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View Full Version : 48 Fordrolet Truck Build Thread....


HardcoreZ28
03-20-2010, 07:54 PM
Ok guys and girls I'm going to keep a running thread of the progress on my new ride as it is built for you to see.

It's a 48 Ford F-1 pickup that I bought for $300 back in December. So far I pulled it all apart, sold the hood and fenders for $200 and my orignal frame for $250 plus the guys original with some holes in it (scrap value will be good on it). I also have the original 3 speed toploader and solid front axle setup to sell off once I clean them up.

Got the truck without a bed and rust free ones are hard to come by. I was going to just build my own but I stumbled upon one on Craigslist from a 48 Chevy. I took some measurements and the dimensions are about right for what I want so I bought it for another $300.

I also found a 5 speed NV3500 trans with a fresh rebuild out of a late 90's truck for $200 and a GM truck crate 350 motor with 10,000 miles on it for $400.

I'm also working with Pete & Jakes who own Superbell on sponsorship for all of the new suspension and brakes front and rear. More details to come on that.

Plan is to chop the truck, build a custom z'd frame, keg gas tank in the bed, ride height about 4" off the ground, '32 Ford front suspension, no hood or fenders, flat black paint, RPM logo's on the doors.

Here's a few pics of it how I got it for those that didn't see last time.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/024.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/028.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/027.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/037.jpg

HardcoreZ28
03-20-2010, 08:02 PM
Last weekend two of my buddies came by and we started the chop on the cab. The plan was to take 5" out of the height. I marked out all of my cut lines with masking tape as you can see in the pictures.

Before cutting I decided to remove the entire rear window frame. If I did it with the chop it would have been about 3" after and while it's cool it's not functional...plus the rounded ends would have matched up very off. Plan is to chop the window down to about 6" and then weld the frame back in.

After cutting the back window out we hacked off the tops of the doors to get them out of the way. Then the roof top. We used a sawzall for the thick parts on the posts and a cutoff wheel on the rest for nice clean cuts.

Once the roof was off we removed the 5" sections that I'm taking out....if you ever do this be sure to remove 5 vertical inches on the slanted posts...I've read of guys screwing this up and taking a straight measurement instead.

Because of the taper on the roof of the truck as it drops down we had to quarter the roof panel. We welded each corner on with a few good tack welds and then started using some flat stock to make sure all 4 pieces were close to in line again. Then we began our filler strips for the center gaps. I bought a roof cut out of another truck for cheap which is great for in the window channel area....now I don't have to fab all that.

After cutting down the doors we have to cut the top pieces in half as well because of the taper...I'm using a section of the verticle cut as my filler piece in the middle now.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/48FordStreetRod005.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1225.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1228.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1232.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1233.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1238.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1240.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/100_1237.jpg

HardcoreZ28
03-20-2010, 08:06 PM
Those are all the pictures I have for now.....I worked on the cab all day again today but didn't stop to snap any shots.

I finished tacking in all of the filler strips for the roof. Getting the height correct on the driver front quarter piece was a little difficult but it's pretty close. It's definitely going to take some good shaping when I fill the seams to make the front to back transition look right.

I also finished tacking both doors together. I did the front and rear portions and then made my filler pieces for the gap in the middle.

If I get time on monday I plan to chop the rear window and get that all tacked back into place. Then maybe next weekend I can finish all my welds on the cab...probably take a good 2 days to weld it all solid and grind all the welds down.

After that I plan to take a good look at the front and rear cab corners and decide if I want to patch what's there or just replace them with full patch panels. I also have a few small holes to patch elsewhere on the cab.

Then it's off to be blasted to remove all the paint, bondo, and RUST. A good shot of epoxy primer and the bodywork can begin. Stay tuned.......

B4C
03-21-2010, 09:49 AM
That thing is going to be so cool when its finished!

chrisfrom nj
03-21-2010, 10:11 AM
that truck looks great

btownws6
03-21-2010, 10:48 AM
looks awesome

sweetbmxrider
03-21-2010, 12:54 PM
i can't believe that thing is salvageable! gunna be a sick truckkkkk

SteveR
03-21-2010, 02:04 PM
Lookin good! Have you thought about maybe building up a flathead for it? A chevy 350 is waaaayyy too common if you're looking for it to stand out.

T69SS
03-21-2010, 08:36 PM
Very cool!

HardcoreZ28
03-22-2010, 04:52 PM
I could have had the original 8BA flathead but honestly I want reliability and power and something I'm familiar with working on....so 350 it is.

The Fixer
03-22-2010, 06:59 PM
Looks like you guys are off to a great start Paul - keep it up and keep us up to date with the pics!!!!

79T/A
03-22-2010, 09:50 PM
Excellent project! It's going to look great without the hood and fenders.

HardcoreZ28
03-23-2010, 10:20 AM
I sure hope so haha. I've come to a sponsorship agreement with Pete & Jake's and will be running their complete front end including brakes, a vega steering setup, clutch/brake pedal setup with master cylinders. I'll also be running their rear suspension setup with Aldean coilovers.

