My first build...1952 Ford F1

New guy here. First let me start off by saying I've NEVER built anything but 4x4's. Toyota's at that! I have a 1988 4Runner with a 85 straight axle and a 350 SBC. I'm a mechanic by trade, but I want to try my hand at building a rat rod.

I rescued a 1952 Ford F1 that had been sitting in someones yard since the 80's. It is rusted pretty good. But it does have a flathead V8 that turns over by hand.

My plans are not set in stone, but I want to chop a few inches off the bottom of the cab, chop a few from the windows, and channel it a bit. I want it to be low. No fenders f/r, maybe run the hood. Big zoomies on the flathead. I want to be able to drive it on the highway, with my wife, and eventually my 2yo daughter.

Keeping the patina would be nice, but I plan on doing a bit of body work to get it structurally safe and sound, and I don't think it will look right if I had a bunch of new metal patches mixed in there. I'm thinking flat black or tan maybe.


This is what she looked like before I rescued her

Towed her home, and got to work. Cleaned up the interior. Found most of the floor to be rotted out, which is no surprise. Rockers, cab corners, and firewall corners are gone. No surprise. Found a bill of sale from 1977 that said the truck was red, and a flatbed.

Front wheels roll, but the rear were locked up. Shoes were seized to the drums. I was able to get one side off, but after that battle I just cut the other side drum off. Now she rolls freely and is ready to roll off the trailer and into the garage!

I like it. It looks like you definately know what you're doing. Keep us updated

Looks like you got a game plan and a good start. Keep us posted

should be interesting build will be watchin for updates .

nice to see you picked it up. How much did you talk him down to?

Lets just say probably more than what its worth, but less than what he was asking.

nice project you got there! What direction you thinking of going? Fendered? no fenders? gasser? rat rod? just curious. I have seen the f-1's get built in all different ways.

Going fenderless, rat rod style.

Yanked the flathead out and sold it.

Picked up a 460 from a '84 Ford Ambulance with C6 trans for $500.

Also picked up a Federated Siren from the ambulance for $50. Not exactly sure what I'm going to do with it. I've seen them all polished up for sale on ebay for $350-$450. Might sell it and make a profit to pay for parts for the build, or possibly mount it in the bed of the truck. What do yo guys think?

looks like you had several vehicles to choose from, do the others need savin!!!the f-1 are always good builds.......[P

They ALL needed saving. And ALL were in the same shape or worse as my truck. Pretty sad.

Cool project. That's gonna fly with that 460 in it!!

Good lord, look at all this emissions crap on this engine! I'm going to tear it ALL off. At least it has a Holley carb on it!

I plan on keeping it mostly stock for a while. Just dont have the funds to hop it up. I will build some custom headers. Remove all the emissions stuff, new timing chain, and maybe new distributor. Possibly new intake manifold.

It also has a HUGE alternator since it came from an ambulance. I'm guessing 200amp. Probably will ebay it and buy a smaller one.

Will also ebay the 2 vacuum pumps, PS pump, and maybe keep the AC compressor and convert it to a shop air compressor for my 4x4.

Yanked the body off the frame. By myself. Put 4 heavy duty S hooks in the ceiling of the garage, and used 2 ratchet straps to lift it high enough to clear the body. I'll need a few buddies to bring it back down without crashing though.

Good work! Thanks for the pix.

Where there's a will there's a way!

"savin old tin every day" Keep up the good work.