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Mel’s custom 51 Ford pickup

The grill has two extra teeth, the stainless steel side trim is custom mounted on the hood, side mirrors are from a Toyota Previa, and the rear fiberglass roll pan is a modified Ford Ranger unit.

The wheels are 15x7 and 15x8 Truspoke wires with (modified to fit) 1930 Ford caps and 255/60/15 and 215/60/15 BFG rubber. Front suspension is 69 Nova with disc brakes.

The truck has PB, PS and PW. The interior has late Chrysler 300 leather seats, a late Dodge console with stainless cup inserts and a 12V VW two speed wiper system. The two Gauges are Dolphin 5" quads. The column is a modified late Trans-am with a leather wheel and a new custom stainless steel hub with a Ford logo.

The mill is a 302 with Mustang shorty headers feeding 2.5" stainless pipes and a 600 CFM Holley carb sits on a Performer manifold.

The power steering box is a Trans-am quick ratio unit. The Mustang AOD has a remote frame mounted finned oil cooler. A 7" brake booster is mounted under the floor and both fuel and brake lines are stainless steel.

Front and rear park lights are new stock units and headlights are halogen. The bed boards are red oak with a custom made opening for access to the rear mounted battery and stainless steel 17 gal fuel tank.

I get a lot of compliments on the 96 Ford Explorer blue/clearcoat paint which has been professionally polished out.

I recently had mods done to my dash by a custom car builder. I never liked the 51 dash because of the heavy chrome piece running across the top which was pieced into three sections at the dash, ash tray and glove box.

Originally Bronco gauges were tunneled into my dash so I had him remake the gauge holes to fit new 5" quad gauges. I had the glove box door sectioned and the top piece attached to the dash, so the top of the dash on both sides had the same curve, then the glove box door was reshaped to match a new metal panel made to cover up the speaker grill, and the ash tray areas. Then the chrome speaker grill and radio hole cover from a 48-50 pickup dash were mounted.

I am very happy with the quality of the work done. It looks a bit rough now but after a skim coat of bondo, new paint, and new gauges it will look fine. I could have left the dash uncluttered without the chrome and it would have also looked cool, but hey, I like shiny things. Mel

***** NEW UPDATES *****

I’ve removed the bumper and finished the front roll pan. I added a rear roll pan, and Led lights all around. I Finished the dash, primed it, new gages, new switches and I’d like to see how many people will figure out how the dash has been modified. The two speed wipers are 67 VW 12V., The wiper arms are very close to the Ford system so I used pieces from both and they work perfect. The system only works with the VW switch.

What you don't see is the suspension change. The front had a 69:Nova clip and the rear leaf springs on the 9". It now has all new independent front tubular suspension with rear 4 links and coil over shocks all around. I have a set of Foose Legend wheels to go on soon.


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Comments

ghpcnm on Jun 28, 2011 said:

Nice F100, Mel. I'm intrigued by the two extra teeth in the grill...is that your original idea?

(I love restomods)

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Anonymous on Jul 4, 2011 said:

Hi, yes every custom feature - the mirrors, extra grill teeth, hubcaps, aluminium battery box, hood spear mounted further back, custom roll pan, are all my ideas. Thanks for writing. Mel

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ghpcnm on Jul 14, 2011 said:

I'm partial to restomods...I really like what you've done. Very Nice.

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Anonymous on Jul 15, 2011 said:

Thanks, I did the work over a ten year period. I did every thing but the running gear and paint and body mods. Mel

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SHADOW on Jul 21, 2011 said:

Beautiful truck. I've always loved the old fords, my buddy drove a cherry '48 in high school.

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Anonymous on Jul 22, 2011 said:

Cool, I actually drove a 48 Ford 3 ton dump stake occasionally hauling lumber when the real driver took a sick day. Big floor shifter and double clutching to shift. At 17 I loved it. Mel

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Anonymous on Feb 20, 2012 said:

Front suspension, are the coils stock for a small block eight without air ?? Would you make any recomendation for the coils ?

