Jim Wilsey started out like most of us in his younger days - playing with toy cars and Tonka trucks. Upon reaching driving age, he liked nearly anything with a V-8 under the hood. He enjoyed going to drag races as a kid, which had a lasting effect on the types of vehicles he has owned, and he's definitely owned a bunch. Jim built a T-bucket and has owned several Mustangs, a couple of V-8-powered Jeeps, and a Ford Econoline pickup with a 302ci engine in the bed. He also owned two A/FX Falcons and an SS/S Fairlane, but as he grew up, got married, and had a family, things began to change.
Jim bought an early Ford Ranger mini-truck and reworked it by installing a small-block Ford V-8. Taking it to shows was fun for awhile, but the truck was not his dream machine. After spotting an old '51 Ford F-1 pickup sitting out in a field rusting away, a new project was underway. This project started in the '90s, and after a lot of time and hard work in his garage, that old rusty hulk was converted to an outstanding Pro Street-style truck. Thankfully, several friends helped him out with the project.
Jim started by reworking the chassis, boxing the frame and grafting a Volare torsion bar IFS setup to the front portion and installing a Ford 8-inch rearend with a set of Chevy Nova leaf springs. Jim obtained a 302ci Ford block and built up his own engine with the help of his friend, Don White. The two built it mostly stock, keeping in mind it was going to be driven on the street and would run a BDS blower. The block was taken out 0.030 inches, and he chose a stock Ford crank and Ford rods that were fitted with Perfect Circle pistons and rings. The cam is a BDS Stage II unit with TRW lifters and Ford rockers. TRW valves were used with Isky springs. Don White performed the engine balancing and headwork.
The truck was well used when Jim found it sitting out in the weather, and it was a real challenge for a home project. Since this was to be a Pro Street machine, he replaced the stock front sheetmetal with a one-piece fiberglass unit that eliminated the need to restore old metal pieces and would give the truck a real competition look. Nearly all the work was done in his garage, but the paintwork was farmed out to Stan's Body Shop in Keokuk, Iowa, where it was given a new coat of Sun Fire Yellow. Jim did the interior using Lite Red and Carmine Red, which are both stock Chevrolet fabrics.
Here is a good example of what can be built on a tight budget with some help from friends. Jim wants to thank Bob Bender, Lou Clark, Randy Cooper, Brad Whittaker, and Don White for their many hours of work and support. This is an excellent example of what our hobby is all about.