Boomer, Someone with the idea but clueless as to the execution, may have intended to make that 51 truck into a hot rod, but I'll guarantee that it never moved under it's own power, never got up to even 4 MPH unless they had a long steep hill nearby. The steering box in it would never have worked had it ever been hooked up, the MC was never finished being installed or hooked up to the brakes nor were there any pedals, A motor was never actually installed in it, etc.. Good thing for you he never got any further, not too much to fix/undo The worst of the mess was done to the frame, and you have a good one of those in the other truck. I don't know enough details on a stock 52 F1 to guess what the gear ratio in that 3 speed might have been, but I bet they were meant for creeping along with a full load across a farmers field. That's where you might consider becoming a "light toast"-sider if you want a truck you can drive around comfortably and not have to invest a lot of money into. Assuming you can get that flattie engine to run, and from the appearance it is probable it will, I'd recommend putting a late model T-5 5 speed OD tranny and a rear end out of a late model Explorer in it. That would give you a full syncromesh 5 speed OD tranny with good street ratios rather than a no-syncro 3 speed that likely has a 1st gear best suited for pulling stumps, even if you do change the rear axle ratio to something more highway friendly, Or else resolve yourself to having to learn how to double clutch every shift, be limited to a top speed of about 45 MPH, being beat away from traffic lights by every 6 year old on a tricycle. OEM rear axle ratios in 52 Dana 44 were 3.92, 4.27:1, you'd need something in the 3,0 - 3.3 range with the 3 speed's 1;1 high gear and 15" wheels and tires to get to 60 MPH at the flathead's redline. I don't believe Ford ever put that high a ratio in any Dana 44, so you'd have to pay someone to change out the ring and pinion for an aftermarket set ($$$) on a 70 yr old rear axle with brakes that was never meant to go over 45, parts are hard to find and expensive.
The Explorer rear ends are easily found with ratios suited to the 3 sp or T5, are inexpensive (whole rear can be found for less than the cost of an aftermarket R&P set for the D44, not including the labor cost to install), the explorer axle bolts right in, is plenty strong and has larger late model brakes in either drum or disk, parts are inexpensive, available at any parts store. Staying pure is expensive and requires you to drive like they did in the 50s, your choice.

 

nice bird too

 

I'm thinking you might ought to consider naming the soon-to-be truck "Humming Bird."

 

Are you sure?

 

0.13 HP/ cc or 2.13 HP/ cu in. GM offers an over the parts counter ECU reflash and injector change that brings the HP up to 325 ( 2.66 HP/ cu in) while still retaining the warantee. Not legal in my class of racing.
Do you know of a higher HP/cu in production engine available in 2007? (not counting 2 cycle motorcycles, handbuilts, exotics, non pump gas fuels, etc)

 

But I haven't thought of a name for the humming bird yet! I was thinking of naming him Flash, Zippy, or Big Jake.

As far as speed off the line, that's the last thing I'll be worried about with a '52 pickup (next to starting reliably). There are far better ways to enjoy that facet of driving. I mainly want to make sure the thing has some legs for highway travel. Not planning any long trips with it, just the usual journeys maybe in a 2-4 hour radius.

Will figure out the differential once things are better sorted. Like the new stock exhaust already installed by the PO, it will serve the purpose as-is until the rest of the stuff that really needs attention is done. After that I'll start making a few small changes. Will research tranny options but plan on sticking to something period/stock.

The rebuilt engine has 2 hours on it, just hasn't been run for a few years. The PO got it to sputter for a few seconds, just need to continue from there when time allows.

For now, only two simple things stand in the way: time & money. Sound familiar?