BP&B Hobby Shop

[MP&C]

Do you think perhaps it was an option for the larger trucks with larger diameter tires? First time I've seen it, if you didn't want them on your doors I would think they'd fetch a good price due to the rarity. On the other hand, a definite conversation piece for the vehicle, but now you have to add spares on the fender!

 

[HD FLHX]

Do you think perhaps it was an option for the larger trucks with larger diameter tires? First time I've seen it, if you didn't want them on your doors I would think they'd fetch a good price due to the rarity. On the other hand, a definite conversation piece for the vehicle, but now you have to add spares on the fender!

I've wondered about that too. I've only seen it on pickup doors and I believe both "A" & "AA" cabs are the same so that's a very good possibility. I done a quick google image search and did find a '31 AA wrecker with it.

 

[HD FLHX]

Spent some time this weekend getting the rims cleaned up and painted on the '50. Sandblasted, 2 coats of epoxy primer and 3 coats of SEM Trim Black.

 

[countryroad82]

You've got some nice skills there, and a great looking shop!

 

[Hammer1963]

Nice work! From one body guy to another, it is great to see you take the time to display your skills. Good clean panel fab work.

 

[Bears Fan]

That pic of the model A wrecker is way cool you posted! I think the BP&B Hobby Shop needs to have a model A wrecker.

 

[BJ42LX]

I followed the Nova project start to finish. Now I'm watching this one!

Keep up the good work.

 

[HD FLHX]

Been working on a remodeling project in the house so no new updates from the shop but I did go look at a 66 Econoline pickup this morning. Ended up being rougher in person than the pics lead on. Still good to see one. I had one about 20yrs ago wish I wouldn't have let it go. I'd like to find a decent 3 window, lower it and drop in a 302.

 

[HD FLHX]

Finally finished up a remodeling project in the house that has kept me out of the shop for the last month or so. I picked up an old slide in wrecker boom for the '50 while I was in Indiana visiting family over Christmas. Its a little newer than I would have preferred, but the price was right and with a little modification I think it'll look alright. Its a Reese unit complete minus the electric winch.





The base frame is going to have to be shortened to fit the bed and I am planning on modifying the front to look more like the one pictured below.

 

[MP&C]

I think it was wise to pass on the Econoline, looks like too much work! I'm elbows deep into one of those "too much work" projects myself right now....

Boom looks nice and solid, will be a nice addition!

 

[HD FLHX]

Spent some time working on the wrecker boom yesterday. Got it cut down to the right length so it will fit in the shortened F3 bed and started modifying the front to make it look more the part. Just to clarify this boom is just for the look and will never be used to pull anything.

I want to make the front of the boom mount look more like this one;







The 2x4 represents 2 2x5 rectangle tube braces that are going there. Picked up a cheap 2000lb electric winch at Menards during their 15% off bag sale. Figured I'd build some type of box or cover to hide it once installed.

 

[YJ4000]

That's going to be pretty cool. I would like to get/make an old wrecker when some of my other projects are done. There is an old junkyard near me that is being cleared out and there is a very old one that I think I will be able to get.

 

[HD FLHX]

Set the wrecker boom in the back of the '50 to figure out some mounting brackets.

 

[HOTFR8]

Now that looks good.

 

[Mavawreck]

Looks great! Had any thoughts on putting taller springs in the rear? Seems like most wreckers sit a little higher in the back although the F100 you posted for inspiration sits level.

 

[HD FLHX]

Looks great! Had any thoughts on putting taller springs in the rear? Seems like most wreckers sit a little higher in the back although the F100 you posted for inspiration sits level.

I should have clarified I was really only looking at the boom not really the truck itself. I lowered my truck several inches and it actually sits pretty close to level with the boom in the back.



Part of it is an illusion because on the F2 & larger 1st generation F-Series trucks the wheel opening are larger for tire clearance. So with that and a smaller 15 inch tire, it makes it seem the front is nose high when its really not.



You can see how much mine has been lowered compared to a stock 3/4 ton. I'm going more for a "Hot Rod Wrecker" look more than a real wrecker.


Mounted a pair of brake lights and a tag light

 

[SebringSilverZ]

Love this thread and your projects! Everything is very classic and tasteful. Wish I was closer to you for a couple small things on my early bronco!

 

[HD FLHX]

A couple new things. First I was able to buy a yellow beacon light off ebay for a reasonable price. I'll have to make a mount to raise it up a few inches.


I recently bought a new Baileigh 36" power bead roller. The Mittler Bros. dies I ordered last week from Trick Tools showed up today so I was able to get some patch panels made for the running boards on the '50. These boards are junk, but I haven't had any luck finding a good set reasonably priced and nobody makes repop ones for F2+ long bed trucks that I know of. So for now these will have to do.

 

[don long]

Picked up a 1 ton gantry crane this week for the shop, I hate asking and/or waiting for friends or family to help lift body off or move something heavy. Seen a couple threads on this one from Harbor Freight here on GJ so I stopped by the local store and looked at it in person. I was actually quite surprised, seems pretty well made and was on sale for $300 off plus another $175 off with the use of a 25% off coupon. Came to $525 plus tax out the door.

Nice catch on the gantry crane and from all the additions to your thread, it looks like it is getting broke in pretty fast.

I have the same exact unit and just love it.
I have a manely boom to go on the back of my 30 "AA" truck just sitting in the sinclair station, waiting for me to get off my **** and get it mounted.

