Posted by Vaughn on Friday, February 21, 2003 at 10:13PM :
In Reply to: My beat up old 53 FF pics posted by Chris In Idaho on Friday, February 21, 2003 at 9:40PM :
Looks like the truck a lot us start out with. From looking at the pictures, it appears to be a very restorable truck.
A couple of suggestions:
Before you take the cab off, get a 12lb sledge hammer and look for the lowest point in that cab dent, strike it with the hammer and continue until it pops back into shape. Not that difficult to fix.
If the bed side pannels are bowed out, take the fenders off. Drill two 3/8 holes through the long flat side of a 2x4 board the board (4") and attach it to the top two bolt holes, outside using bolts (6-7" in length. On the inside, bolt a chain across both bolts under the nuts. Using a hand lever winch, attach it to the chains on both pannels and begin to pull the pannels inward. After you put tension on the pannels, using a 2x4 and your trusty sledge, start on one end and pound the pannel inward starting at the bottom working to the top moving towards the center where the 2x4 is. Move to opposite end, then other pannel and do the same. Tighten the winch and repeat until pannels are straight, then remove from truck and finnish any body work.
The tailgate -- same 2x4 and sledge until it's straight.
Enjoy!
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