1956 Ford Big Job T 800 Challenge Mixer

[leafsprings]

1956 Ford Big Job T 800 chassis completed at Ford Motor Company, will be shipped to Challenge Cook Bros. for transit mixer installation.  Specs. 332  Torque King Special 212 hp V8,  New Process  540 HD 5 speed , 34K Eaton rear axles, 11K front axle. Custom Cab, Full Air Brakes. Goodyear  tires   (Rear back window glass  temporarily missing) sorry.

Edited September 26, 2020 by leafsprings

[Jim B]

That's awesome!  Well done.

[Rodent]

Driven in convoy north to Challenge Cook along the route that is now the 110 from Long Beach Assembly? Not sure if they built "Big Jobs" there or not, but it appears that they did build trucks at that plant.

Beautiful build BTW.

[DRIPTROIT 71]

Beautiful build! I’ve enjoyed watching this one come together! I always thought that something looked a little off about this conversion kit and then you showed how to fix the front on this build. Huge improvement! This has been one of my favorite builds! Great work!

[Dodge Driver]

Great work on an interesting subject!

As an aside, where did you source the NP 540 transmission? 

[leafsprings]

16 hours ago, Rodent said:

 Not sure if they built "Big Jobs" there or not, but it appears that they did build trucks at that plant.

 

Digging thru more literature, yes there was a Long Beach Assembly plant, at least in 1956, that produced these top of the GVW line T 800's. Also at mid year, there was an GVWR increase to 45K.

[leafsprings]

On 9/27/2020 at 7:43 AM, Dodge Driver said:

 

As an aside, where did you source the NP 540 transmission? 

The Dodge L 700 kit.

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by leafsprings

[leafsprings]

Thanks to all for the positive comments! It's very rewarding to build these medium- heavy class of vehicles that were used in so many local vocations in the past. Thanks to AITM for offering the base conversion kit. Planning on doing more medium heavies in the future!

[Dodge Driver]

1 hour ago, leafsprings said:

The Dodge L 700 kit.

Thank you kindly for the helpful information!

[Dutzie]

Very nice looking build. Well done!

[Rodent]

9 hours ago, leafsprings said:

Digging thru more literature, yes there was a Long Beach Assembly plant, at least in 1956, that produced these top of the GVW line T 800's. Also at mid year, there was an GVWR increase to 45K.

It's fun to put a backstory to a model, and I can totally imagine your truck moving north from Long Beach to Challenge-Cook and getting the mixer conversion. From there, who knows? If the final customer was on the west coast, it could have been driven from the Challenge-Cook factory, or it could have been loaded on a flatcar and sent east.

I love your builds of older trucks. It's too bad that AMT didn't start making them in styrene until the 70's so the older stuff just isn't represented.

[kilrathy10]

Man, that came out good... Awesome work...

[ChrisR]

Awesome!

[TECHMAN]

???

Really is a show-stopper!!!  And absolutely looks "show-room-fresh", fantastic job!!!

DJ

[Brinx]

Now THAT is one tough looking truck, looks like it could handle anything on the job site with ease.

I'm thinking about trying something like that, but with an 80's Ford pick up cab, maybe as a single axle local P/D tractor.

I really like how your fenders came out...looks totally natural.

[extmcdriver]

I love what you have done here, great attention to detail.

[slusher]

Looks great!

[leafsprings]

Thanks for the positive responses to this build.   Always had a soft spot for the heavies that used the light duty cabs.   May just finish this one before the reissue arrives!

Edited August 25, 2022 by leafsprings

[CRUSADER2]

Neat work and finishing, a really superb job!!!

[leafsprings]

 Challenge mixer installed with vertical water tank. Ready to pour concrete.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by leafsprings