Projects It’s been an F-100 year...this time a 1956 follows me home

It seems I’ve bought a lot of old Ford trucks this year. A few 57-60 Fords, and back in March an unexpected 55 F-100. The 55 was neat, my first car was a 56 F-100 I bought when I was 14. The 55 brought back a lot of memories for me. Then In May I found a really nice original 53 F-100 at a swap meet, bought it, and sold the 55 F-100. It’s not that I’m really looking for more trucks, but when you’re into em you always keep an eye out, right?

So a couple weeks back I’m cruising craiglist (again) and I see this 56. I’ve kind of always wanted another 56. I have not had one since the one that was my first car. This truck in the ad looked right up my alley, condition wise but the price was really high. I emailed the seller and asked some questions, and threw in there “before I waste your time, I’m really only prepared to spend X amount.” I kind of figured I wouldn’t get a response back, as I pretty much offered half what he was asking. I wasn’t trying to steal it, my offer was realistic. And I was being honest with him and myself. If his price was firm, then I had no reason to waste his time. He wrote back and answered my questions and told me my offer seemed fair and he would think it over for a week.

Exactly a week later I get an email and it said I should come look at the truck if I’m serious. This was last Wednesday and I was out of town with my family on vacation. I called him and told him I could look at it Friday afternoon when we got home. So Friday I call the seller and head to the storage unit where the truck is.


He fired it up and backed it out. I noticed the plate in the back was last licensed in 78. The front plate is 94. Most the paperwork and parts that came with it were purchased in the early 90’s, so I’m guessing that guy bought it from 70’s storage and was fixing it up. He sold it to the guy I got it from about a year ago. The current seller had done some work to it- rebuilt the carb, had fuel system cleaned, worked on the brakes. I noticed rust in the floor and lower inner doors. Also the grill and drivers fender banged in. But- a one repaint 56 F-100 custom cab with factory Overdrive? How could I not love it. He accepted my offer and I got it home Friday night. Today I got the brakes working (he had them all screwed up) and noticed all 4 leaf springs, shackles, shocks, king pins, tie rod and drag link are all new. Exhaust is new. Engine looks rebuilt. I gave it a bath and started going through the boxes of parts that came with it. The more I work on this truck the more I love it. The color is amazing. I found a sticker in the door jam from 66, and a license sticker on the windshield from 75. It’s a really clean truck that needs a little rust repair and some dents knocked out, paint fogged in and lowered with some gingerbread .

Here it is at the storage unit the seller kept it in



Loaded and going to it’s new home




Maiden voyage today.




So my plan- something like this. Mild custom hauler. My 53 is a real sweetheart and I think this 56 is more suited for the vibe I’m shooting for

 

Looks great Chris. I like the look your going for.

 

I like it, nice solid looking truck. I also like the look that you are aiming for. Should be a nice pickup when done.

 

My 56 was the same color. mine is a long bed that was originally a automatic.

 

Nice find

 

I like em all but cant deny that I like the 56 best with its wrap around windshield and straight up and down windshield post.

 

Nice score! I love the color. I have never seen one with a six. I’m a Chevy guy, but that truck is very cool.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Again?

 

IF I was Chris's neighbor I would be watching him like a hawk. If he heads out of his driveway at all I would be right behind to go see what he was looking at! Better yet I'd go with him if he wanted some company or help!

 

wow, another nice one!

I wish we didn't live in a rust zone; I'd love to find something like that to drive for a daily, at least in the snow free months.

 

Didn't you buy a '56 grill for one of the other ones? The fenders, as you know, are repopped and interchange. The '56 hood has two carriage bolts on the top near the cowl vent, that's the only difference between the other years fenders/hood wise.....I'm buying one when the '36 sells.....

 

Congrats - never hurts to make an offer, sometimes the answer is Yes

 

The fenders from a 1 ton are the exact same as the1/2 ton the doors hood and cab are even the same on the F600. a long bed truck has taller bedsides front panel and tailgate than a short bed. the step beds from 53 thru 66 are the same. Some of the trucks have the larger 262 six engine.

 

Threw some whitewalls on I bought for another truck, but sold the truck before they got on. And some 41 caps I had kicking around. Whitewalls make everything look better!

 

Hard to beat a '56!

Lee

 

Looks good. Uncle George just gave my other uncle a set of wide whites for his ‘56 pickup- gonna send him a screenshot so he gets in gear and mounts them up!

 

Looks like it needs a major drop worse now than it did...

 

The only gripe I have with the fat fender fords appearance is the front tire is not centered in the fenderwell. Looks too far back

 

Funny, I noticed the carriage bolts in the hood and then looked at my 53 and it does not have them. I did have a beautiful grill but the guy who bought my 55 talked me out of it. Luckily its a friend of mine and when he saw the pictures of this 56 he offered me the grill back!

 

Same here, I will correct that when I lower it a little

 

Me too Mike. I just missed a '54 this last week. Always liked that '54 grill plus one of the guys in the old club had one that was my favorite back then. Super low (for the early 70s) and caddy wires. Our neighbor bought it and the truck stayed in the club, where it ended up I have no idea. My dad also had a '54, along with his BBW, that had a 392 hemi in it. You'd think of all the F100's we had I would've been smart enough to keep one.

 

It's funny, back when we were into them I never even noticed the wheels weren't centered. It was only when they started making the new springs that corrected the look that I paid attention to how it looked stock.

Great find Chris.

 

IS too far back... In '53, when the first 1/2 tons rolled off the line, they were directed by the porter to make a 'U' turn back into the building, in a certain number of feet.
When they failed, production was ceased for a short time, so the springs could be reconfigured and drag links mfd. shorter.

I had my '55 running for 3 years before I fixed that...reversed and redrilled main leaves,
shortened #s 2 and 3; moved the axle forward 1.25", also made up an adjustable drag link, lathe threaded, 3/4" X 36.
Increase in wheelbase was notable, (Nice!) and turns sharper than it did, due to Toyota 4X4 Power steering box, Chev P/S pump. (tall spindle stops were removed in favor of 7/16" SAE nuts)
Turns like a bumper car...looks like an F100.

 

Just how far is that horseshoe rammed up there anyways?

 

A yellow one .

 

Beautiful lil survivor there. Tons better than what we started with for my moms 56...

 

Your favorite color.....

 

I put the new floor mat in that came in the load of parts, and took it for a longer drive. Read up how to make the over drive work and- presto- the overdrive works! I can’t wait to get it out on the houghway and see how it does. After a carb tinkering session it no longer leaks. He had the float set too high and it would leak and load up. Now it runs smooth as silk.

The more I drive it and work on it, the more I love it

 

Ya know Chris, each time you regale us with one of your finds somebody always makes a comment about how "lucky" you are to find whatever it is. My brain always screams...…."NO, he works at it (fun work no doubt)". But then, that's why I have the sig line I do. Anyway, I especially liked the way you went about making a courteous offer well below the ask. Some of these guys haven't figured out yet that you're offering a tutorial on successful acquisition. It's an especially effective technique in these times when the kind of cars we enjoy are getting very soft (demand wise) in the marketplace for the most part. Once a seller gets enough feedback to convince himself that his ask isn't going to result in the desired sale, it's time to figure out who the serious buyer is. Congrats to you. If someday you get the urge or opportunity to own your own business you've got a leg up on some of the less common skills necessary to be successful. Keep at it.....

And yes, that truck be cool.