and VPJ had forged a rather successful association with other Indy drivers too.
By 1978 Sergio had joined his brother at the facility, and they were busy helping design and build tubs and suspension components; but only a year later the industry had started to dry up. A well-known metal bender from England, Bill Eaton, brought the brothers to England to help with the F-1 program that was ongoing at McLaren Motor Racing, and they worked on developing the sidepods, wings, and suspension on the cars. Chromoly suspension components, titanium roll bars, stainless exhausts, and wind tunnel models were all part of the norm, and the job was long on hours, but otherwise the brothers viewed it as “a cool experience.”
By 1983 Xavier and Sergio were back in Southern California, and life, with its economic demands, was getting in the way. Having a background and an interest in graphics, Xavier started an offset printing business and Sergio enrolled at University of San Diego and, in 1987, was hired as a manager with Fender Musical Instruments Company.
Xavier rediscovered his tin-bending roots in 2004 after bailing out of the offset-printing business by building some custom V-twin motorcycles. Unfortunately, that market took a huge dive in 2008, so it was back to square one and, given their previous experience with cars, it seemed that customizing one would not only showcase Xavier’s talents, but it might be a fun project, too.
The truck is being worked...
The truck is being worked on in a small shop in San Ysidro, California. Everything Xavier needs is there, except some extra elbow room. The rear fenders will be made independent of the bed and will be made to have the same amount of swoop found in the illustration.
Sergio’s day job with Fender continued to flourish (he’s currently a vice president with the firm) and allowed him a choice of car to build and, since he’d always loved the lines of a ’56 Ford truck since he was in high school in the ’70s, the decision was made.
They bought a truck in April of 2009 from a local guy in San Diego, and it came with a 454 and C6, but it had never been restored from the ground up. The idea was to retain the truck’s essence and cool vibe, but by using their decades of experience, the brothers thought they could have some fun reinterpreting the iconic shape.
Among the first things they did was to sit down at the computer and model the ’56 in 3D so they could visualize everything they wanted to change before cutting into anything. Then everything was stripped down to the frame and bare metal. As you can see from the photographs, a major part of the rework has already happened, with the reshaping of the fenders and hood currently underway. New bedside panels and a tailgate will be fabricated too.
The brothers still have their VBrosVTwin.com website—a place where you can see some of the past projects they’ve done plus potential customers can discuss future projects. It should be obvious that with the talent the V-Brothers possess, they could be building anything, and it’s great that they turned their attention to a ’56 Ford truck. We’ll just have to wait to see how the whole project turns out. CCT
Before the back of the cab...
Before the back of the cab was popped off and moved back 2 inches (just behind the door jamb), the area was secured in a sliding fixture so there was no unintended movement of the section.
A custom X-member was conceived...
A custom X-member was conceived and fabricated for the truck and included driveshaft hoops in its design. The forward hoop (right) also doubles as the transmission mount.
The redesigned and fabbed...
The redesigned and fabbed frame also includes some beefy crossmembers. Check out the piece just after the cab.
Lightening holes are used...
Lightening holes are used throughout the boxed frame, and run on either side of the rear crossmember.
A Strange Engineering rear...
A Strange Engineering rear end is used out back and incorporates RideTech air bags and a four-link Watts system from No Limits.
A Ford 427 backed to a Gearstar...
A Ford 427 backed to a Gearstar AOD will power the beast when finished. The hood line will remain (the V Brothers think it’s one of the best things about the original truck’s, design) but the fenders will be pinched, tucked, and reshaped for the bigger rubber up front.
No Limits Wide Ride IFS (with...
No Limits Wide Ride IFS (with RideTech air bags) was used up front and installed around the custom crossmember Xavier scratchbuilt for the truck.
With the 3D modeling program...
With the 3D modeling program you can isolate any design element of the project (the trans tunnel is noted here) and highlight it, which allows you to see how it will appear its final location and surrounded by other parts.
The transmission tunnel is...
The transmission tunnel is small and subtle as it runs from the firewall and back to the rear of the cab. However, it’s tall enough for the transmission and the driveshaft to clear when the truck is dropped to the ground.
Though the roof was chopped,...
Though the roof was chopped, Xavier didn’t want to modify the roof posts, so he spliced it in a 1.5-inch section down the middle to keep everything in line.
The roof came down 3 inches...
The roof came down 3 inches in total, and the sections where Xavier cut around the fullsize rear window were reinforced with metal strips, spot welded in place. The rear window section was also leaned forward a bit to aid in the truck’s overall zoomie profile.
Both the tunnel and crossbrace...
Both the tunnel and crossbrace is new to the ’56 and provides additional structural integrity to the cab.
The original fender lip was...
The original fender lip was retained, but a repop fender provided the main section (and radius). Xavier fabbed the rear section (which now leans forward to promote a fast appearance) as well as the area around the headlight.
Because the front end’s proportions...
Because the front end’s proportions changed when Xavier widened each fender about 2 inches, he also had to build a new section around the headlight to make the truck’s overall design flow correctly.
Tucked into one of the storage...
Tucked into one of the storage containers at Xavier’s shop are the wooden bucks he made to help fabricate the swoopy gas tanks for some of the custom motorcycles he was building a few years ago. Not an easy piece to make!