Hi, first off, thanks to all the forum members for all the Fat Fender Ford help! tons of good information here.
I have recently acquired a 1951 Ford F2 to add to my collection. I just pulled the rear end, as I want to be able to drive highway speeds, . Can anyone help me identify this rear end? now that i have it pulled it does not look like what I am seeing during my searches. Is this the stock F2 rear end? it is about 55 inches inside to inside, it has a tag that says 7.34 on one of the bolts. 260 stamp on the housing and the numbers 4200-a-287. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
I am also looking for suggestions of front and rear ends to swap to make this truck street worthy, not looking to race, just looking to cruise, would love to stay all Ford. and trying to work on a non show truck budget. I am also including a pic of the tag if that helps anyone, says what stock should be. Thanks again!

 

 

Looks like the stock Timken 51524 to me. But I'm no expert on rear axles.

 

that looks like it, I'll blow that up and print it out and take a look, Thanks! looks much closer than what I could find. hopefully I can find a modern replacement.

 

Do a search on here or Google for 9" or 8.8" rear axles. There are many, many threads on FTE discussing replacement rear axles. I have not personally done a swap, but it is common practice on the F1 through F3 trucks.
You may not be allowed to search this site until you've been on for 5 days or made 5 posts or something crazy like that. But Google searches will lead you back to FTE.

Here's one example:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-question.html

 

thanks for the tip!

 

If you plan on keeping the 8 bolt pattern check your local salvage yards for a Dana 60 out of a 1967-72 F250. Bolts in direct, gives modern gearing options and requires only driveshaft shortening.
-Stephen

 

I think I like the idea of 5x5.5, will that make it easier/ cheaper for rim/ tire options? I want to do Axle over mod to lower the rear, not sure of the plans for the front end yet open to suggestions

 

Where are you located Rouser? I have an F-2 that has a more modern Dana in it that I want to return to stock. Your rear is just the ticket.

 

The truck rear.

 

I am located in Minnesota about an hour north of Minneapolis.

 

Hey Rabble,
From another newbie, Welcome to FTE.
I also have a '51 F2 and found that this site has great folks and plenty of helpful answers.

What engine do you have? Are you keeping it stock?

And oh yeah.....your rear end (truck) looks the same as the one on mine..which is original.


Tom

 

as of now there is no engine, I love the old flat-heads, hoping to find a nice 8ba or similar for it, depending on what I can find around here. it still has the stock transmission under it, but I am sure that will get swapped also.

 

The stock axle as stated by your glove box tag is 4.86:1 ratio. There are two common ways to get a more cruising friendly axle ratio.

The first is to get the 4.11 ratio conversion from Chucks Trucks. This will get you up to about 60 m.p.h. with the stock drive train involving no other alterations.

The second is to swap in a Dana 60 from a Ford truck built no later than 1972. The Dana 60 can be found with several ratios but the two you would be interested in are 4.10 or 3.54. Since you have a 51 without parking brakes at the rear drum this is almost a direct bolt in. The drive shaft needs shortening a bit and maybe the rear u-joint swapped out for a different size. The 3.54 ratio would get you cruising up to about 65 m.p.h.

The stock front and rear suspension is very street worthy when it is in good shape. The most cost effective way to enjoy your truck is very likely fix the stock stuff.

I also think 5 lug wheels look weird under F-2 and F-3 trucks. These are larger tougher trucks and the half ton parts looks wrong. I recommend keeping it looking stock, particularly if you are running a flathead.

 

Ouch! That is a little far for a rearend. Oh well, one will crop up someday.