My First Love...

Effie · Post by **Effie** » December 20, 2008, 11:41 pm

I was going through some pics on my hard drive and forgot I had these of my first '65. So I thought I'd share...

This is the truck that is responsible for my passion for the Slicks. I learned to drive in this truck, even with its manual steering, manual brakes and 3-on-the-tree. Me and dad were in a constant battle about putting power steering and power brakes on it. I said NO, I like it like it is. He didn't want his little girl struggling to drive. But I loved every minute of it.

One night while taking my brother to the doctor, someone stopped to allow a break in traffic for a girl to pull out. She was just going straight, and assumed since the other person stopped and allowed her out, that it was clear and pulled right in front of me. I never had a chance to hit the brakes or avoid her.

I still remember her saying, "oh well, its old, you can fix it."

I'd like to tell her that 11 years later I still don't have it back. There was yet another big battle with me and my dad about how it should be fixed and what would and would not be done. I gathered parts for a little while, including a parts truck for another frame because even though it doesn't look like much, it bent the frame. Eventually my '65 got forgotten. I still have the pieces. Since I have the new '66, I'm gonna focus on it and carry over some parts from Ol Blue so it'll still live on with me.

ANYHOW, enough of the emotional girl-babble.

The brown stuff was NOT on the bed, it's a flaw with the picture in scanning...

That perfect, hard to replace '65 grill.

500BUX · Post by **500BUX** » December 20, 2008, 11:47 pm

Very nice.... I'll bet she was doing her makeup when she pulled out... Was she by chance driving a VW? (Gotta read my post on my truck to get that) So do you still have the truck around?

Effie · Post by **Effie** » December 20, 2008, 11:56 pm

Haha, no, no makeup artist. She just didn't look and "assumed" it was clear since the other doofus stopped and waved her out. For that reason I'm always VERY leery of either letting people out, or when coming up on backed up traffic where I know folks will be trying to squeeze in for a turn.

I've still got the major parts, I have the cab, the bed and frame along with the engine and trans. I've got all the trim....well, almost all, I think [for whatever reason] I sold the hood trim on eBay.

I don't know what possessed me to part out my baby on evil-bay, but years ago I thought I'd never have another Slick or ever get mine back. I had also gathered several new pieces from Dennis-Carpenter that I sold.

But the important stuff like wires and clips have grown legs and walked off to no-man's land in my dad's basement with his collection of MoPar stuff. So I really doubt I'll EVER put it back together.

36truck · Post by **36truck** » December 21, 2008, 12:00 am

Effie That was a very sharp truck in it's day

Sad to hear how it meet it's demise hope you can get it fixed up one day.

fmartin_gila · Post by **fmartin_gila** » December 21, 2008, 7:48 am

And don't worry about the emotional outburst. I firmly believe we all have a very soft spot in our hearts for our first drive. It's been 58 years since my first drive, and I remember that old 39 Ford as if it was yesterday.

Fred

therealjoeshmoe · Post by **therealjoeshmoe** » December 21, 2008, 8:45 am

shoot, you give me a clean front clip and a salvage yard.... Ill have that baby on the road in a day.... dont you dare part that truck out.. if you wanna straghten the frame you have to have some hydrolic jacks some heavy chains and a good measureing tape.. my neighbor and friend owns his own frame shop and once he straightend a frame for me on a older chevy for $100 and had it done in about an hour.. as for parts I just happened to have a friend with alot of old 61-66 fords stashed away in his salvage yard... its not the demise of that truck its a chance to make it better!!!!!!

FIX IT UP!!!!!

JOEY

Bill W · Post by **Bill W** » December 21, 2008, 11:53 am

I am sure that Truck can be fixed! look what i started with,

Post by **Greg D** » December 21, 2008, 12:04 pm

I'd fix er up if it were me. I can tell you from many experiences if you don't you will regret that even more than the fact that you haven't done it already. Even a frame swap isn't horrible to do. The rest of the stuff you are "missing" can be found. I am sure some out there has a spare harness, I do but it's for a 62.
It's real easy to look at your wrecked baby and just fell beaten, most of us do in that situation. You already started repairing her, go ahead and finish her even if it takes awhile.
You will thank yourself when you are done.

DCarr · Post by **DCarr** » December 21, 2008, 6:17 pm

Bring back the first love!

Effie · Post by **Effie** » December 21, 2008, 9:09 pm

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement.

BillW, wow! That was quite a job you did.

I'm gonna get all my stuff over here to where I'm at, one day. My brother in law has most of it at his house except the cab. Right now its a lack of time, and space. My brother wants to build onto his garage, so maybe one day I'll have somewhere I can build and tinker and slowly put it back together.

Thanks again.

500BUX · Post by **500BUX** » December 22, 2008, 10:37 am

You know what's crazy? I bought a hood emblem off of e-bay a few years ago as an extra one... if you PM me your address I'll send it to you.

Ed C

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » December 22, 2008, 11:24 am

i also think that your truck can be fixed and you would be very happy having it back on the road again.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » December 22, 2008, 1:30 pm

I agree with these guys, you definitely need to bring that baby back to life. Nobody ever forgets their first ride...I still have mine.

Effie · Post by **Effie** » December 22, 2008, 9:54 pm

If I put it back together, it won't ever be the same truck.

Lowell · Post by **Lowell** » December 22, 2008, 10:33 pm

Hey Effie
Its a shame you lost your first slick , but Glad youre still around to fix up another. I had a guy just today started to pull out from a side raad into my path and i had to lock up the brakes .luckily he stopped or i would have hit him broadside . That would have made for a very bad Christmas!
Lowell

banjopicker66 · Post by **banjopicker66** » December 23, 2008, 11:59 am

Miss Effie - I must kindly disagree with you that it won't be the same truck if you put it back together.

Does a kidney transplant transmutate somone?

Does an engine transplant transmutate a truck? Or a new steering wheel? Perhaps a new hood or fender? Or frame?
I don't think so.

Now an extreme makeover that changes all the colors, elevates a regular truck to a Custom Cab, or puts a '66 body on a '75 frame - well, now that might could be a different story.

Fix her up. I am fixing my Sweet Southern Comfort up one day. She has already had a new drivetrain, power steering, and will get power disc brakes soon, but she is still my baby.

Effie · Post by **Effie** » December 23, 2008, 5:22 pm

banjopicker66 wrote:Does a kidney transplant transmutate somone?

Nah, I didn't feel a lick different than I did before....well, I felt better and healthier, just a better me, nothing different.

I would like to put it back together one day, just right now is not the oppurtune time. I gotta finish one project, like the '66, and get the Bronco where it's not destroying u-joints right and left and we gotta get my brother's 70 Dart Swinger back together.

There's a lotta little trick, cool things I'd like to do to a truck, but I feel bad doing it to the '66 since it's so complete and original. So fixing the '65 would give me the outlet to hot rod and customize one a little.

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » December 23, 2008, 6:57 pm

banjopicker66 wrote: Does an engine transplant transmutate a truck?

You need to ask this in bigdino's thread.

banjopicker66 · Post by **banjopicker66** » December 23, 2008, 7:25 pm

Ah, Big Tim - I never even considered a non-Ford engine replacement - that wouldn't be a transplant, but a transmutation!

BigTim · Post by **BigTim** » December 23, 2008, 7:30 pm

Almost a transgender,..................ah nevermind.