‘57 Ford F-350

[Mandelon]

No surprise on the seals. So cool to see this brought back to life.

 

[redone76]

And she’s back together. Ran her in gear on the stands for 20 minutes and no leaks. Time for another spin around the block.

 

[redone76]

Repurposed the old gas pedal for a switch cover on the lift gate

Gas pedal switch cover

youtube.com

 

[redone76]

Got the new glass installed. Now I can see out of the windshield! Crazy how it makes it look like a different truck.

 

[redone76]

Hit a corner with a clay bar and some polishing compound. I like how it cut the oxidation and brought the depth of the orange back out. Gonna work on the rest of her.

 

[redone76]

Took apart the steering column and turn signal switch. Cleaned and lubricated it…working great now. The old steering wheel had some gnarly cracks in it that were cutting my hands. Swapped it out for a wood one I had in the garage. I’ll look into getting either the OG one rebuilt or finding a good used one. Horn was shot as well so I swapped in something a little more obnoxious

 

[WYRD]

How did the rest of the paint polish up?

 

[redone76]

How did the rest of the paint polish up?

Still working at it. Between a couple river trips and packing for a Fathers Day camping trip I've only had time to clay bar her. I hit a corner of the hood with some polish on Sunday but it was to hot to get a good polish in. Dried up way to fast. When I get back from camping I'm gonna back her into my carport and get at it

 

[redone76]

Wrapped up summer camping trips and now it’s time to get back on the Ford. I removed the emblems so I can finish polishing. Hit them with some steel wool and brought some shine back

And after 5 trips, over 8 hours of my time, towing the truck to the DMV twice…I finally got her titled in my name and registered for the road!

 

[redone76]

Guess you can polish a turd! Got new side view mirrors as well. Scored a set of vintage stainless ones on eBay. Next up is yanking the seat back out for new foam and start replacing the wood in the bed

 

[Bowtiepower00]

Awesome thread. Truck is looking great!

 

[redone76]

Awesome thread. Truck is looking great!

Thank you sir!

 

[HydroSkreamin]

This is exactly what this truck is supposed to be. Nice work!

I’m always geeked when I see the thread bumped

 

[HotRod82]

Guess you can polish a turd! Got new side view mirrors as well. Scored a set of vintage stainless ones on eBay. Next up is yanking the seat back out for new foam and start replacing the wood in the bed
View attachment 1043428 View attachment 1043429 View attachment 1043430 View attachment 1043431

Again, a level of cool only a few of us understand. Anyone can go down and buy a new F150, but restore, maintain and appreciate an old rig like this? Pretty small group of people.

 

[redone76]

This is exactly what this truck is supposed to be. Nice work!

I’m always geeked when I see the thread bumped

I’m truly humbled by that my friend. You have worked magic on your boat and all I’ve done is bring this old truck back to life. I’ll definitely keep posting updates.

 

[redone76]

Again, a level of cool only a few of us understand. Anyone can go down and buy a new F150, but restore, maintain and appreciate an old rig like this? Pretty small group of people.

Exactly!!! You have to appreciate old iron. I’m in talks with a good friend to yank the wood out of the bed and convert it into a bbq/smoker truck. He’s building a business doing bbq and I may end up a partner.

 

[Headless hula]

Exactly!!! You have to appreciate old iron. I’m in talks with a good friend to yank the wood out of the bed and convert it into a bbq/smoker truck. He’s building a business doing bbq and I may end up a partner.

I smile every time this thread pops up man.

 

[HydroSkreamin]

I’m truly humbled by that my friend. You have worked magic on your boat and all I’ve done is bring this old truck back to life. I’ll definitely keep posting updates.

It takes people like us that can look past all of the ugly and bad stuff to see the potential in old things to make stuff like this happen, and I’ve found that most people don’t have it or don’t want to think that way, or put the effort into it.

I’ll be honest with you, I give you big credit for keeping the brakes stock. I’d have modernized them to be serviced with newer, potentially more available parts, but your intent isn’t to drive the wheels off this thing, it’s to have fun, and you’re already doing that.

Looking at the front bumper reminds me of an Opel station wagon my dad drove when I was about 5 years old. He had hit a deer and bent up the stocker, and with his available items, he made a beautiful oak bumper for that old blue Opel wagon and I’ll never forget how nice it looked to me, all sanded and varnished, looking like art.

I think it would be cool if you made your front bumper match your bed with the same wood. Just an idea.

Other than that, I don’t think I’d change a thing…wait! There is! Every truck I drew daydreaming in school from 3rd grade on had stacks. Yup…I’d do some flat black stacks

 

[mash on it]

Single 3" passenger side flat black stack, pencil top. Period correct.

Dan'l

 

[redone76]

I smile every time this thread pops up man.

If I had half the energy you do bud!!!

 

[redone76]

It takes people like us that can look past all of the ugly and bad stuff to see the potential in old things to make stuff like this happen, and I’ve found that most people don’t have it or don’t want to think that way, or put the effort into it.

I’ll be honest with you, I give you big credit for keeping the brakes stock. I’d have modernized them to be serviced with newer, potentially more available parts, but your intent isn’t to drive the wheels off this thing, it’s to have fun, and you’re already doing that.

