this truck is local to me and as I know the flat head still runs (parked under its power), and I think its only rusted through in in the cab in one spot (where the door post meets the floor board on the driver side front edge), I think the price is fair. It is obviously a merc 1 ton. is there anything else you guys see off the bat with this thing? My ambitions would be to put a cummins (dont know how that would fit) or a 7.3 out of a 97 ford 1 ton. What do you guys think? thanks for your input.

Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums - probepower's Album: 56 (?) ford 1 ton

ps, sorry if I took the long way around getting you guys to the pictures

 

It's a '53 Mercury F350? with the 9' express box. Pretty rare truck.....
Looks to be in pretty decent shape too. Be kind of a shame to mess with the originality of that truck, IMO.....

 

I agree I'd have a tough time putting a diesel in that. What kind of price is on it? Is the tailgate around? How long ago was it parked?

 

I just dont see myself puttering around with a flathead- i like the thought of that but i think it would be hugely underpowered by todays standards, and if I ever want to go more than a couple hours drive away from home than id want to know for sure about the reliability of the issue. It is tough to beat the boost acceleration of a turbdiesel and milage for that sake too.

 

he is askin $850, I think it was parked there two summers ago

 

Looks to have widowmakers... otherwise a decent price

 

Welcome to the forum. If it is solid, save it at that price. It would need at least more gearing to be road safe at today's speeds. A member here has a Mercedes turbo diesel in one of similar vintage. A Dana 60 or 70 would get you into better gearing and wheels on the rear.

 

whats a widowmaker btw? exploding rims? is there resale $$ in that flathead if it runs? On the other hand how cool would a flathead trike be?

 

That M350 is in pretty good shape and there are 2 extra doors leaning up against the shed. Yes, the Mercury tailgate would be important to have.

 

Welcome, ProbePower! This is good group.
The split-rims or widowmakers are/were on many of our trucks. When I first got my F-6 it had split-rims. At the local small-town truck-tractor-auto parts store I asked the friendly counter guy, "What do you think of split rims, should I use them?" The store was crowded and there were six guys working behind the counter. My counter guy smiled and raised his voice so everyone could hear, "What do you think of split-rims?" All the counter guys and some of the customers said all at once as if the whole town had rehersed, "GET RID OF THEM!"
Split rims were more necessary in the days when flats were more common and we needed to repair our flats on our own. Now there aren't enough people who understand them and corrosion is making them less stable so split-rims are more dangerous than they were 50 years ago.

 

Looks like a cool truck, and if you want to and can do it, why not put a modern diesel in it? And if the flathead will run and is not cracked you should be able to sell it as there are a lot of people who love them. I personally like having a more modern drive train because I want to drive mine everyday, in town and on the highway. I also like to be able to stop and have 4 wheel disc brakes. If you get it, do what you want to with it. Just don't make it into a Ratrod!

 

Go for the diesel!

 

will the stock frame hold a 7.3 powerstroke? does anyone know how well it would fit into the engine bay? I fabricate at work and I could make my own motor mounts. A buddy of mine has a 97 powerstroke complete truck that I could have for two grand so right there I would have the engine, tranny, ecu (with bullydog) and rear diff to donate to the cause.

Btw, that same buddy has a 1967 bodied puller truck with a 530 ci making 1040 horse that he pulls in superstock and in open class~ I'll try to drop a link to it

 

A build like this wouldn't be for the feint of heart, it would take a lot of fabrication work if it would fit between the radiator and the firewall and leave room for the steering. The rear end would be much too wide, but the rest might fit with some work. There is bound to be somebody that has done it, keep searching!

 

Just put your body parts on a late model frame with 7.3 and be done with it.