Anyone have an empty keg in good condition??? Need one to make my gas tank out of.

sweetbmxrider
03-23-2010, 10:36 AM
actually, i do have a keg. i don't know if its EMPTY empty but pretty close. pm me if you are serious and its yours!

CHRIS67
03-23-2010, 11:04 AM
Are you going with a rat rod theme?

SteveR
03-23-2010, 01:35 PM
I sure hope so haha. I've come to a sponsorship agreement with Pete & Jake's and will be running their complete front end including brakes, a vega steering setup, clutch/brake pedal setup with master cylinders. I'll also be running their rear suspension setup with Aldean coilovers.

Anyone have an empty keg in good condition??? Need one to make my gas tank out of.

I know there's at least one company that makes kits to turn kegs into gas tanks to mount in the bed of a pickup. If you can't find one with a quick search, ask over at olskoolrodz.com, they'll know.

HardcoreZ28
03-24-2010, 07:00 AM
It's going to be more street rod than rat rod. Everything will be "finished" but the color scheme is very much rat rod. It won't look like I raided the local scrap pile and used whatever I could find.

And yeah Steve....Speedway has the filler tops and rollover tubes to convert the kegs into tanks. Just need to find some hold downs as well.

B4C
03-24-2010, 11:39 AM
Please tell me your going to keep the dash stock I love those gauges/cluster so old school and correct looking in that car.

HardcoreZ28
03-24-2010, 12:25 PM
Please tell me your going to keep the dash stock I love those gauges/cluster so old school and correct looking in that car.

Should be stock or close to it.

WildBillyT
03-24-2010, 12:58 PM
Should be stock or close to it.

Yeah, maybe some vintage SW's to match the others in there (from what it looks like).

B4C
03-25-2010, 10:44 AM
Cool man I hate when people build a hot rod or rat rod and then put modern interior/gauges in it they just clash.

HardcoreZ28
03-26-2010, 07:23 AM
Yeah even if I go with new gauges I'll get some vintage lookign ones. I'm also considering customizing the dash with a different old cluster from like a Plymouth or Olds....but we'll see.

I should have some more pics of the cab progress this weekend.

SteveR
03-27-2010, 05:34 PM
And yeah Steve....Speedway has the filler tops and rollover tubes to convert the kegs into tanks. Just need to find some hold downs as well.

There's a company that sells all custom fabbed stuff for keg tanks and such including mounts for the bed. I'll see if I can find it again and I'll post a link.

HardcoreZ28
03-29-2010, 06:52 PM
Ok couple more progress pics on the cab. I got the filler strips tacked in and the back window chopped 2". Back window is almost welded in solid now and half of the front to back filler strip.

I'm a little concerned about the lining up of the roof quarters....it's definitely far from perfect. How far off are you guys normally? As of now it looks like I may have spots that require a quarter inch of bondo or more. I'm highly considering cutting the tack welds on the front where they meet and adjusting them some more.

Last pic is the 350 crate motor I picked up that supposedly has 10,000 miles on it. Going to clean it up and paint it when I get some time.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/028-1.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/030-1.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/032-1.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/042.jpg

LTb1ow
03-29-2010, 07:14 PM
That is one dusty engine you got there. :lol:


Looking good though.

WildBillyT
03-29-2010, 07:17 PM
Looking good, Paul. Looks like a Targetmaster 350?

HardcoreZ28
03-29-2010, 08:39 PM
I actually haven't even run the numbers on it yet. I'm going to assume it's the standard GM truck crate engine. Like 230hp but almost 400 ft/lbs

HardcoreZ28
11-01-2010, 08:43 PM
Alright it's been 7 months since my last update....shops been busy so it's been slow going on the personal project.

Here's a couple quick pics of the bottoms of the doors being rebuilt. The doors are back on and the roof chop is complete and the metal shaped up much better.

The cab was dropped off today to be blasted back down to nice clean metal. I'll have it back later this week and get it in epoxy primer so I can finally start my bodywork next week. More pics to come then.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/436.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/438.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/006.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/445.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/446.jpg

HardcoreZ28
11-06-2010, 04:42 PM
Ok got the cab and doors blasted this week. Cleaned it all up today, ground out the rest of the body filler and then soaked it down with 3 good coats of epoxy primer. Now I can start the actual bodywork this upcoming week. Hoping to have the cab basically finished by the end of the year and move onto making the frame after that.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/0242.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/0293.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/041.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/048.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/045.jpg

The Fixer
11-06-2010, 09:10 PM
Very cool!! Glad to see you're still plugging away on the truck!

Featherburner
11-06-2010, 10:22 PM
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/048.jpg
Holy crap! That firewall has more holes in it than a 4x8 sheet of peg board!

HardcoreZ28
11-07-2010, 10:52 AM
Tell me about it. I'll probably end up migging all the small ones shut and making patches for the larger ones. I'm waiting til I design my frame though because I may need to cut the firewall anyway for the trans and distributor to clear.

Knipps
02-07-2011, 06:23 PM
Updates?

