Some folks adopt the old truck hobby late in life while others were born into it. Larry Stewart, from Panama City, Florida, smiles when he describes his early automotive experience that revolved around ingenuity rather than trips to the parts store. “Back then you made things work the best way you could. My brother, Warren, and I couldn’t afford proper clamps, so exhaust pipes and mufflers were always held in place with coat hangers!” Those early builds were challenging and fun but family and careers put their hobby on hold for many years. “Now that the family is grown,” Larry says, “it’s my time!” Once retirement finally arrived, both he and his brother got back to doing what they loved, teaming up to build individual cars for themselves and friends. Together, they’ve created more than a dozen in the last 15 years. Significantly, the first car on that list was a 1947 Ford, still owned and loved by Larry’s wife, Cam, an avid enthusiast just like her husband.
His current truck turns out to be a replacement for one of his favorite rides. He owned a 1956 Ford pickup for several years. It was a special truck and he did not want to let it go. “A guy bugged me continuously for a year, wanting me to sell the truck. I finally threw out a price that I thought was ridiculous and he bought it on the spot.” While the cash was nice, Larry’s first priority was to fill the void, and after a concerted search, he found this 1953 F-100 in 2015 at a swap meet in Moultrie, Georgia. The truck looked good but it was far from complete, making it the perfect candidate for what Larry had in mind. Upgrades became a process of working with the existing mods and adding enough personalization so that Larry could call it his own.
Assessing the Ford’s strong points, the boxed frame had a 1988 Crown Victoria front end in place with disc brakes and power steering. Larry refreshed everything with new components, adding lowering springs for a subtle change in ride height. Out back, a 1999 Ford 8.8 limited-slip SUV rear gets the power to the ground.
Larry is quick to admit he’s not an engine mechanic but the still strong, late-model 302 V-8 was crying out for some modern aftermarket upgrades. He began with a new Edelbrock aluminum intake, 600-cfm four-barrel carb, and ceramic-coated, block hugger headers. Flowmaster added the appropriate performance rumble while the chrome valve covers and air cleaner provided a little sparkle to the engine room. A C-6 automatic seamlessly transmits the power.
Exterior changes followed the same pattern, blending existing mods with personal touches that reflected the new owner’s tastes. The clean front end benefits from a custom pan, a tilt forward hood, and deleted bumper. The traditional Ford grille was painted body color. In the rear, the bed uses all new sheetmetal with a Line of Fire light strip accenting the stamped Ford logo on the tailgate. Oak planks, separated by stainless steel strips, follow a traditional format and a billet gas cap provides access to the relocated tank. Since stance is everything in a custom truck, 2-inch wider fenders were added for a touch of style and to accommodate the aggressive American Racing 20-inch wheels and BFGoodrich rubber. New running boards connect the front and rear fenders. The paint on Larry’s F-100 is a combination of deep red and bright silver, separated with a yellow pinstripe and a carbon-fiber shadow line.
Happy that all the external upgrades had been addressed, Larry moved inside, beginning with a Dakota Digital instrument package that uses a combination of analog and digital, whiteface gauges. A chrome, CCP adjustable steering column and wheel keep the driver in close touch. Custom-upholstered Mustang buckets are separated by a new center console, with burgundy and gray vinyl added to the seats, console, door panels, and headliner. The Alpine stereo powers speakers in the kick panels and behind the seats while the Southern Air A/C keeps the cabin cool during warm Panama City nights.
The completed 1953 is a joy to drive and fills the void created by the lost 1956. Larry and Cam, along with their friends from the Crazy Cruisers Car Club, enjoy driving and showing their rides throughout the year. Interestingly, it just takes one look at this beautiful F-100 to see how things changed for this long-term enthusiast. The pristine truck doesn’t have a single coat hanger anywhere!
Facts & Figures
Larry Stewart
1953 Ford F-100 Pickup
CHASSIS
Frame: Boxed framerails
Rearend / Ratio: 1999 Ford 8.8-inch rear
Rear Suspension: Leaf springs/shocks
Rear Brakes: Ford drums
Front Suspension: Ford Crown Victoria front clip, 3-inch lowering springs
Front Brakes: Ford Discs
Steering Box: Ford Crown Victoria power steering
Front Wheels: 20-inch American Racing Classic five-spoke polished aluminum
Rear Wheels: 20-inch American Racing Classic five-spoke polished aluminum
Front Tires: BFGoodrich 245-45-ZR20
Rear Tires: BFGoodrich 245-45-ZR20
Gas Tank: Steel, 15-gallon, relocated under the bed
DRIVETRAIN
Engine: Late-model Ford 302
Heads: Factory Ford
Valve Covers: Ford Racing, chrome
Manifold / Induction: Edelbrock intake and 600-cfm carb, chrome air cleaner
Ignition: HEI
Headers: Ceramic-coated block hugger
Exhaust / Mufflers: Dual Flowmasters
Transmission: Ford C6 automatic
Shifter: Column
BODY
Style: Pickup
Modifications: Dropped 3 inches
Fenders Front / Rear: Stock front, 2-inch wider rear, new running boards
Hood: Tilt forward hood
Grille: Painted to match, custom roll pan
Bed: Oak slats with stainless steel strips, gas filler in the bed
Bodywork and Paint by: Previous owner
Paint Type / Color: Red with silver, separated with a yellow pinstripe and carbon-fiber shadow line
Headlights / Taillights: Factory original
Outside Mirrors: Aftermarket Peep
Bumpers: No front bumper, polished chrome rear
INTERIOR
Dashboard: Painted to match the exterior
Gauges: Dakota Digital analog gauges, illuminated red at night
Air Conditioning: Southern Air
Stereo: Alpine AM/FM/CD with four Alpine 4×6 speakers
Steering Wheel: CPP chrome
Steering Column: CPP chrome tilt column
Seats: Mustang buckets with individual armrests
Material / Color: Burgundy and gray vinyl on the seats, console, door panels, and headliner
Carpet: Gray
The post This “Replacement Ride” Rocks! appeared first on Hot Rod Network.