Should I do it?

wickcopland

wickcopland

Senior Member
My Grand father parked this truck in an old barn over 50 years ago. Engine locked up. It is a Flat head, but I do not know any more. It has been handed down to my cousin who has since passed. It now belongs to my Aunt. She had asked me if I would take it and restore it. Unfortunately the old barn is coming down on it. Getting it out would be a daunting task.
So would it be worth it?
 

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I depends.
Unless you are a decent mechanic with a lot of money and strong sentimental attachment to the truck, a major restoration is probably not a great idea.
But if you could actually use a working truck, fixing it up to safe (as you can be in and old Ford) and sorta reliable beater, it would be a pretty cool truck with a story.

How bad is the interior? Is the dash intact and instruments undamaged? How bad is the rust inside? Are the floors and bed rusted through? Are the top, hood, grill and fenders rusted out or badly damaged? What about the windshield and door glass; Intact?
 
If you do the work yourself as a hobby - probably, depending on the amount of rust and rot. If you hire someone to do the work, it'll be a money pit.
 
553646


The Pickup that wickcopland is asking about is a 1952 Ford Pickup
These early trucks are gaining in popularity, but you need to be comfortable taking on the task of restoring it.
 
It is in really bad shape. Interior is completely gone. I wish they had let me take it on when I first approached them about doing it. Back then I would have had a lot of fun as my dad would have been around. I remember riding in that truck back in the 60's.
 
That’s no pickup, that’s a truck. Has 8 lug wheels. Would never be a cross country hauler. But might be good for runs to the lumber yard.
 
Dig up a couple of coffee cans of old silver coins and be prepared to spend all of it.
I would tinker on it for me, but not for someone else. Trying to meet someone else's expectations can ruin a relationship. Getting an occasional driver out of it would be fun. BUT, a locked up engine can get costly and sitting on a five gallon bucket to drive it is not for everyone...
At least pull it out and put a for sale sign on it??? Chap
 
More photos are needed. My opinion is "No". However, from what has already been said, that truck from a commonsense standpoint, is not worth restoring unless you have such a sentimental attachment to it that $$ is not a consideration. Here's a 1954 model already completely restored that will soon be for sale.
 

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Lots of good advice here. Here's mine. I'd at least try to get it outa there. Be very careful about cleaning it up as the Massey Ferguson logo on the door is priceless to the right guy. Pull the spark plugs and pour a 50/50 mix of acetone and auto trans fluid in the holes. You could also use diesel fuel or marvel mystery oil etc. Also the words 'rusty' and 'gone' mean different things to different people. 'Surface rust ' is now called patina :). Once it's out, get some more pics so we can better critique what you have. 8 lug wheels are a plus in my book and looks like lock ring wheels so it may have beewn converted from 17" wheels to !6". Much easier to find tires and a lot safer rim. If you should choose to just move it on to the next guy, get in touch with an organization of guys who collect and restore Massey Ferguson tractors. There's your buyer! Now get out there and start shoring up that end of the barn and get a chain on that *****. We wanna see it better!
 
Nice truck, don't let these old farts knock you down they won't get out of their cars what they have in them either. It takes a lot of work and money but in time it will be done the way you want it. I'm in sc and would take a look at it.
kurt
 
Obviously try and save it but your aunt might need to adjust her expectations (unless she wants to bankroll it) as a restoration would be prohibitively expensive. It is also the heavier version which is (arguably) not as desirable as the half ton. A died in the wool car nut would take it on and fix what needs fixing and get it back up and running and driving. So the question is, do you want to take it on? If the price to pay is that it has to be restored then no-one in their right mind would take it on. In reality you would do your aunt a favour by removing it. She would have to realise that just getting it shifted is payment enough. She would need to understand that it might be too much for you as the optimum window for getting it has long passed and if you can't fix it up then at least you might be able to make it available to someone that would be prepared to take it on.
I'd take it on but am in the wrong country. Mart.
 
If it's 8 lug, it's probably an F2 or F3 with the 8 foot Express bed. Those running boards, fenders and bed (or bed parts) are NOT reproduced and worth something even if a bit beat up.

I see some good trim and I already see some parts I could use for my 52 F3. Please don't scrap it. There are guys that can use it if you don't want it. Where are you located?

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
 
It all comes down to the sentimental value vs actual costs of the work and final value of the truck.

If one thinks there is any profit to be made . . . or that it will be worth what you put into it, then correct this thinking right from the get-go. Most of us do what we do because we love these old cars/trucks and in many cases the sentimental value and/or emotional appeal is what drives us. Many of us have learned that the time and money we put into these projects can be much more than the "result" is worth (in the market), but that is not why we do it in the first place.

The sentimental value is the key component of this . . . either there is a lot of it (and $$$ to fund it), or not.

As others noted, I'd get it out of fallen down barn/shed first such that you can really ascertain what shape it is in, go over it in detail and then post some "cleaned up" pics back to this site.

There is a lot of experience on here - with guys that really know the details of how to align expectations with time and money!
 
On a positive note I will add that I have personally owned and resurected , not fully 'restored' at least ten of these 8' express bed trucks. It is very rare to see one in the wild that has that visible section between the (good) stake pocket and the rear fender, with the rivet heads, in that good of shape. That area where bed wood, inner steel angle and outer bedside converge was designed and built to collect every bit of moisture, dirt, and compost that a farmer could throw at it. The more it bounced and twisted down rutted roads the deeper all that crap sank, and unless it was in the Arid West it would never dry out. You oughta be able to extricate thetruck by Sunday evening. We're waiting......
 
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