Panel Truck Restoration

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Fords First Trucks
Here is one of the first panel trucks used by ford electric.	Another classic company vehicle
...The Concept
The concept of the Panel Truck Restoration was to restore a vintage Panel Truck to display all the innovations that electrical work has taken since Charlie Ford first opened his doors in 1919. We have displayed pics on how the restoration has taken place, Please drop us a line and tell us what you think.
	Stage 1 This is a photograph that was taken the first day we went to see this 1950 Dodge Panel Truck.
	Stage 2 Here she is after we managed to drag her out of the field she was in.
	Stage 3 Here is a shot just as we are just starting to take apart the front end of the Panel Truck.
	Stage 4 Here we have most of the front end apart and preparing to remove the body.
	Stage 5 Now that we have removed the body we can begin working on the frame.
	Stage 6 After the drivetrain was removed. The frame and axles are sandblasted and primed.
	Stage 7 We now have turned our attention to the engine compartment and have started to dismantle the 218 flat head six cylinder engine.
	Stage 8 After cleaning 55 years of dirt and grease from the engine we can see what we are working with.
	Stage 9 It took a bit of searching but we found the engine parts we needed. It turns out that our panel truck was originally a military speced vehicle with a rare engine size/bore and stroke. We found these replacement pistons in Texas.
	Stage 10 Here we are putting this engine back together with new pistons, valve seats, valves, timing chain, crank and cam.
	Stage 11 After a few coats of paint on the engine block we lowered it onto the now black frame and began re-installing all the engine components including the re-built carburator.
	Stage 12 Here is one of the guys (Joel) working on the rear brakes. We were able to order all our brake parts from our local Auto Parts Extra store and they also helped us get our brake shoes, clutch and pressure plate re-lined.
	Stage 13 This shot shows us getting the main body sandblasted. It certainly is going to need a good body man to bring this beast back to life.
	Stage 14 This picture shows a 1948 Dodge Truck donor vehicle that we managed to find in California. Not only will its front fender, hood and grill become part of our project but it's main body as well.
	Stage 15 This picture shows the '48 truck cab that is going to become part of our '50 panel project.
	Stage 16 Here is the panel truck body ready for it's front end transplant.
	Stage 17 Here you can see that the panel truck and pick-up truck have become one. A lot of body work ahead of us.
	Stage 18 Here we can see how far gone the back floor was when we started.
	Stage 19 Before adding the oak flooring in the back of the panel, we decided to reinforce it with a steel floor.
	Stage 20 Here we see the oak flooring after it's first coat of stain. What a difference from a few months ago!
	Stage 21 Well things are really starting to come together as we begin to put all the pieces back
	Stage 22 Once the front end went on, the truck really started to come together.
	Stage 23 Here is our 1950 Dodge Panel truck finally near completion. Eight years in the making we managed to rebuild this vehicle using only funds collected by the recycling of materials from job sites.