49 Ford driver for $3,000 in 3 months

I wanted to build a 49-51 shoebox ford as an everyday driver for cheap. Something that would drive nice down the freeway, get good gas mileage, lowered, and cost 3,000 or less. The stock Ford suspension really sucks in these. Guys usually spend $2,000 on a new front end, and either salvage the old rear end or replace. These project usually take along time and alot of money. I wanted something roadworthy for cheaper and quicker. I used a 91 chevy S10 4.3 5 speed as the donor, and what saved me lots of money, was using as much of it as possible. Started with a good running truck that didnt need anything, and used just about the whole dang thing. I even grafted in the radiator support, using the stock radiator hoses. I used the chevy steering column, and adapted it it in by using an chevy astro van steering joint, lengthend and welded back together. (astro van steering linkage has nice u joints and cost $12 from pick n pull), used the stock ford gas tank, repositioned slightly to fit, lengthened the chevy frame 5.1 inches, c notched, used full size chevy shortbed driveshaft, adapted body mounts to ford, made complete exaust from manifolds to rear bumper( bought bends and cut accordingly), rewired lights and ignition using universal switches from autozone, has S10 2 inch drop spindles, 3 inch drop springs, 4 inch blocks with 2 leaves removed, 4.3 V6 with Weber 40 IDF HP VW Carb adapted to chevy intake via my own adapter made out of vw swingplate and exaust tubing; it now drives great, has great power, gets 20 mpg in the city, and anything that breaks can be replaced for cheap in stock at autozone cause its all chevy s10 parts. The whole thing cost me $3000 and 3 months of my time after work and on weekends. Its not a show car, and not trying to be. Just a car the average guy can build and drive for cheap.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 49
• 50
• 51
• 1950
• 1949
• ford
• shoebox
• rat
• rod
• project
• monster
• garage
• jesse
• james
• jeff
• paull