1956 Ford F-100 frame-up Imron 410 Mercury/406 heads&exhaust 9" rear 8' bed

1956 Ford F-100 1956 Description

This truck is pretty much exact of original except for the engine, differential and seats.Reserve has been lowered $6,000.I bought this truck in 1978 in Tucson Arizona. My neighbor had totaled my '66 428 LTD one night when he crashed into it. I found this truck (as seen in photo of rough blue truck) which had a 292 with 3 cylinders with no compression. There proved to be no rust anywhere on the vehicle. I swapped in the 428 by purchasing a cast iron timing cover and side-mount bellhousing from Jim Click Ford, which allowed mounting in original truck mounts. Also swapped in the LTD's 9" rear (2.80 ratio). This was done with u-bolts and cast mounting brackets from a 1948 1-ton Ford. In 1991 a complete frame-up restoration was begun. Torn down to the bare frame with leaf spring hangers attached (2 were replaced due to wear), all the body parts, cab, frame, and 4 new leaf springs were blasted clean, primed in Sikkens self-etching primer both sides, and painted with Black Imron both sides. One bed side was done later and got DuPont Variprime under the Imron. The bucket seats were from my high school '64 Galaxy and were recovered in Black glove leather ($400 for the 2 hides) by a seamstress who didn't miss a stitch. I came by a '67 Mercury Park Lane with 60K on it in excellent condition but the frame had rusted out. The engine was in excellent shape (a 410 was Ford's way to increase the torque of a 390 by stroking it with a 428 crank). I tore it down and had it bored .020 or .030, the crank only needed polishing, installed a .515 lift Crane Cam, had the guides and a valve job done on a set of 406-6V heads from another high school car of mine (30 degree seats stock and 10.9 advertised compression stock), used the original '63 XL 406 exhaust manifolds (which clear the '56 steering box like they were designed for it) and oil pan windage tray, and topped it off with a stock iron Ford 428 Super Cobra Jet intake (whose ports matched the 406 head ports well) and rebuilt aHolley to bolt to that. The result is an engine with more torque, if not the ultimate RPMs, than the 406 had. This truck is a real terror to drive when the hammer goes down and the carb hollers. Air cleaner from '66 LTD Police Intercepter 428. The trans is a Borg-Warner cast iron T-98 box with creeper 1st and reverse. With an 11 1/2" clutch, 1st is rarely needed, although it's handy on steep uphill starts. 2nd acceleratesstrongly and 3rd will take you very fast. 4th is for interstate cruising. That 9" 2.80 rear makes this a great distance cruiser. Before the restoration I made the trip from Pennsylvania to Tucson several times, holding 80 mph all day. Truck and 410 have only had about 250 miles put onthem since restoration was complete around 1999. It sits in dry garages with a fabric cover on it. I've only shown it once. Stock-style long round mufflers are quiet. Truck is extremely clean underneath, also. The bedsides required the services of a skilled tin-knocker to make the top rolls perfect and skilled body men have the cab, fenders, doors, and bedsides at least as perfect as new. The black Imron would show any imperfections, and it does not. Only a few spots have the thinnest skim coat of plastic. This body is all-metal.Stainless bumpers, show-grade knotless Oak bed with stainless strips and hardware, all new wiring harness, inside of stock fuel tank is very clean with no rust seen, under rubber floor mat and firewall cover panel is a layer of heat reflective sound deadener, Dennis Carpenter rebuilt steering box, recent stock master cylinder, rare chromegrille with no V-8 emblem holes, stainless factory windshield trim, stock driveshaft with precision machined caps over rear u-joint caps to fit 9" rear yoke. All brakes, hoses, steel lines, shoes and hardware new, all rubber mounts weatherstripdoor panels mat handles tail lights trim mirrors from Dennis Carpenter. All new tinted glass except original rear window. New headboard and tailgate bought from Ford dealer. Kingpins and bushings renewed at restoration.READ THISI will now write about negative aspects:The hood that came with the truck had a rusted front edge where the old rad had kept it moist. I got a used one with no rust. But it was off a different year, '53 '54 '55.After it was painted and assembled I discovered when I started to mount the trim that the holes were not the same location. See photos.The headliner I got from Dennis Carpenter is cut wrong at 2 spots at window corners (see photos), stock tailgate chains that come with truck are not painted and not installed, the license plate is obscured by the rear bumper, the tires are about 7 years old but have only a couple hundred miles on them and never sit in the sun. No dry rot and ride very well.The front axle is original wheel stud bolt pattern which is bigger diameter circle than the '67 Mercury rear.Thus, there are 2 different bolt pattern wheels on this truck. 3 adapters are provided so rear wheel will fit front hub w/ adapter. Makes 1 spare tire okay. NO SPARE included.No sound system. No holes or wires either.Old and ugly gauges attached to bottom edge of dash function but look poor.Shifter unfinished, speedometer does not work. I had a local speedo shop tell me it's a broken "speed needle". Fuel guage needle rubs housing, thus doesn't move except when sender is grounded.Driver's door window rolls up and down fine. The passenger's window requires more effort. The stainless trim surrounds on the door windows not perfectly installed but adequate. Wiper blades and arms not compatible but I believe they'll work. Hood hinges original and must be lubed with WD regularly and then still need a slight push on the side emblems to close rear of hood all the way. Front bumper has small dent near center.The louvers look okay. This heater does not have the outside air option nor does it have the block-off plate behind the louvers. The bolt holes can be filled with countersunk stainless screws.The exhaust stops at front of bed. Never decided whether to place fuel tank or spare behind differential, so never made tailpipes. Exhaust is 2 1/2".Sold as is, where is. Cash or cashier's check accepted. call me at 267-372-1210 to arrange to see and ride in the truck. I'm in Dublin PA, about midway between Allentown and Philly.