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1956 FORD PICKUP
Franklin, NC
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Gary La Londe and his ’56 Ford F-100 Pick up are featured
in this article. Gary and his wife Linda, participates in cruise-ins and car
shows in Western North Carolina and Northeast Georgia. The La Londes’
live in Franklin, NC where they retired four years ago from Jupiter Florida
where they were in the Air Conditioning business. Not long after moving to Franklin
Gary purchased the truck at a show in Charlotte, NC.
The engine is a 302 ci Ford with a stock cam and a Edelbrock aluminum intake
manifold fitted with an Edelbrock 600cfm 4-barrell carburetor. The exhaust is
through a set of tubular headers exiting through a custom made dual exhaust
system. The truck uses a Ford C4 automatic transmission and a Ford 9-inch differential
with 3:70 gears. The engine and drive train is set up for cruising and not for
speed. The engine has its share of chrome and aluminum.
The front suspension system is from a late model Ford LTD which has softened
the ride and allowed Gary to use disc brakes up front. The truck is equipped
with drum brakes on the rear and sports Cragar Chrome wheels with P275/60R15
BFG tires on the rear and P205/75R15 BFG tires on the front.
The interior has a pair of Ford Escort bucket seats and a custom made console
upholstered in gray tweed. Gary and Linda did the upholstery themselves. The
steering column is a tilt wheel type out of a late model Chevy van, with a custom
steering wheel installed. The truck bed was replaced with a beautiful oak floor
installed by Gary. The truck is painted Pearl White and Silver.
Gary has been a rodder for over 30 years and he and Linda have started a new
project, a 1940 Ford pick up that he says will be better than this one. If it’s
going to be as good or better, it just may make one of our future articles.