Bill Simms

I have always been interested in cars, and I worked on automobiles with my father at young age. I have worked as a mechanical engineer and machinist throughout my career. I always wanted to build my own hot rod, so this is what I am doing:

I bought this ’48 Ford F-1 pickup many, many years ago from my wife’s aunt. It was her husband’s construction work truck for years in Albuquerque. It sat on blocks for around 30 years in their back yard, so I dug it out and trailered it home four years ago. I began fully disassembling the entire truck — it is amazing how many parts and pieces there are, and how much space they take up in a garage!

I rebuilt the bed frame and panels, repaired all the 50+ holes in the bed sides. After all, it was a work truck and everything you can imagine was bolted to the truck at one time. I chopped 3” off the top, shaved the doors and installed modern, hidden hinges. I eliminated the wing windows and added one piece electric windows. I fully boxed the frame and then narrowed it to accommodate the custom built 9” Ford differential with the custom 4-link coil over rear suspension.

I plan on adding an independent tubular IFS kit on the front. To power this Pro Street project I have a 454 BBC block I will stroke to 496, and then add aluminum heads and manifold, lopy cam and hopefully get 600 horsepower for the road. I will couple this power plant to a 400 Turbo Hydro Transmission.  The truck will have 4 wheel disc brakes, electric seats, AC, PS, and all the modern comforts in an old body.  I have performed all of this work with help form my sons.

This is a garage-built project, I call it my therapy as I work on the truck on weekends and evenings when time is available. As with all good, garage-built projects,  I estimate it will take many more $$$ and several more years to complete.