Hi my truck is a 1957 f350 twin rear wheel.I would really like to have single rear wheels.So is there a ford f350 1957 that has a single rear wheel.I would like to keep the same front wheel pattern.Has anyone got one then i have the trouble getting it to the UK.thanks again

 

Yes, it's the 9' Express bed pickup model. Sisson mentions it in his "Bible" thread, so hopefully he'll post the picture. Same 6 lug x 7.25" pattern in a SRW configuration. Finding one might be another matter, compounded by shipping to the UK. Stu

 

I parted one out years ago. The wheels will bolt on but the front hubs are offset different so the front can use the dually type wheels. The 2wd wheels bolt on and you can actually run them but the stick out too far, steer goofy and look even goofier. I know because I once owned a 57 dually that had the wrong wheels on the front, had a helluva time finding a pair of the right wheels.

 

There are two 1957/60 9' F350 Express Beds, Flareside and Styleside. These 1957/60 beds were also installed on 1961/66 F350's, all with SRW. 1961/66 F350 Styleside: Called the "wrong bed" because cab lines don't match bed lines,

1953/79 F350's with DRW were only sold as a Cab & Chassis, or with factory installed Platform (flat beds), or Platform and Rack (stake beds).

1980 was the first year Ford offered a pickup (8' Styleside only) with DRW's, F350s only initially, F250's added in 1986. Rear fenders are fibreglass, bolt to the Styleside bed.

 

I'm thinking you need the rear axle from a '53-'56 F350 srw 9' express. This axle has a spacer bullt into the hub that moves the 'dually type' rear wheel out where it belongs. Maybe all you need are the rear hubs from one of these trucks. I sold this truck last year so I don't know if I have a close up photo of this hub. The other route is to do what I did to my '59. I used a sterling 10 1/4 rear axle from '92 F350 dually pickup. Then you have 2 different lug patterns. Not good, so I adapted my front hubs to use the same 16" wheels. This can be done with a commercially produced 'toledo adapter' after removing the bell shaped 6 lug flange from the existing hub. There is a perfectly 8 bolt on 6 1/2 circle mounting the brake drum where the adapter bolts on using longer wheel studs. It takes a trip to a machine shop with the adapter and your old hubs though. I converted mine at home with a homemade 'lathe' method and they came out fine.

 

Here's a better picture of what's needed to do the front hubs. You can see the old 6 lug flange on the floor and the new toledo adapter there too. I want to point out that the inner 8 bolt flange is not designed to carry the whole weight of the truck. It IS however a great start and centers the whole setup perfectly. Fortunately these adapters from wheeladapters.com are machined round through the center, so one just has to machine what's left of the old 6 lug bell flange to be a snug fit inside the toledo adapter. Now the weight is out in the middle of the bearings where it was intended to be. I welded the two together for added security. One little bead at a time, to reduce any pull. With a good fit, the welding isn't needed really, but it's kind of like some of us guys who wear both a belt and suspenders, just in case. Now I'm gonna dig through my old computer to find a pic of the '53 rear hubs. Maybe Bill has a part number. I know a guy who has tons of NOS ford big truck parts in Toms River New Jersey. Maybe you can skip all this work and convert the rear axle like Henry did.

 

Hello Mr G B Sisson thank you very much for the help.Did you say you used a 1992 dually axle is that twin wheels.I would like to use newer f350 axle.Did you use the 92 brake master cylinder as well and when you fitted the rear axle did you have to move the plates were the leaf springs fit.Thanks very much.

 

Would you also have a photo of the finished front hub thank you

 

I used the original master cyl. I don't have vacuum with a diesel to run the booster and didn't want to complicate matters with the vacuum pump. It stops well and has a high firm pedal. I did have to cut off the spring pads or perches and weld them about 2" in. Pay attention to the angle the axle will sit at. I will go through my pics. I'm sure I can find a pic of my converted hubs. The adapters are from wheeladapters.com. The business is owned by an ex drag racer/machinist named Fred Goersky. Very high quality. Not cheap I think they were about 450.00 for the pair. Order them 'lug centered' on the inboard side and 'FORD' on the outer, they'll be hub centered out there.

 

Thank you very much.What engine do you have in your truck.

 

Not sure how to search for a thread, but my engine swap/build thread was called 'kinda like a hot rod, but it isn't hot'. It's a cummins 6at from a UPS truck. 6 cyl turbo, 210 cu in, 120 hp. Small, but mighty.

 

Here you go brother! https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-isnt-hot.html

 

Thanks for the link Spur.....And since I'm too computer lame to find the old pics, I went down to the shop and removed a front wheel and took some photos. I have NO idea why the modern ford duallys have a nub on the back of the wheel so they can only mount one way. Of course I forgot about that, and anyone who has tried to get a front wheel lined up on the 8 studs while they rotate the hub while holding up the 80 lb wheel and tire. Oh, never mind, it only took 2 trys. Happy to do it for a cousin from the other side of the big ditch. Sorry about those french paparatzis and your nice princess. I'm gonna stop eating french fries in protest. Here's a couple of photos.

 

Thank you so much for taking the time and trouble taking the photos.Very greatfull now i can see how it all goes together.Looks like it was done from new.Really a great job.

 

It's a good way to keep that heavy duty, old school one ton look and capacity. Often people ask why I don't run the outer duals, but imagine the size of the fenders I'd have to create. I did think for a while about using a narrower 'cab and chassis' dually rear end and increasing the wheel wells inside the bed and then buying after market fiberglass fenders that are available 4" wider. This would have made a pretty convincing vintage dually pickup, but then I'd come to my senses and remember I'm a cabinetmaker and plywood is 48" wide and so are two rows of cabinets. And my 10' Alaskan Camper..... You get the picture. Besides I have always liked the look of the dually rears run as singles. Who doesn't think an old Dodge Power Wagon looks tough? OK, I need to go to work, but here's another one ton pickup set up as I described. I'll dedicate this photo to Bill, aka Number Dummy. AND, here's one more.... A '67 Jeep M715 that was given to me by a real estate agent trying to clear junk cars from a rental property. It was 1/2 mile from my place and I towed it home, got it running and then some guy shows up with the title. Lesson learned. Not sure if this is considered a hijack, sorry in advance if it is.