I'd like a bit of input from guys who build Customs

[Nick Winter]

I've got a idea for a custom brewing in my head and I'd like some input from the custom builders here, I've never built a custom by any strech of the mind.

Below is a sketch of the Idea's I have,

this is a stock '53 ford, if you look at this and the above picture you'll notice some things I've taken into consideration.

[Jordan White]

I think that will look awesome as a model. The only thing I don't like is the wood bedsides. It would look better with painted steel bedsides and the stakes.

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:07 PM, ledsled merc said:

Nick, what exactly do you want opinions on here? The idea or the execution? As for the idea I too am not all that fond of a complete wood bed-side...... i would do the stock bed-side then overlay it with spaced-out planks (picture the sides with one slat missing and the rest spaced and centered evenly) and to bring it all together you could extend the planking forware to the door panels (think "woodie") and possibly run a single plank along the hood-sides. That would really bring it together nicely and be pretty danged sharp.

ok, at the time I drew this it was around 3AM sunday morning. yes opinions and Idea's

[Harry P.]

I think the top needs a good chop. It's awfully tall on the stock truck, and a lowered roofline might look cool. Also how about exhaust stacks like the Dodge Little Red Truck?

[Nick Winter]

I'd like to keep the tall cab for a reason, most orange crates are tall and long, hence my choice of this kit. I'll keep side pipes in mind.

[Harry P.]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:19 PM, ledsled merc said:

top chop maybe (but not too much) .............. stacks though? C'mon Really??? I see 1:1 pickups w/ stacks and cant help but think "Why? Just buy a real semi. What are you overcompensating for?" They're played out and ridiculous.

Wow... tough crowd!

[GrandpaMcGurk]

Personally, I'd lose the wood grain on the bed sides and cut down on the size of the wood bed rails. I'd also add a visor over the windshield and some wide whites......but that's just what would suit me, it's your build and if it makes you happy as is, that's all that matters.

[Jordan White]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:19 PM, ledsled merc said:

top chop maybe (but not too much) .............. stacks though? C'mon Really??? I see 1:1 pickups w/ stacks and cant help but think "Why? Just buy a real semi. What are you overcompensating for?" They're played out and ridiculous. just my $.02 (nick help me out with the conversion rate here wouldya? )

I agree that stacks are played out, but that would be the 4-5" stacks that you see on every other truck. I see nothing wrong with a set like the ones on the L'il Red Express with the heat shields on them.

Edited April 19, 2010 by YJIslander

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:27 PM, GrandpaMcGurk said:

Personally, I'd lose the wood grain on the bed sides and cut down on the size of the wood bed rails. I'd also add a visor over the windshield and some wide whites......but that's just what would suit me, it's your build and if it makes you happy as is, that's all that matters.

Visor, I like that Idea, I also thought of shortining the running boards

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:28 PM, YJIslander said:

I agree that stacks are played out, but that would be the 4-5" stacks that you see on every other truck. I see nothing wrong with a set like the ones on the L'il Red Express with the heat shields on them.

I was thinking lil red exspress style stacks except with out the sheilds, but made from aluminum tube.

[Jared Roach]

It needs to look like this:

Then we're talkin.

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:31 PM, bowtiebadboy333 said:

It needs to look like this:

Then we're talkin.

I love that episode of gears.

[Jared Roach]

I think you shold do zoomies like on that truck though.

I like them better then stacks.

[highway]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:25 PM, Harry P. said:

Wow... tough crowd!

Yeah, I agree!!

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:19 PM, ledsled merc said:

stacks though? C'mon Really??? I see 1:1 pickups w/ stacks and cant help but think "Why? Just buy a real semi. What are you overcompensating for?" They're played out and ridiculous. just my $.02 (nick help me out with the conversion rate here wouldya? )

I guess these guys would slam me, too, for filling the gap between my cab and bed with 5 inch stacks on my 1:1!!!!

And, by the way, I DO (well did) drive semis, and this is my LITTLE SEMI!!! If I could, I'd even put a hood like this on it!!

