[Darkside Dave]

Hi Folks,
New guy here. I'm just another old geezer but I have been a Ford guy for more than 50 years. I don't get into those Ford VS. GM or whatever arguments. I don't care... I just happen to get along with Ford products the best. Maybe it's because I know more about them than other stuff.

I currently have Five licensed and on the road Ford vehicles and I usually average at least three or four project, and parts donor vehicles in the back yard although my wife fails to appreciate their beauty.

My current project is a '53 F-100 that is going to have very little of the original truck the title is from, Basically the only thing left of the original truck is the windshield, and the serial number plate. There is a better description of the project through the links in my signature and there is also a build thread, but I have to get some posts logged first before I can post the link.

I hope to make some new friends here and learn more about the Ford products and components I am using.

Later Folks...

 

[Cuda_jim]

Welcome, nice truck!
Poke around the site and jump in on the conversations, you'll get 10 posts in no time.

 

[91xltlariat]

Hello, Welcome..

 

[robdog]

Welcome to the site. The restriction to post images and links is 5 posts now.

 

[Poppy]

Yes, welcome... Old geezers are always welcome here. It make me feel younger

 

[Darkside Dave]

Thanks for the Welcome Folks... I'm not too concerned about not being able to post links at this time. The truck picture is a fake made up on Photoshop. It is intended for guidance and inspiration. If you look close you can see it is actually a '56 but it is close enough to my '53 to get the point across. at this point the project looks nothing like the picture. Of course the year doesn't really matter that much considering all the different donor vehicles that are going into it.

Later Folks...

 

[Cuda_jim]

The 10 post rule is to keep the spammers at bay....the old site has taught us that.
FYI: The first link (My stuff) in your signature is broken, too many http's

 

[Darkside Dave]

The 10 post rule is to keep the spammers at bay....the old site has taught us that.
FYI: The first link (My stuff) in your signature is broken, too many http's

Thanks. I'll have to fix that. I've done that before. I have oldtimer's disease.

EDIT... I got it fixed, everything seems to work OK now.

Later Man...

 

[80 maytag]

I think I'm gonna like this guy. I don't think the t-5 will last very long, trucks are heavy. What about the '99ish awd explorer with a 302? Comes with good heads and a matched drivetrain, a lot less integration aggravation and the wheelbase is pretty close, but its been done. Rich

 

[Darkside Dave]

I think I'm gonna like this guy. I don't think the t-5 will last very long, trucks are heavy. What about the '99ish awd explorer with a 302? Comes with good heads and a matched drivetrain, a lot less integration aggravation and the wheelbase is pretty close, but its been done. Rich

Hi Rich,
I don't think it will be a problem and here is why. Fist of all it's not a T5. That seems to be a common misconception. The tranny I'm going with is a M5R2 which was actually made by Mazda and has been successfully used for quite a while behind the 300 six and the 303 and 351 V-8's form '88 to '94 in F-150's and full size Broncos. The T-Bird SC uses the same tranny with a 2.73 differential and limited slip. That T-Bird SC is about a thousand pounds heavier than my rig will be. On top of that I will be running 3.73 gears which will mean even less strain on the tranny. Those old half ton '53s are not as big as you might think. As a matter of fact they fit well on a Ranger or Explorer chassis. The '99 Explorers either came with a the 5R55E 5 speed electronic OD tranny or the M5R2 5 speed standard in the Sport. The M5R2's that were used on the 4Cyl. and 4.0L V-6's is not the same as the M5R2's used behind the Super Coupe supercharged engine and the 300's, 302's and 351's. All I am using from the '99 Explorer is the rolling chassis and I'll be using the fully independent rear suspension from the SC. I just have to switch in the 3.73 gears from the Explorer rear end. They are both 8.8's so that should be no problem. So far as fit is concerned, I don't see it as any big deal... I am combining the Explorer's floor pan and fire wall section into the old '53 cab. I'll even be able to use the Explorer dash, steering column, clutch and brake, A/C and heater. This is going to work out really well because most if not all these old truck cabs are rusted out in the floor and firewall. You can buy all the stuff to fix it if you have an extra thousand bucks to throw away and that does not include labor and welding materials. essentially I'll end up with an old truck with modern conveniences, parts and handling characteristics.

As for the so-called integration and aggravation, I thrive on that stuff. That's the way I like it. If it was easy anyone could do it. The more complicated and involved a project is, the better i like it.

Later...

 

[fordguy7]

Welcome from another Dave, (although my friends call me Bo)ut:. I have a soft spot for the early F series trucks and hope to be able to acquire a third generation someday. I look forward to seeing the transformation of your '53.

 

[Darkside Dave]

Welcome from another Dave, (although my friends call me Bo)ut:. I have a soft spot for the early F series trucks and hope to be able to acquire a third generation someday. I look forward to seeing the transformation of your '53.

Thanks Dave,

Try looking at THIS to see what the project is going like. I am temporarily held up because my plasma cutter blew up. At least it's on warranty and they called today to tell me it was fixed. So, maybe I can go and pick it up tomorrow and get back on the project. Right now I am cutting on a rusty practice cab to get all the cuts right so I won't be welding patches back in because I cut too much out of my good cab. Unfortunately I only have one floor pan and fire wall section from the Explorer so I have to be right the first time. I try to keep the build thread up to date when I make some significant progress on some stage of the build.

Later Man...

 

[FORDBOYpete]

Hey Dave,
Glad to see you dropped in here. Welcome aboard and pull up a chair, these are a Pretty good bunch here I say.
I was full fledged "member" @ old site & I am now a Jr Member all over again, :lol: yeah right At my age a JR anyhting is special. :ihih:
But Poppy collected my drifting butt threw me a life line now presto he got me where I shoulda' been when Ol' Site moved. You know how I get lost for periods of time. I'm Way Overloaded here in the land or Perpetual Summer & BiKiNi Clad Beach goers !!! :crazy: Arf Arf Arf (HA ha ha)

FBp. . . :thumbsup:

 

[Jonzo77]

nice to see you here

 

[Darkside Dave]

Hey Pete,
Yeah, I am trying to get as much access as possible to Ford info and expertise. What I do know doesn't matter, but what I don't know does.

Later Man...