Yes good call. We need a pic of your wheels Bud. BEFORE you air them up or we may never hear from you again.

 

The wheels are the 2 piece design, I think I have heard about the issues before, the Bronco wheels are similar.
Here they are...

 

I would say that is a 1 piece ring on the outside. Like a split ring only not split. I hate that type of wheel and feel as badly about them as some on here feel about the widow maker.

 

Welcome to the 48-56 forum....that's a great find. A lot of guys with F250's want to keep the 8 lug setup...so you could find a Dana 60 from a newer F250. That 9" from a Bronco might be too narrow....do a search on rear end swaps. There are a couple of links and threads that have the full run-down on width and the best years. If you go with a Dana 60, you could probably snag the newer one piece wheels at the same time.

Dan

 

Nice find and $2500 is a great price for the condition! Paid a bit more than that for mine which has its minor rust issues and in need of major work. So i think you did great on the buy. Have fun and enjoy it with your boys.

 

Hubcaps were an option on f-250's. They were stainless. (The F-100 53-56 were painted argent) They were obviously deeper, they had FORD on the cap.

Period correct whitewalls? Just to be sure you know these trucks did not come with white walls as an option. Many guys have them on now though.

I think the F350's and up had the widow makers.

 

Thanks Abe, I'm a news with these, so please be patient. I appreciate the help for sure!!!
I'll keep an eye out for the caps in the classifieds, I'd like to run them if I can find them.

 

I put a 1968 DANA 60 with 3:73 gears in mine years ago, alot better than the rockwell rear that was in it originally, just rebuilt brakes, all parts are availible although I had to go with 2 1/8" x 12" drums could not find 2"x 12" which came with the 1955 F250. If I had to do it all over again I would have left my truck original. Have fun!

 

I doubt you will find good used 3/4 ton hubcaps. However, if you really want them, Dennis Carpenter has reproduction caps for sale, part number 2J-1130-A .

 

I do see them on ebay once in awhile.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the 56s had a Dana 60. I believe it was the F350s that had the Rockwell or Timken (banjo).

PDX, it's possible that you could just re-gear your stock rearend. Not sure what the axle spline count is; most likely you would need a new carrier if you went to a higher gear ratio.

 

Still have the rearend that came in my 1955 F250, its a Rockwell A150

 

I believe the change to Dana 60s came in '56. It's a split housing, correct?

A good read for you: (scroll down to 1953, 'tis why many still refer to the original split housing axles in 3/4 ton Fords of the era as "Timkens")


http://www.meritor.com/ourcompany/history/default.aspx

 

All I know is what the parts catalog is calling it, Rear axle Rockwell A150
1953-1955 F250
many think its ok to put a chevy in a ford

 

Got it registered yesterday, can't believe they charged an extra $80 just for the fact it's a 3/4 ton vehicle. Such is CA. Next on the list is to fix the busted hinge bolt on the hood with an easy out then I can get do some work towards getting it running.