We're back again for Part 2 of all the action in Illinois at The Roadster Shop as they continue to work and mold this '53 F-100 like it was putty in their hands. From the rendering it is obvious the Ford isn't just another F-100-it's meant to flip some lids! This doesn't happen overnight, and it doesn't come easily, either; it takes tons of old-fashioned hard and skilled work and a rock-solid plan. The group at The Roadster Shop knows this firsthand and has built a reputation on their results. Mike Crimaldi's Effie isn't going to be the exception, either!
Last month we showed you what they went through to turn the aged and rotted cab back into a solid foundation for the soon-to-be- stellar Ford. With all the rust out of the way and the sheetmetal on its new chassis, it was time to start in on the creative side of the tinwork! A big part of proportion and flow on any car, truck, or hot rod is wheel placement in relation to the body and/or fenders. The Roadster Shop built the truck's chassis with the wheelbase pushed forward 4 inches to give it a more modern stance, which is a great idea, but it meant many hours of cutting and welding to move the wheel openings forward to suit the new wheelbase. Like most metalwork, this isn't rocket science; it just takes the right tools, planning, and most of all, patience. A move like this can make or break a truck if done poorly or not at all. I've seen more than a few front clips welded in pretty far off from where they needed to be, and a procedure like this would make it OK next to redoing the clip if the wheelbase change wasn't intentional. Regardless, let's walk alongside The Roadster Shop as they work their magic!
