'53 C750 pics

[TomC750]

A couple of pics of the 53 no longer own. I did a complete frame off restoration. A lot of fun to drive. May have a complete story some time in the future.

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by TomC750

A couple of pics of the 53 no longer own. I did a complete frame off restoration. A lot of fun to drive. May have a complete story some time in the future.

Seem to have a problem loading two pics at once, one or the other disappears. A certain lack of ability on my part...

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by TomC750

Seem to have a problem loading two pics at once, one or the other disappears. A certain lack of ability on my part...

I will try once more.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by TomC750

Seem to have a problem loading two pics at once, one or the other disappears. A certain lack of ability on my part...

[38 coupe]

Did you restore two trailers along with the cab over? Impressive rig.

[pistonbroke]

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Nice job . What engine came in it? I like big trucks. There is a fellow out in Pomeroy WA. that has a (if my memory sever is right ) 54 Dodge tractor with a very old Fruhuaf box trailer he uses to haul all his stuff to the local swapmeets. It's fun to see big old trucks in action. Tim

[Seth Swoboda]

Have you done a V8 Times artilce about this truck? Tell us more about how you found it, restored it and the trailer sometime whenever you can please.

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

Did you restore two trailers along with the cab over? Impressive rig.

Yes, I did restore both trailers. The Stainless 1947 Fruehauf van did not need extensive work, replaced part of the floor, used Catalpa cut out of our woods. This wood is light but tough and very rot resistant. There were dents in the sides, took them out using a pair of dies borrowed from a friend. This trailer is unique in that it has hubcaps. The Fruehauf historian, Ruth Fruehauf, granddaughter of August who started the company in the early 1900's had never known of or seen such a feature. I did other work as well, brakes, wiring, lights etc.

The 1950 Kingham flatbed trailer is a different story. I t was a total piece of junk. Originally a coal trailer with a wooden floor, it had been replaced with a steel one. I turned the trailer upside down, sandblasted, converted the vacuum brakes to air, rewired, rebuilt landing gear, welded cracked frame, and painted. Then turned it rightside up, made new headboard, sandblasted and painted. Made new racks, again from Catalpa. Newer tires also.

Have shown both truck and trailer at several truck shows. I will be writing an article on the Kingham for an antique truck magazine. The C750 had an article in Old cars magazine years ago. Probably more information than you were looking for!

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by pistonbroke

Nice job . What engine came in it? I like big trucks. There is a fellow out in Pomeroy WA. that has a (if my memory sever is right ) 54 Dodge tractor with a very old Fruhuaf box trailer he uses to haul all his stuff to the local swapmeets. It's fun to see big old trucks in action. Tim

The engine was a 317 overhead first produced in 1952. Some people call it a Lincoln engine, not true, there are significant differences. I replaced it with a newer 332 which along with the increased displacement has a better Holly 4bbl and much improved distributor (read both centrifugal and vacuum advance). I also replaced the 5 speed overdrive tranny with a direct and added a 3 speed auxiliary with overdrive. It ran nicely pulling a trailer 55 or 60. Top speed was around 80. Rode unbelievably well, loved to drive it a distance. Truck and van trailer were in the movie "Taking Woodstock". A story for another time!

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Have you done a V8 Times artilce about this truck? Tell us more about how you found it, restored it and the trailer sometime whenever you can please.

No article in V8 times, hard to accomplish all I want to at my age. I found the truck parked not far from where I lived in NY. It had a long horse van body on it and brought all of the owner's possessions from the Carolinas which included his coon dog.

The truck had no title, so a friend in Fla who owned numerous businesses including car dealerships had his secretary obtain a title from a western state Total cost $5. The frame on the truck had been stretched from stock and showed evidence of originally being produced as a highway tractor. So, I took seven and a half feet out of the frame and welded it back together. Prior to this I took the truck totally apart. The cab hung up in the barn for a couple of years while I found time to finish the chassis. When it was all done and I drove it for the first time it had the feel of a new truck. Hope the forgoing at least partly answers your questions.

[Seth Swoboda]

Did the truck have air or hydraulic brakes? What kind of transmission?

[1952henry]

That is fantastic! All three pieces. Congrats!

[pistonbroke]

I'm working on a 41 GMC 2ton and I hope my efforts show as nice as yours. Well done and thanks for the photos. Tim

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by Seth Swoboda

Did the truck have air or hydraulic brakes? What kind of transmission?

The truck had air over hydraulic brakes. Mire common on foreign trucks than domestic ones. I engineered a it to pull a full air trailer, worked perfectly. All it lacked was an air horn! 5 spd trans and 3 spd aux after converting. The aux was an option, I found the original Ford drawings, I duplicated the installation.

[38 coupe]

I hadn't realized that the cab over trucks were offered in the larger sizes starting in 53. Through 1952 the largest you could get was an F-6 with the regular size flathead V8. Thanks for sharing, that is a great setup.

[ThirstyThirty]

Originally Posted by TomC750

A couple of pics of the 53 no longer own. I did a complete frame off restoration. A lot of fun to drive. May have a complete story some time in the future.

Impressive to say the least! Thanks for the pix! nice work.

[ThirstyThirty]

how many miles on it when you got it?

did you have replace any/many of the wheel bearings? any bearings, other than engine?

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by ThirstyThirty

how many miles on it when you got it?

did you have replace any/many of the wheel bearings? any bearings, other than engine?

I do not remember the miles, it was not a lot, which makes sense given the nature of its use as a horse hauler. The chassis was in excellent shape, hardly any wear on spring bushings etc. No wheel bearing replacement, they were like new. The cab interior weas near perfect.

[Bored&Stroked]

Really a cool post - fantastic work! It seems like you've sold it now . . . where did it end up?

[TomC750]

Originally Posted by 38 coupe

I hadn't realized that the cab over trucks were offered in the larger sizes starting in 53. Through 1952 the largest you could get was an F-6 with the regular size flathead V8. Thanks for sharing, that is a great setup.

Almost correct. According to James Wagner's book "Ford Trucks Since 1905", starting in 1948 the new large flathead V8 was offered in the larger trucks. It was 336.7 cid, 145 HP. Those engines had a valve problem, Ford had a kit to replace them with an overhead. My friend who worked in a Ford dealership replaced a few including one in a local firetruck. That one got a 292.