Ford Runabout Rod Build: Part 2, fitting the flathead

The flathead was winched into place between the frame rails of the circa 27 model T runabout

The original, early-style water pumps had to be replaced with later-style ones. The difference being that the early engines mounted up front, with a front and center bar whereas later Flatty's mounted at their waterpump bosses.

Oddly though, when I went to mount these new (NOS? I wish. More likely Chinese repop...) pumps, I couldnt turn one of them past a full revolution. I wondered why? I took it back off and looked at the impeller base - do you see it? The litle bit of casting flap? Whatever it was it was hitting the inside of the block. A quick swipe with the angle grinder and it was gone though.

And so back to the task at hand...

And plop! Between the rails she went.

        Looks sweet! Stay tuned for the suspension....the cross members, mounts, suspension points....and the 10 million other bits that make a simple rod..... :)

1956 International Restoration 120 Series: Metal Working Bed and fenders

The next several weeks - and hundred-odd man-hours - will be dedicated to getting the metal close to the shape it should be in, attempting to reverse the many years of abuse, damage and rust.

The bed is the worst part by far. We purchased a new floor section, but just cutting out the old and fitting/welding in the new will be a major undertaking.

Besides the rust, the bed was pierced by the shocks when the truck was overloaded with frozen Pike and Pickerel fish, caught by so many ice-fishermen in an exceptionally good year.

But the truck was used for much more than hauling fish....

Here I'm using the impact chisel to remove some hardened cement that was lodged inside the rear tailgate channel....

The rear fenders will need a considerable amount of work as well - and these are the GOOD pair that came with a "better" box the owners brought in to replace the unusable original pieces!

Just as a teaser.....this is the same fender-corner that was shown "folded over" in a previous post. Little by little, we'll get there.