1956 Ford F-100 Custom Cab - Orange Crate

As a boy Larry Strauch dreamed about having a '56 Custom Cab and made that dream come true at the tender age of 16. Somehow he was talked into selling it a few years later and has had seller's remorse ever since. He searched long and hard for a solid truck (a challenge in the rust belt), and located one in Colorado. A video of the truck was the prime sales tool, and the deal was struck. Once it arrived, the truck was torn down to the last nut and bolt. The parts were stored in orange crates (hence the ORG CR8 moniker on the license plate).

Just like a house, the foundation of a truck needed to be solid as a rock. A complete chassis was ordered from Fatman Fabrication featuring a tubular Mustang II-style frontend with 2-inch dropped spindles, a GM rack, and disc brakes. At the rear, the framerails were C-notched for clearance, and a Winter's quickchange was installed with a four-bar coilover suspension. Larry is proud of the fact that he got his big-window sooooo low without airbags! According to Larry, "'Bags are for groceries!"

To propel the Crate, a '75 Ford 460 was chosen. The block was given the obligatory .030 cleanup pass, and then it was stroked, balanced, and blueprinted to perfection. Eagle pistons and rods ride on the Ford crank, and a Crane roller cam commands the valves. The engine is capped with a Demon 750-cfm Road Demon carburetor sitting atop an Edelbrock Torker manifold. A Cadillac air cleaner, a custom pair of valve covers, and a plethora of shiny goodies from Street and Performance make for a fine presentation when the hood opens.

The exterior of the Effie was kept mild. The emblems were shaved, the rear fenders were widened, the stake pockets were filled, the running boards were sectioned, the side vents were removed from the cowl, and the bed was completely welded and smoothed out. For a touch of character, a spun aluminum Moon tank was frenched into the front splash pan behind the bumper. Jack Honse performed the bodywork and paint. What's that color you ask? It's PPG Omaha Orange. The bright hue was chosen when a semi arrived one day to drop off parts. The cab was a beautiful shade of orange, and Larry pursued the truck back to the warehouse to talk to the mechanic in charge just to get the specific color. A new oak bed floor was bleached to match the wheels and opened up around the rearend cover. Stainless steel bumpers bring a little visual gravity to the truck's low stance.

Inside the subtle look continues. The original seat was simply sectioned 1 1/2 inches. The vent that was removed from the cowl now serves as a center vent for the dash. The rest of the dash was left stock with the exception of the controls for the Vintage Air unit and a collection of Moon gauges to monitor everything with. An ididit steering column topped with a Billet Specialties Classic wheel adds a little shine and makes driving more comfortable. Ivory naugahyde was expertly applied to the seat and door panels, and wheat-colored carpet was installed by Doan Upholstery.

Larry's happy with his truck (as he should be), and has only had one bout with Murphy's Law. At the Goodguys Nationals in nearby Columbus, Ohio, the truck stopped 500 feet shy of getting to the stage to get an award. After sitting in the long line in pouring down rain, a pulley bolt had broken loose, and the truck began to overheat. Thanks to help from some fellow hot rodders, the truck was up and running quickly and ran through the building to receive the trophy. Since then, many trouble-free miles have been put on the truck every time the sun shines. Larry's using the truck every chance he gets, but we doubt that the big-window will ever see any more orange crates!