[whale392]

With due respect to your idea of 'custom'...............your sketch and list of mods seems pretty slim for a custom. To go with your ideas; the 429 can stay but has to wear some exotic induction system (very possibly EFI), a 5 or 6 speed tranny, IRS, Move the front wheel well openings forward in the fenders, shaved door handles, small cab visor, matched rear wheel well opening radiuses to the front wheelwell openings, run some 17" or 18" stamped steelies with the Baby moons you mention, Orange Pearl paint sounds good, custom type grill, smoothed tailgate with frenched taillights, the woodside bed can stay but the stakes have to be cut down to a reasonable height.

Just a few of my thoughts on this.

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:41 PM, whale392 said:

With due respect to your idea of 'custom'...............your sketch and list of mods seems pretty slim for a custom. To go with your ideas; the 429 can stay but has to wear some exotic induction system (very possibly EFI), a 5 or 6 speed tranny, IRS, Move the front wheel well openings forward in the fenders, shaved door handles, small cab visor, matched rear wheel well opening radiuses to the front wheelwell openings, run some 17" or 18" stamped steelies with the Baby moons you mention, Orange Pearl paint sounds good, custom type grill, smoothed tailgate with frenched taillights, the woodside bed can stay but the stakes have to be cut down to a reasonable height.

Just a few of my thoughts on this.

That's why I was asking for Input, I have never build anything of this nature, some of those idea's you posted I like some I don't

[whale392]

Always glad to help....I have no time to build something like that. If someone can take some of my ideas and run with them, I feel that I have accomplished something.

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:50 PM, whale392 said:

Always glad to help....I have no time to build something like that. If someone can take some of my ideas and run with them, I feel that I have accomplished something.

I like the shaved door handles, cab visor, smoothed tailgate, and shortened stakes.

[Guest Johnny]

  On 4/19/2010 at 11:19 PM, ledsled merc said:

top chop maybe (but not too much) .............. stacks though? C'mon Really??? I see 1:1 pickups w/ stacks and cant help but think "Why? Just buy a real semi. What are you overcompensating for?" They're played out and ridiculous. just my $.02 (nick help me out with the conversion rate here wouldya? )

But back in the day stacks on a pickup was the "in" thing to do!

Some ran them up through the bed and others piped it ove and up through the running boards at the cab corners! Complete with flappers!

[Harry P.]

When I saw Nick's sketch the first thing that popped into my head was Dodge Little Red Truck. Maybe stacks are played out, but I still think they would work in this case...

[Junkman]

Firestone Supremes out back won't last 10 miles with a 429.

[Nick Winter]

  On 4/20/2010 at 12:10 AM, Johnny said:

But back in the day stacks on a pickup was the "in" thing to do!

Some ran them up through the bed and others piped it ove and up through the running boards at the cab corners! Complete with flappers!

I've seen stacks like those.

  On 4/20/2010 at 12:12 AM, Harry P. said:

When I saw Nick's sketch the first thing that popped into my head was Dodge Little Red Truck. Maybe stacks are played out, but I still think they would work in this case...

I kinda mixed it with a F100 and it with the Monogram Orange Crate 40 ford, allthough all I took from it was it's name.

the supreme's were all I could think of off the top of my sleepy head.

[highway]

  On 4/20/2010 at 1:27 AM, ledsled merc said:

See now someone like yourself that actually drove the REAL THING I can understand..... your used to it and it's in your blood . My gripe is with the wannabe's The ones that can't hang so they go out grab a duallie toss some stacks on and a 5th wheel (that they NEVER USE nor do they have a gooseneck trailer for) in the bed and think they're real truckers. Give it up little boys. You though.......... you good

Thanks, ledsled! It's even got a diesel! That shows how much the diesel fumes effected me!! The best thing is, unlike the wanna be's who have to lose bed space for the "look", with the 6 inch gap between the bed and the cab (since this was an old wrecker and came from Ford as a chassis cab), I don't lose an inch of bed space!!

[DanielG]

Suicide doors.

[MikeMc]

Nick if you want a custom f series....then you need something different. A 2" wedge chop, pie cut the hood, move the front wheelwells and a small section on the beltline.will give it a different look.....here is a picture of Fooses personal effie...

[highway]

  On 4/20/2010 at 11:51 AM, MikeMc said:

Nick if you want a custom f series....then you need something different. A 2" wedge chop, pie cut the hood, move the front wheelwells and a small section on the beltline.will give it a different look.....here is a picture of Fooses personal effie...

I watched that "Overhaulin'" episode, seeing the truck brought Chip to tears!