The example of what your tow rig should look like is a Holmes 440 boom

Nice work on the truck it looks great

Don

 

[HD FLHX]

Finished up the modification on the wrecker boom. Now just have to give it a good sanding and shoot some black implement paint on it.




Running boards are installed. I shot them with Raptor bedliner left over from a previous project

 

[MP&C]

Nice!

 

[HD FLHX]

Painted the wrecker boom this evening. Shot it with a satin black tractor & implement paint. Stepped up and spent the extra $8 for the hardener . Pulled my old trusty siphon feed Devilbiss JGA out of retirement for the spraying duties.







Pics were taken right after I was done painting, it should dull down some to a satin finish as it dries. Got the rear fenders mounted Friday afternoon and was able to get out enjoy the mid fifties with a quick cruise.

 

[don long]

I haven't seen an old JGA gun for years. I see they still work pretty well
the boom looks fine. Nice job on the remodel

Don

 

[HD FLHX]

Pretty happy with the paint on the boom, it laid out nice and dried to a nice satin finish.



At some point the floor of the bed had a piece of sheet metal laid over the original wood floor. I assume because the wood was getting soft in the front. Well whomever done that didn't bother to drill any drain holes through the new metal and it has now rusted through in the front corners as well. The wood cross braces underneath still seem solid. I really didn't want to tear the old floors out and invest the money for a new wood floor for this particular truck so I decided to lay 1x6's over the existing metal floor then use carriage bolts to tie everything together.


It seemed like a good idea to use galvanized carriage bolts till I went to put the first nut on. Chasing threads on 48 bolts was not the best of times


A little more satin black to finish out the inside of the bed


A couple coats of Rustoleum oil based grey paint on the bed floor


Boom going in for the last time

 

[ADSR]

Wicked build thread! My old man has a 49 that his grandfather bought off the lot. It's never left the family. Going to be restoring it as well. This thread has giving me a lot of info!

 

[dcmus]

Great project and workmanship!

 

[YJ4000]

I like it! I enjoy your projects and info you share.

Ryan

 

[HD FLHX]

Spent some time wiring up the brake/signal lights, tag light and beacon today. I had to make a mounting bracket for the beacon to attach it to a flat plate which mounts to the box on the boom mount.

The beacon already had 3 holes in the base, so I came up with this bracket. The base slides over it and bolts down with 3 nuts that are easily accessible with the lens off.



Action Shot

 

[blueovalforever]

awsome builds!

 

[HD FLHX]

Not really project related, but car related. I've mentioned before that my grandfather was and my father is a Ford mechanic. A couple pics just recently were found of the dealership and my grandfather back in the 40's and 50's. He started working at Geyer Ford as a mechanic in 1948.



Geyer later sold the dealership to Jack Cross, in which it became Jack Cross Ford. That is who my father started working for along side my grandfather in 1975. The dealership transferred owners a few more times but stayed in that location till 1993 when a new building was built. Its hard to imagine in this day and age working in the same building out of the same 2 stalls for approximately 45 years. I grew up in this garage, it seems just like yesterday I was helping my dad after hours prepping new cars back in the mid to late 80's.

My grandfather is the 5th from the right.

 

[jhn9840]

Very cool thanks for sharing. Better times back in those days then now imho.

jhn9840
John


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[MP&C]

Some nice history there! Needs to be hung on your shop wall..

 

[hot rod reverend]

Ok I've got to ask, what was the story with that pic of the 55 Thunderbird and all the guys and your grandpa around it? Did they set it up to race ? Can't help but notice all of those sponsor decals and the exhaust pipe coming out just in front of the rear tire.

 

[HD FLHX]

Ok I've got to ask, what was the story with that pic of the 55 Thunderbird and all the guys and your grandpa around it? Did they set it up to race ? Can't help but notice all of those sponsor decals and the exhaust pipe coming out just in front of the rear tire.

It's actually a '56 bird (vent in fender) but, that's a good question, really don't know for sure. I do know in that back corner of the shop is where they boiled and re-cored radiators. On the door of the car it says Radiator Specialty Company so we think it was a promotional vehicle. Everybody in the picture worked in the back of the dealership..Service dept, Parts dept and the clean up guys. The man standing to my grandfathers left was the service manager at the time.

 

[don long]

Your truck is coming along nicely
I like the picture of the old ford dealership and the sign hanging out front
I saw one of those signs for sale but my offer for it got me escorted off the property

(Might have been a little too low)

Thanks for sharing

Don

 

[galute]

That wrecker is sweet! Do you have any plans for maybe some hand lettering on the door? Maybe the name of your shop or something like that?

 

[HD FLHX]

That wrecker is sweet! Do you have any plans for maybe some hand lettering on the door? Maybe the name of your shop or something like that?

Funny you bring that up...I was just kicking that idea around. First thought about having vinyl lettering made but hand lettering would probably look way more appropriate for the year. I'll have to look around to see if I can come up with some stencils in a cool font.

 

[HD FLHX]

A few new pics of the pretty much finished wrecker




I did end up putting another leaf back into the rear springs to compensate for the added weight of the boom. It brought it up about 3/4" to give it a 1/4" rake back to front.




And now after about a 6 month distraction its time to get back to the Model A. Spent a little time yesterday cleaning up the rearend that is going in it. Cut the spring mounts off and sandblasted the housing.

 

[jhn9840]

Your wrecker is a thing of beauty. I'll be waiting to see your progress on the Model A. Thanks for sharing.

jhn9840
John

 

[MP&C]

Now we need a picture of the wrecker in action. Throw some tires on the Model A and pull it around the yard or something...