The maker movement has me wanting to do more “hands-on” projects and restoring an old car has been something I’ve wanted to try since being a teenager….. so I found a vintage truck and jumped in with both feet.
Remember learning to swim and being terrified of the “deep end”? Being in the water when you’re waist-deep is no problem, but when you’re in over your head and feel like you could drown if you make a mistake, fear can strike fast. Starting this project is like learning to swim by jumping in the deep-end – I feel like I’m in over-my-head yet the only way out is to swim to shallow water, so the journey begins.
This site will share the rebuild experience and what I learn along the way. The intent is to share what I learn with others who may be looking for a project and help make the process easier; I’m not a swim coach yet will keep you from drowning!
My first lesson is patience to find the right starting-point for a project. There are lot’s of projects you can find and take on, yet we all have limited time and talents where we want to invest efforts and money. Define what you want – maybe it’s car or truck, maybe it’s other areas of interest. What is important is to understand what you’re good at/comfortable with and what’s too much, and stick to the path (ummm check out the wiring, and you’ll get a sense why I feel like I am in the deep end).
My goal is to make weekly updates to track my progress and share what’s happening as I do the project. Let’s get to it!
The Details
A few details on the truck project and how it started….. I’d been looking for an old car or truck to restore yet found many were major projects with missing parts (like engine and transmissions) or were really beat-up with broken glass, body, and major rust. I found my project after a year of searching on-line, at hot rod shows and asking around. Ultimately, the project came to me as luck!
I found a 1953 Ford F100 under a tree on a property near the edge of town. It was near a restaurant that’s on the lake and wonderful spot to enjoy lazy days. The truck was never listed for sale, yet one day while driving to the restaurant I noticed the property was for sale…… if the property was for sale it’s possible the truck would be easier to sell than move; at least I hoped.
As it turned out the owner was in the yard and I asked if he’d be selling the truck, it turned out that he would but it took a few months to let him try selling for excessive cost on ebay. When he determined there were no buyers, I was able to pick up the truck at a fair price….. but it had taken 7 months for the process to run it’s course. As they say, patience is a virtue!
If you really want details here you go
- 1953 Ford F 100 – Originally Black, Built in Dallas
- 4rd Owner – Original Owner was farmer in Llano, then a kid in Llano wanting to make it a hot-rod, then the prior owner – an electrical engineer with IBM who had the trick the last 23 years. (Always a Texas Truck)
- 70’s vintage 302 engine with Offenhauser Intake and 4 Barrel Edelbrock carb
- Automatic Trans (from Mustang
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Here’s the vision for the finished project …… yet not planning on major body work and paint. I like the old “patina” of a truck that’s worked it’s way to this point in life!
TheBuild 