Day one

[drivea55]

Okay folks, after a week and a half of staring and planning, I started turning wrenches today. Check it out. I'm pretty satisfied with the progress and I only broke two bolts . My next door nieghbor who is building a rat rod out of a 52 Ford PU, came over right before I called it a day, and said that I had a pretty sound truck, and it had a lot of potential.

 

[steve]

What the Plan?

Look solid and clean original engine and all. Bolts break so does skin, I used oil over night or some times heat to loosen the frozen ones.

 

[JSW]

Hey drivea55! I know exactly how you feel! I picked up a 56 in april and am just starting the teardown process. Running into probelms with the bed removal. Somebody thought it was a good idea to weld everything to everything else. Also I have started filling up an old jar with the broken bolts. I look forward to following your progress. Pics to follow soon. Every journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Good luck!
J

 

[drivea55]

Thanks for the well wishes J, and good luck to you too. I'm not gonna show everydays progress, but I am keeping a journal with hours to see how much of my life it'll take to give it life again. Got it mostly ready to pull the engine yesterday with the exeption of the motor mounts and seperating from the tranny. Found a broken and missing fender mount and all the shims gone. That's gonna be an interesting fab. Got my first of many ouches yesterday too. In the pic, notice the sharp corner at the bottom of the fender. Well, I didn't notice it as I was raising up off of the floor after draining the oil. Jammed it right into my skull. Damnit, that hurt. First of many, I'm sure.

 

[JSW]

Hey 55, looks like you're gettin it done! Good Stuff! I am traveling for work right now so needless to say I am not getting anything done. Seeing you moving right along reallly gives me the itch bad! I am doing the same, pictures at the start and major milestones, but keeping track of the hours; it's amazing how fast they add up..... What are you going to do as far as the drivetrain? Original or mods? I am not putting a show truck together, just a driver when I can't ride the bike. But I plan to do it to last till they plant me! Keep on Keepin On!

 

[drivea55]

J,
Right now, my plan is to keep the drivetrain as close to original as possible, but with a few engine tricks for looks more than anything. I'd like to perk up the interior some. I'm too old to want to wrestle the steering or brakes, and you being from Alabama you gotta know that A/C is required right? Houston humidity sucks, and I've dealt with it in Mobile and Gulf Shores before, and no way I'm going without it. Let's see some pics when you can.
Woody

 

[steve]

Car Removal

Are you going to remove the cab? Looks like the cab in very good shape.

 

[drivea55]

Hey Steve,
Yeah, I'm taking it all the way down to the frame. The cab needs a lot of work, and I don't want to miss anything. Although, the cab is in pretty good shape relatively. No holes in the floor or door frames. Couple of dings to repair, and the cab corners need new skin.
Note to everyone, I receieved my new air compressor yesterday. Bought a real sweet one from Northern that'll give me more than enough to run my blasting cabinet, and anything else. Shipping direct from the manufacturer was free, and the trucking company they used (Averitt) was tops. Their customer service was the best. The driver helped me get it from the street up my driveway all the way in to the garage behind the house. I usually don't expect much for free anymore, but this was so worth it. Now, anybody want to come over and run some 220 for me? The driver wouldn't go that far. Geez
Woody

 

[steve]

You will wonder how you lasted so long without ta good air compressor, one of the best investments; pneumatics tools. You know service ant what it used to be.

To remove the cab you have any ideals, I used large scaffolding, on large casters with 2x8 through the cab, the frame was raised on jack stands. Once the cab was unbolted, I lower the frame rolled it out. Just reminiscing maybe some rambling here to many night caps, good luck

 

[JSW]

55, a garage in the back!? Man I'm jealous, I'm doing it all in the driveway, everybody I know drives by and let's me know what they think so far, "Hey J when you gonna fix that flat?" Anyway I am working with my household task compressor. It is really too small and doesn't like the cutting tool very much, get's to hot to touch. That's usually when I knock off to give it a break. Your plans sound very similar to mine, mostly original, but your right gotta have the AC in Bama! I'll have pics out soon after I get home next week. Later.

 

[JSW]

Steve, I too am going all the way to frame off, appreciate the heads up on how to safely get the cab off the frame. Your ride looks very much like mine, I like it but the wife says no way I park it in the drive without some paint.. Sooooo, in the interest of marital harmony the Task Force is getting an Extreme Makeover. Later. J

 

[vwnate1]

Looking Good !

Figure out how much time you'll need then double it , that'll be closer to the truth .

Looks like a really goof Task Force rig you have there , most have terrible rust issues these days , even here in sunny So. Cal. .

I miss my old '55 Chevy Task Force Tow Truck , a beat up junker to be sure but it always did the job & never once left me afoot no matter how far across the Desert I stupidly drove it .

 

[Bobby 57]

I agree with Nate on the time line.The wife called it my patience training and 2 1/2 years later it was done. Take a lot a pictures to make a book when your done .The comments from the book about your project will be your great reward.Good luck and have fun.
Bobby