1955 Ford Panel Truck
Our customer bought somebody's abandoned project and brought it to us. We media blasted it, fixed several things on the body, replaced the frame and front stub, mini-tubbed it, installed a narrowed rearend, primed and sealed it. The customer wanted a good solid project that he could take home and finish himself.
Click on a photo to enlarge.
The panel truck as it was delivered to our shop.
Media blasting the lower half of the body was one of the first things we did, so we could start repairing the damaged areas caused by rust.
This shot was taken after media blasting the lower half of the body.
Old body repairs were apparent in many areas.
Door hinges had to be straightened to get proper door alignment.
Lower half of rear doors had to be repaired both inside and out.
New lower door skins were rolled out on our english wheel...
and welded on the door shell.
Door was bolted back on to check alignment.
We installed a new firewall...
as well as floor pans and a transmission tunnel.
We made a new rear roll pan and installed it.
After all the metal work and repairs were completed on the body, we finished media blasting body shell and sealed it in epoxy primer.
The old rusty OEM donor chassis was disassembled...
and then media blasted.
A later model Dodge sub-frame was purchased, media blasted, and then prepped to be graphed to the OEM frame.
After achieving the proper location of the sub-frame assembly and trimming the OEM frame to fit, we welded it all together.
We had Brian, from B & D Fabrications, narrow the 9 inch Ford rearend, which we mounted on a lowered spring kit.
This shot shows the mini tubs we made to add the extra tire clearance needed.
10 inch wide wheels with P295-50 series tires look right at home under this old panel truck.
This 1955 Ford Panel Truck was picked up by the customer shortly after this photo was taken. He had a good very good start to a project that he'll enjoy building at home.