Thread: Project Special K

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Inspiration is always good, well except for one of Bob's beauties!

Well I finally have something worth updating. After some long research on the net, I decided to stick with my leaf spring rear suspension, but to replace the springs with a new set. Mike52 very nicely gave me a 150.00 gift certificate he won, for Eaton Springs out of the motherland of Detroit Michigan! So I called them up to get a stock set of rear springs for the old truck. After plugging all the extra bed holes(drilled for later model fenders) and putting the stock fenders on I found the rear tires were going to rub the inside top of each fender. I wasn't too worried about this, as I plan on getting completely different rear tires once the truck is ready to drive, but still worried about the back end dropping under and sudden burst of speed, or if I'm carrying a load in the truck, so I opted to get a set of custom heavy duty springs at a stock ride height. The woman(Kim) at Eaton said you realize your old springs are probably sagging so the rear will be even higher than it is now, with the new springs. I told her I was estatic about that because it would help me with the fender clearance issues. It's funny, I know most people want to lower most builds these days, but I still remember my highschool days in the late 70's where we jacked just about everything up in back, and only the low riders, lowered their cars back then. I guess when I think hot rod, I think slot mags, rear end in the sky!
So being true to my old times, I will go with that style for this build, for now. And Since I decided to pull the motor, I figure, might as well do all the welding on the chasis and frame whileI'm at it right now too. So in a few weeks the springs should get here and in the mean time I need to find the mounting pieces elsewhere, as Eaton was missing all of the components for a 48.

Also of note, a guy on another forum has started finishing a project his grand father initiated back in the late50's/early 60's on a truck he used to drag his rod to the strip with. The story touched me enough that I thought I'd post it under this thread with some picks, since a link there will give you an obstructed view with the need to joinn that sight if you want to see the photos.Three generations of talent here:

From other post sight "The following pictures show the current status of the build.

Truck’s History: This truck was purchased by my grandpa in the late 50's or early 60's. He used it for hauling his race car to the track. He chopped it in 1962 and painted it candy red. The top was chopped such that all the windows were the same height and at the same elevation. The rear of the cab was canted fwd and the door canted in so the roof was unmodified. He gave the truck to my dad when he turned 15. My dad painted it silver with black scallops and installed stacks and quad canted headlights. Sometime in the early 80's my dad quit driving it for its final ground up rebuild. Not much progress was made since he had a family to raise. About 10 yrs ago he reached a time in his life that he could start working of the truck. Him and I fabricated a new bed box with tonneau cover, installed a 1990 Mustang MAF EFI motor, plumbed the fuel and braking systems and did a bolt up Volare installation. Then at age 54 my dad passed away in his sleep unexpectedly from a blood clot in his lungs. I brought the truck to my house about 10 months ago to finish for him. I frenched in caddy tail-lights in the rear fenders, pie cut the hood 1.5", straightened the side window channel for a one-piece glass, frenched in a Harley Davidson gas cap, installed the 8.8 mustang rear end with Lincoln discs and triangulated 4 link, C-channeled the frame, filled and modified the dash for gauges, and nearly completed all of the body work (except for the front fenders and valance).

Soon I will be ordering a Mustang II IFS with bags to go in place of the Volare and installing bags on the rear. I will be fabbing up quad canted headlights with a custom grille and valance. I also plan to move the front axle centerline fwd about 4.5". "
found here : http://darksidersrealm.forumotion.co...d-55-f100#2679

That's a very cool truck, and three generations! Amazing!

Bad a$$ ride with a cool history! Thanks for sharing, Steve.

Yeah it's rare to get three generations of builders into hot rodding and skilled in fabrication as well as mechanics. I just thought it was cool he and his dad kept it and are into it, like his grandpa.

Its a kool piece,Steve..Yes,three generations on the same project is unusual,,Would like to see it finished..

Saw this on ebay for a 460 engine................hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIG-BLOCK-FO...item3ef18ea3b0

Originally Posted by stovens

Saw this on ebay for a 460 engine................hummmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

BIG BLOCK FORD 429-460 THE BLOWER SHOP SUPERCHARGER 871 POLISHED 2V | eBay

Pretty lookin piece,isnt it?All you need now is a nice little stroker kit to rotate underneath,,and really wake up the natives..

Yeh and he even does layaway! I think my wife would kill me! But a guy can dream!

I went online today looking for bushings for my 48 f1 trucks rear leaf springs. Eaton is making new springs, and Kim at their shop nicely encouraged me to buy their hanging kit which was complete except for bushing, which she said they can't get anymore. So I went to Sacramento Vintage Ford's web site and found two different kinds of bushings for the rear leaf springs, so not sure if I got the right ones or not. I got "REAR SPRING EYE BUSHING" but also noticed they had "REAR SPRING HANGER BUSHING" but not for f1's. Not sure the difference between the two? Anyone know, and if so what will I need?

The spring eye bushings slip into the eyes of the springs, the hanger bushings are the

ones that will go into the front of rear spring frame mount.

Thanks 406rich!

Originally Posted by stovens

I went online today looking for bushings for my 48 f1 trucks rear leaf springs. Eaton is making new springs, and Kim at their shop nicely encouraged me to buy their hanging kit which was complete except for bushing, which she said they can't get anymore. So I went to Sacramento Vintage Ford's web site and found two different kinds of bushings for the rear leaf springs, so not sure if I got the right ones or not. I got "REAR SPRING EYE BUSHING" but also noticed they had "REAR SPRING HANGER BUSHING" but not for f1's. Not sure the difference between the two? Anyone know, and if so what will I need?

Have you tried Bob Drake...? They do sell pu parts now as well.

Thanks I'll check them out.