Check Out This 1956 F-100 with a Sweet LS2 (Photos)
If you happen to be restoring a classic Ford pickup truck, you can't go wrong when you choose an LS engine to be the powerplant.
1. This 1956 F-100 is a Dream Truck - Literally
When we call rides like this '56 F-100 "dream trucks," we mean that they represent the owner's idea of the ultimate ride. But this particular truck actually spawned from owner Ric Longo's dreams as a kid. Longo would spend his days dreaming up and drawing cars and trucks. He had a vision for his uncle's 1956 F-100 at the time, one that was a little different than the old rusty ride presented way back then. And though he didn't inherit that truck like he had hoped, Longo was able to find another one. The result is this stunning ride, which fittingly landed a recent Hot Rod feature.
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2. Making a Dream Into Reality
It took Ric a full two hours and a pair of tow trucks to remove the F-100 from its resting place where it sat since 1983. From there, he surprisingly retained the original frame, albeit with boxed rails. Everything else has been upgraded, including the No Limit Engineering front end, drop spindles, anti-roll bar, 9-inch rear, and tubular A-arms. An airbag setup allows Ric to adjust his ride height accordingly, dropping the truck down over massive V-Rod 20" wheels and Nitto tires. Wilwood 12.95" vented and slotted rotors with four-piston calipers bring it all to a halt in a hurry.
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3. Everybody Loves a Good Controversy
Pretty much everyone can agree that Ric's truck is darn near perfect. Except for one little caveat, of course. Instead of sticking with a Ford motor like a Coyote or a bored and stroked 351, he decided to plant a Chevy LS2 underneath the hood. He found the low mileage, 6.0-liter V8, aluminum headed lump on Craigslist. The powerplant remains pretty much stock internally but has been treated to headers and a dual exhaust. Backing it up is a GM 4L70E transmission, which only adds to the drivability of the entire package.
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4. One Gorgeous Interior
Obviously, a polished jewel as Ric's F-100 has to have an interior nice enough to match its exterior. So, in went a cut and lowered Glide Engineering seat frame wrapped in brown leather. The dash retains its factory gauge indent, but inside it lies Classic Instruments gauges. The Ididit column and Budnik Famosa steering wheel prove that billet is still cool, and the requisite Vintage Air setup keeps Ric cool on cruise night.
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5. Making a Beautiful Body Even More Beautiful
At first glance, the body lines of Ric's '56 doesn't look too out of the ordinary. But the rear fenders have been stretched three inches to make room for the massive rolling stock, which also necessitated custom running boards. All the body seams were then filled, and a flamed birch wood bed floor went in. The bed itself was raised up three inches to make room for the 20-gallon gas tank underneath, and all the outside trim was eliminated to avoid taking any attention away from that deep House of Kolor black paint.
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