HardcoreZ28
02-08-2011, 10:35 AM
I'll try to get some pics in the next couple days. I blocked out the whole cab minus the doors last week. I have a few high and low spots to go back and fix now then onto the doors. Hoping to start my frame late spring. Things just keep getting pushed back because of work.

Tru2Chevy
02-12-2011, 10:12 PM
Things just keep getting pushed back because of work.

As much as we are anxious to see how this project comes out, I guess no one can complain if you are too busy with paid work to spend much time on it. :D

- Justin

HardcoreZ28
02-13-2011, 07:19 AM
True. The problem with getting new pics right now is that nothing is going to look much different in them. The small changes to make the body straight aren't visible in pics. Me and my buddy from Somerset Hills blocked the whole cab out with 80 grit paper. I'm about half done filling the low spots we found. Then I have a few high spots to address around the back window. Once that's' done I'll prime the cab again and start bodyworking the front and rear windows as well as the rain channel.

chrisfrom nj
02-13-2011, 07:57 AM
paul nice work on the cab it looks great i cant wait to see what the truck will look like when its all done

HardcoreZ28
02-18-2011, 06:41 PM
Should have some newer pics this weekend. I just got in from priming the roof again. Hoping it's straight when I block it out now except for a few minor pinholes and such. Back of the back still needs a few days of work.

HardcoreZ28
02-21-2011, 04:34 PM
Ok finally got some more pics....here's a few of the work I've been doing on the cab. I blocked the roof out with 180 and 220 paper yesterday and I think by the end of the week the roof, pillars, and cowl will be done minus the window frames and drip rails. Still debating if I want to shave the drip rails or not.

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/091.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/088.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/009.jpg
http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr210/HardcoreZ28/1948%20Ford%20Rat%20Rod%20Pickup/006-1.jpg

Anti_Rice_Guy
02-21-2011, 05:07 PM
Looking great man, nice progress! Look at you working on an Acura TL in the background, guess that old boat got kicked to the curb, eh? haha

BonzoHansen
02-21-2011, 05:20 PM
Do I spy a 1st gen firebird?

Anti_Rice_Guy
02-21-2011, 05:33 PM
Do I spy a 1st gen firebird?

Yes. He asked about the tail panel a month or two ago on here. I got the whole low down on that car when I was there a while back haha.

HardcoreZ28
02-21-2011, 05:48 PM
Yup a 68 that I'm bodyworking and painting now. And Nick the boat is still here....just moved it to do the bodykit for that TL.

BonzoHansen
02-21-2011, 05:49 PM
good, get well acquainted with 1st gens... :)

sweetbmxrider
02-21-2011, 06:29 PM
Nice dude, I think shaving the drip rails would look real clean and give the roof a nice clean flow.

HardcoreZ28
02-21-2011, 06:30 PM
After all the work I've had to do on the body for this one I'm pretty well acquainted. I may as well be a sculpter after this. I had to grind down the body lines on the aftermarket doors and rear quarters and basically build them in myself because they were far from straight or lining up. Could be due to whoever installed the panels and the fact that they were Made in Taiwan!

WildBillyT
02-21-2011, 09:31 PM
After all the work I've had to do on the body for this one I'm pretty well acquainted. I may as well be a sculpter after this. I had to grind down the body lines on the aftermarket doors and rear quarters and basically build them in myself because they were far from straight or lining up. Could be due to whoever installed the panels and the fact that they were Made in Taiwan!

Oddly enough, not all Taiwanese first gen parts are crap. But there's a reason why Rick's First Gen used to sell "good, better, best" body parts...

HardcoreZ28
02-22-2011, 07:24 PM
Ok well I guess you can't generalize it all....but the bulk of it is in fact trash. Although I'm installing some new firewall brackets onto that Firebird and they don't fit all that bad....although the new floor pans aren't shaped quite right to accept them.

As for the truck....just put a bit more putty in a few spots on the roof and infront of the doors. Hoping to prime the top and pillars again this week and block them out for the last time next week. Then I can finish the back of the cab.

HardcoreZ28
02-24-2011, 07:18 PM
Got a little work done on the truck today....some fine tuning on the roof bodywork...then I decided to hack off the drip rails for a cleaner look. Cut them off then welded the seam shut under them and put my first coat of filler over. Hopefully I'll get some more updated pics this weekend.

sweetbmxrider
02-24-2011, 07:30 PM
YES! Its going to look much better in my eyes.

Ls1dreamin02
02-24-2011, 11:35 PM
That chop looks great...I really want to build a hot rod at some point in my life.

HardcoreZ28
02-25-2011, 07:32 AM
Thanks. You can score old trucks for cheap still. I paid $300 for my starting point and only have money into filler, primer, welding gas, and having the cab blasted so far.

qwikz28
07-09-2011, 09:39 PM
Hey Paul, any updates on the truck? Been checking this thread once in a while hoping for some pictures. Dying to see the finished product.

HardcoreZ28
07-10-2011, 10:30 AM
Unfortunately I haven't touched it in 2 months now but was hoping to get back to it this week. I got too wrapped up in getting it perfect which wasn't my original intention and needed to walk away for a while. Hoping to get the cab done this summer and finally build my frame in the fall.