1951 F3 Build

[sam03]

brandonstc - Ya the motor sounds too good to be true to me as well. But the price is right and the guys seem to be honest. I have two friends with 1950 customs that wouldn’t mine a backup 3 speed and they have been helping me look for parts and this is the best combo we have come across around here. I plan on using the 4 speed that is in the F3 if not I have another 3 speed on the parts chassis I bought.

Ross F-1- ya I’m sure the wheels are going to be “windowmakers” and I know not to use them they are just holding the truck off the ground for now. I have heard the 60-70 8 lug might fit so I have been looking for some “old” looking ones.

38 coupe – ya the plan is to build a f3 because you never see them. The plan is to put a wood flatbed on it because finding a good bed is going to take some time. I have also been looking for a dana 60 on craiglist. All else fails I will just go by lkq that should have one lying around. I just haven’t gotten that far.

[alanwoodieman]

38 coupe, I retired and started working on my own projects, got to build one before all of my flathead and old car friends found out I was retired-since then I have worked on their cars and not on mine, so I know what your going thru-sorry about the burnt valves but I like to see the "odd" big trucks running again. Picture of my 3/4 ton, that I got to finish and of my 1 1/2 ton that I am working on, since I slowed down on other's cars

[scrapiron]

If any of you fella's are interested, I have a T98 4 sp., snyc' 2-3-4, available.

[sam03]

On the way home with my new 226. It was cleaner in person than the pics! Turn freely, clean oil, clean coolant, and everything was there. Can't wait to get it running.

[sam03]

Well everything looks good. I think the water pump needs to be rebuilt any advise on which kit or who to send it too? Or should i just buy one from Oreilly's they have reman one for $100. I also want to change the thermostat but wasn't sure which is recommend 160 or 180? Does anyone make replacement Temp sensors?

[brandonstc]

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The temerature sensor is about $60. There are some on ebay and i found one on macs's. I tried to use one from a small block ford but it doesnt work right on my gauge, so i woud not go that route. There is a guy on the ford barn that most people recomend. In my opinion, the oreillys would be okay, but i would check the warranty and where it was rebuilt. It will probably be cheaper to rebuild the one you have.

[sam03]

Which rebuild kit do y'all recommend for the 226 water pump? Also thinking abt changing it over to 12v. Any feedback on the ez wiring harness? I thinking abt ordering the EZ 21 kit.

[sam03]

I have been looking for some wheels and tires even if they are just crap roller so i can move the truck around and wanted to double check and figure out if the ones on the truck are the "WidowMakers" or if i could just clean them up paint them and put some new tires on them. Here are some pics and details i got off the rims.

This wheel says 16x9 L S 2 429 05 21 85

This wheel says 16x9 L S 3 429 07 11 85

They both have LT235/85R16 tires on them


This one and the other one are too rusty and dirty to see anything on them. Its has a 7.00-15LT 6ply Traction tire on it.


I like the look of the Traction tires i wonder how rough they would ride. Im thinking abt going with more of an off road/military looking tire. Its a work truck so it should look tough.

[Bob C]

The first two are just plain old drop center rims and the bottom
one is a lock ring rim, no widow makers.

Bob

[sam03]

Great news bob. What did the drop center rims come on? I would like to find 3 more to have a full set and spare to paint and get new tires on.

[truckdog62563]

The fact of those two 16" "outie" hub cap style wheels fitting on your rear axle tells us your truck is a late year 1951 build. Late '51 build trucks have 12" rear Bendix brakes that will accept any one piece F-250 wheel from a 1997 HD model or earlier donor truck. You also no doubt have the parking brake located at the back of the tranny with centrally located handle. Early '51 builds have 14" drums that necessitated the 17" widow maker wheels. They shared the half ton parking brake located on the backing plates with handle in the left foot well. Stu

[sam03]

Well i pressure washer the truck last night when i got home and worked on removing the bondo that is around the cab. Hopefully this weekend i can prep the frame and get it painted.

[Tinker]

I saw that motor on CL and thought about buying it as it was a deal. Glad I didn't because you got it. Never had a chance to check it out but the guy did seem to be nice and just wanted to free some space.

[rotorwrench]

We had a lot of Bonus type Ford trucks when I was a kid. The F1 types were my favorite even though they only had the 3-speed top shift light duty gearboxes. They were just better for around town driving with lower ratios and such. We had one F3 and it was perfect for the jobs we used it for on the farm but very slow for a road truck. We hauled a big water tank for the cattle and had a removable stock rack that we put in when we needed to trade bulls out. We even hauled several Leroi & Minneapolis Moline irrigation engines with it when needed but I always dreaded the long trip to town with it. It was just too bulky and slow. There aren't a lot of interchangeable parts between the F1 & F3 either.

If I ever get another 48 to 50 F1, it will be a V8 with a floor shift 3-speed for sure. I really love those trucks. The rear axles are almost identical to the Mercury cars I have and the rear brake parts are the same.

[sam03]

I worked on cleaning everything off the fire wall to prime and paint it. But the bolts that hold the heater are just spinning...Can they be replaced if i just cut them? I looked in the cab and it looks like there are in the heater and couldn't seem to get it part to hold the bolt heads. I dont think i will need the heater in Florida but i dont want to mess it up at the same time.

[sam03]

I think i figured out which wheels I'm going to use. Now i just have to find some cheap.

[Bob C]

I think those are for running duals, looks like way to much offset.

Bob

[sam03]

Will 4 front wheels not work?

[truckdog62563]

The wheels pictured won't work for two reasons. They are dually which will make them sit so far inboard they'll rub, and second they are hub piloted. The fact of being hub piloted probably also means the bolt pattern is modern metric. You need to find some shallow dished F-250 wheels off a 1997 F-250 HD or earlier truck that has your same 8 x 6.5" pattern in a stud piloted mounting. Stu

[rotorwrench]

I think the F4 was the one that had the dual rear tires. F3 trucks had a different hub & axle set up.