Cool ’55 Ford F-100 Project Has Deep Rooted Family Ties
After sitting for 18 years, FTE member acquires his uncle’s classic Ford pickup and breathes new life into it.
Quite a few of us, perhaps even the majority, have at least one relative who owns/has owned a classic Ford truck. After all, that’s how many of us became fans of them in the first place. Fixing up family member’s pickups is a common theme here in the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forums as well. The latest example of this comes to us from vonhef, who is currently restoring his uncle’s 1955 Ford F-100 and documenting the process in this very cool thread.
“I have acquired a new-to-me project! This was my uncle’s for many years. Now I will keep it in the family and continue his work. It has been in storage for 18 years and needs a lot of maintenance. The brakes are shot, and the engine has coolant in one cylinder. I will post updated photos as things progress. But needless to say, I am ready to start.”
The OP originally planned on starting with the engine. But after moving the truck into his shop, he quickly realized that the brakes were completely shot. So he replaced the originals with a full upgrade kit from CPP, including a new booster and master cylinder. Next, it was finally time to tackle the tired engine.
“The motor has been pulled, and I have the short-block complete. Just waiting for the heads. The heads are actually a new development (aluminum with much better flow performance than the original) and should be ready in June. With these new heads and a roller cam, I am estimating somewhere around 400 hp. Have also ordered a power steering sector, tilt column, and steering wheel.”
The latter parts were next up on the list, along with a new Painless universal harness and Classic Industries instrument panel. Then, a Lokar shifter. And finally, after a long wait, the new heads showed up, so engine work could continue. And before you knew it, this old Ford was up and running again. For a minute, anyway.
“I have run the engine and the truck has driven under its own power! The bad news is, after about 50 miles of test driving, the rear main seal (I think) has developed an excessive leak. What is strange is that I tested for oil leaks while it was on the engine stand. I guess my next step is to pull the motor back out and investigate this failure.”
After replacing the rear main seal, that problem went away quickly. But the OP still has quite a few things left to do to get this Ford F-100 the way he wants it. So be sure and head over here to stay tuned as this cool project sprints toward the finish line!
Photos: Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
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