Sheet Metal & Body Work on a 1951 Ford Truck | Little Truck with BIG Attitude

Today I’m tackling sheet metal and body work on my 1951 Ford truck, replacing the rotted cab corners caused by plugged weep holes. This truck started life as a Ford F-6 grain/dump truck from North Dakota, and I’m transforming it into a 1-ton short bed step side with a whole lot of character.

In this video, I walk you through how I recreate the original cab corners, showing my hands-on approach to metal forming and fabrication — hammering, grinding, cutting, tack welding, and shaping small pieces to bring the cab back to life while keeping its original patina and soul.

This is a ground-up custom build, with nearly everything being fabricated by hand.

🔩 Build Highlights:
‣Original 1951 Ford F-6 cab and front clip
‣Converting a 2-ton truck into a 1-ton short bed step side
‣Frame entirely hand built
‣Dana Super 60 from a 2018 Ford Super Duty
‣Sterling axles
‣5.3 GM engine with 4L60 transmission & transfer case
‣Modern fuel injection for reliability
‣Experimental custom air ride suspension
‣Coach Controls wiring harness-Thanks ED for everything https://coachcontrols.com/
‣Dakota Digital dash
‣Power windows
‣Retaining the original patina

This may be a little truck now — but it’s got BIG attitude. 🚛

📌 A Little Backstory
When I started this project, I had no idea my YouTube channel would take off the way it has. I’ve got plenty of past build photos but unfortunately no video from the early stages. From here on out, I’ll be sharing as much of this build as possible on video.

👉 Subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss future updates and videos dedicated specifically to this truck.
📧 For questions, build inquiries, or to talk trucks, email me at:
buildbybob15@gmail.com

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MEET BOB
Hi, I’m Bob—owner and operator of Shutler Machine and Fabrication in Moundsville, West Virginia (USA). I got my start at a young age in the garage and on the farm, spending time with my dad as he patiently showed me how things worked. He was having just as much fun as I was, and I rarely left his side.

By around age six, I was tearing apart lawn mower engines. Not long after, I was putting them back together and making them run again. I built my first tractor at age 10.

I turned a lifelong passion for building and problem-solving into my career. Today, I fabricate everything from heavy industrial equipment for power plants to one-of-a-kind custom trucks—built, not bought.

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