Looking at the front bumper reminds me of an Opel station wagon my dad drove when I was about 5 years old. He had hit a deer and bent up the stocker, and with his available items, he made a beautiful oak bumper for that old blue Opel wagon and I’ll never forget how nice it looked to me, all sanded and varnished, looking like art.

I think it would be cool if you made your front bumper match your bed with the same wood. Just an idea.

Other than that, I don’t think I’d change a thing…wait! There is! Every truck I drew daydreaming in school from 3rd grade on had stacks. Yup…I’d do some flat black stacks

Dude! Love it!! She stops on a dime with the stock brakes. Drives like a dream! Need some foam in the seat cause I’m damn near sitting on the floor. You’re the 3rd person to suggest stacks. I may do a single stack on the passenger side

 

[redone76]

Single 3" passenger side flat black stack, pencil top. Period correct.

Dan'l

You literally read my mind!!

 

[redone76]

Sorry for the lack of updates. I pushed the truck to the side for a bit while I worked on another project I picked up. Jumped back on the ‘57 last weekend and yanked the rotten wood out of the bed. Neighbor has some reclaimed redwood slats he gave me to use. Not sure if it will be permanent but it looks good for now

 

[redone76]

Also relocated the taillights so they’re more uniform and visible. Installed my new mud flaps!

 

[redone76]

Removed the old worn door seals and installed new ones. It was easier to just take the damn doors off to do this! Doors shut nice and tight now

 

[redone76]

Finally I pulled the seat back out and carefully dismantled it to remove the old rotten foam. It was pretty nasty in there! Cut some new 4” thick foam to fit and reassembled the seat! Looks pretty decent for my first time doing it. The ride is so much better now!

New inner foam installed and seat back together and in the truck

 

[redone76]

Still need to install the cab lights, stereo and speakers, clean up some wiring. Pretty sure a good friend and I have made a deal on the truck but I'll have to finish a few things. He started a bbq/seasoning company and wants to use the truck for deliveries and advertising. I'm going to laser cut his logo into the headache panel that goes against the rear of the cab. Also going to have another friend paint the logo on the doors. I'll finish the bed off with some short side gates and be done...hopefully!!!

 

[redone76]

Updates…
Yanked the speedometer and gave it some love due to it screaming bloody murder when you got over 30mph. Nice and quiet now

 

[redone76]

Headache panel laser cut, powder coated and installed…

 

[Shlbyntro]

I love your truck! Just needs that weathered oak flat deck on the back to be complete

 

[redone76]

Reclaimed redwood bed installed…just gotta hit it with a belt sander and then splash some sealer on it.

 

[redone76]

I love your truck! Just needs that weathered oak flat deck on the back to be complete

How about weathered redwood…

 

[redone76]

I didn’t want to cut holes in the doors for speakers so I repurposed the old CB radio speaker pods. Whipped up some rear speaker mounts for the cab corners. There’s a dummy radio in the dash with a Bluetooth amp mounted to the top of it. Sound is pretty decent…

 

[redone76]

So I laser cut some side gates with my buddies company name in them. Whittled up some wood posts to mount them to. Looks pretty good to me. Took them apart today and sent the panels to powder coat. Going to stain and seal the wood posts. My son was being a ham…

 

[redone76]

I still need to layout, mount and wire the cab lights. I ordered a window channel kit cause the door glass is a pain to roll up and down without felt in it. Gotta install that. Also kick my buddy in the ass to paint the company logo on the doors. Almost there…

 

[Sleek-Jet]

Please tell me that when you're done you will make a trip to Winslow....

 

[redone76]

Please tell me that when you're done you will make a trip to Winslow....

Haha! At a top speed of 49mph it’s gonna take me awhile to get there from SoCal!

 

[Your ad here]

Looks good. Glad to see you have kept the lift gate.

 

[redone76]

Looks good. Glad to see you have kept the lift gate.

Thanks! I couldn't bear to cut it off! It works great and its original to the bed. Still has the manufacturer plaque on it

 

[redone76]

Redwood bed sanded and stained. Also stained the side gate posts

 

[redone76]

Cab marker lights located, mounted and wired…

 

[WYRD]

I love this thread. Great job man

 

[redone76]

Side gates back from powder coat and installed

 

[lbhsbz]

Whatever you do....make sure you leave that front bumper alone. It's perfect.

 

[redone76]

I love this thread. Great job man

Thank you sir!!

 

[redone76]

Whatever you do....make sure you leave that front bumper alone. It's perfect.

Damn straight bud! It’s the Prius pusher! And once again thanks for your help on parts…

 

[redone76]

Oh…got the new window channels installed as well. Glass rolls up and down nice and quiet now.

 

[Desert Whaler]

Oh Hell yeah . . . I needed a post like this to lift the 'Bummer Tent' I've been under !!!!

 

[redone76]

Oh Hell yeah . . . I needed a post like this to lift the 'Bummer Tent' I've been under !!!!

Haha! Happy to help!

 

[redone76]

Anyone got an old set of underbed tool/storage boxes they want to get rid of? I’d love to hang a set in front of the rear tires.