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Anonymous on Feb 20, 2012 said:

Yeah, I would do things a little different if I did it again. I have a 69 Nova clip with Discs. The guy who installed it made the truck too low for my liking so I installed new coils for a GM 350 with air (stiff) but the Ford 302 SB is 100 lbs lighter than the 350 so it raised the front a bit and it doesn't bottom out.But she rides rough.I think I should have gone to a spring shop and maybe they could have installed a set of springs that were a compromise. I would say put lots of thought into it and maybe get a professional to advise you. Mel

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mrmagoo02 on Nov 27, 2013 said:

Very nice truck. I did a 51 Ford truck a few years ago, really enjoyed doing it. It had a 351 windsor motor and a c-6 trans. Ran good out on the road. Hope that you enjoy your's.

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Mel on Nov 27, 2013 said:

The part I liked best was building it. This summer I didn't get a chance to go near it. I was so busy with house projects, but next year I am adding original tailights and finishing the interior. You talk of your truck in the past tense, do you have another ride now? Thanks, Mel

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ghpcnm on Dec 7, 2021 said:

WOW !!! That really looks nice.

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pickupguy on Dec 10, 2021 said:

Thanks., she is turning out the way I expected which is always a bonus. Next I’ll put a couple of old school 3” round stainless exhaust tips out the rear. Gotta start on door panels and a headliner too.

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Mario on Dec 7, 2021 said:

Real nice 51 Ford!

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pickupguy on Dec 10, 2021 said:

Love your car, nice lines. I’ll take a break for the winter and back to finishing what I started. Thanks for the compliment.

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pickupguy on Dec 10, 2021 said:

Love your car, nice lines. I’ll take a break for the winter and back to finishing what I started. Thanks for the compliment.

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57timemachine on Jul 5, 2022 said:

Mel, congratulations on all the fine work on your 51. I see you are a fellow Ontario resident. What part of Ontario. I am in Milton. Cheers.

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Anonymous on Sep 15, 2022 said:

Hi, I'm in Burlington. Going to Milton this weekend likely. Tried all over town here and can't buy pan head stainless bolts. I'm hoping that home hardware in Milton has them.

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Anonymous on Oct 3, 2023 said:

Hi, I may have written to you before. I’m in Burlington and you are likely 20 min away. We should chat sometime, How would we go about it? Mel

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Anonymous on Sep 15, 2022 said:

Hi george, you should come to the Burlington cruise night. There must be 250 cars now. I'll watch for your Pontiac...Mel

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57timemachine on Sep 17, 2022 said:

Mel. thanks for the invite. I did not know that cruise was still on. It is not listed in the Old Auto's paper. Where is this cruise located. Cheers.

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Anonymous on Sep 17, 2022 said:

Hi George, there was no cruise night for almost 20 years. It’s at the Can Tire parking lot on Fairview just east of Guelph line. I’ll be at the Paris car show this Sunday. Hope to see you there.

There is a great car show/swap meet schedule on an app called the Canadian Cruisers. It’s free at the App Store…..Mel

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Anonymous on Dec 20, 2022 said:

Hi George, thanks for the compliments . I’m located in Burlington. Looking forward to meeting you.

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azmuscle on Jun 21, 2024 said:

Mel, just happened upon your 51, one of my favorite numbers......because that was the year I was born. My favorite (one of) colors, blue with that light tan interior. Very nice.

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Mario on Jun 21, 2024 said:

I love the new work you did on your 51 Ford truck Mel. Looks really good! Cheers, Mario

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Mel on Jun 21, 2024 said:

Thanks guys, I showed the good, the bad and the ugly. In 20 years It gone though some changes. From a Pontiac front clip to Mustang 11, leaf springs to 4 link and adjustable shocks all around. From 15” wire wheels to Foose 17”. From beigh interior to dark blue. Custom dash finally finished. I sold he 6 months ago to a new owner that loves her as much as I did, that makes me happy.

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Mario on Jun 21, 2024 said:

Sorry to hear you sold your long time 51 Ford Mel but I understand. We need to move on and let another generation take over.

Your happiness is in finding a good family who will take good care of your Ford. I wish you all the best in your next venture, Mario

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