Steve Haessly's fat fendered,...
Steve Haessly's fat fendered, '56 Ford F-100 is the ultimate '53-'56 show truck. Hot Blooded was the "Best Of Show" at the '06 Ford F-100 Super Nationals in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Under the hood, we discovered a Ford 460ci big-block bored 0.040 inch over with Sealed Power pistons and rings and Ford Racing aluminum cylinder heads. A Comp Cam with 262/275 duration and .515/.520 lift, was carefully inserted into the cam bores to create a stronger heartbeat. Then, a couple of Steve's buddies, Pete Bland and Brett McDougal, installed and plumbed the Weiand tunnel ram with a port fuel injection EFI system, which delivered the fuel to the appropriate cylinder head intake ports. A massive K&N air cleaner filters any impurities from the air before it is inhaled by the Weiand intake system. An 8-quart Ford Racing oil pan supplies ample oil that is distributed by a Ford Racing oil pump. A polished '75 Ford C6 automatic transmission with a TCI 2,800rpm stall speed converter was backed up to the healthy 460ci big-block. A Lokar gear selector was stabbed into the C6 trans to ensure smooth consistent shifts.
The Lexan floor planks and...
The Lexan floor planks and stainless steel stringers create a transparent barrier showcasing the highly detailed rear framerails, four-link suspension, diagonal bar, Winter's narrowed rearend, All American coilover shocks, and polished stainless 3-inch exhaust.
Rex Hasch of Hasch Body Shop in Bryan, Ohio, is responsible for the flawless paint. The secret to achieving the award-winning paintjob was all in the body preparation. When building a nostalgic custom pickup, it is very important to pay close attention to detail. Check out how the windshield and large rear window were installed flush to the body skin, creating a clean and smooth transitional appearance. Rex chopped the top 1-1/2 inches, pancaked the hood, and frenched the front and rear bumpers.
Other awesome body mods include rounded lower door corners, a widened double-walled bed, a curved tailgate, fenderwell opening moldings that carried into the running boards, and 2-inch widened rear fenders. The side window wings were removed and replaced with one-piece side glass for a more modern appeal. Rex used DuPont Red and blended his own color additives to personalize the basecoat, which was color-sanded, then buried in multiple coats of clear. Many hours of cutting, buffing, and polishing delivered the incredibly deep, rich red color. Lexan bed-floor planks were separated by polished stainless steel stringers. The see-through floor showcases the rear framerails, stainless steel exhaust, Winters rearend, and detailed suspension.