Hello,
Recently I have found a 1959 F-350 9 foot bed. Every thing is rust free and good (except surface rust that is .) After looking around some, I noticed that the truck´s front wheels were 6 lug and the back 8! I do not know if the front is stock or the back is stock. If anyone knows the answer or has the correct replacement for sale please reply!



Thanks,
MyBrownie

 

The front is stock having 6 lug x 7.25" pattern. An 8 lug x 6.5" pattern would have been swapped to the rear of the truck, perhaps to get a more friendly final drive ratio. Finding a stock rear axle and wheels might take some looking. The bolt pattern hasn't been used since 1966 by Ford and 1968 by Dodge and IHC. Stu

 

Thanks TruckDog...to change back to a 6-lug, would that mean I would have to pull the 8-lug axle and install a 6-lug?

Again, thank you.

 

All 1953/66 F350's came with 6 lug wheels on a 7.25" bolt circle.

All 1957/60's, some 1961/62 F350's came with Timken rear axles. Axle ratios: 4.86 - 5.14 - 5.83.

Some 1961/62's, all 1963/66 F350's came with Dana 70's. Axle ratios: 4.10 - 4.56 - 4.88 - 5.13.

Some people swap in Dana 60's from 1955/72 F250's, Dana 70's from 1967/72 F350's to get a more favorable rear axle ratio.

1953/98 F250's, 1967/98 F350's came with 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle.

1973: Ford increased the width of the rear frame rails behind the cab by 4 inches, so the rear axles are wider.

 

Probably. Maybe possible to just change hubs and axle shafts, but I suspect it'd be more practical to swap the whole unit. Finding the wheels will also be a challenge. What size wheels and tires are on the front now? Stu

 

Impossible. With 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle, the OP's F350 either has a swapped 1955/72 F250 Dana 60 or a 1967/72 F350 Dana 70.

1953/66 F350's came with 6 lug wheels on a 7.25" bolt circle. 1957/60 F350's came with Timken rear axles.

 

I have a complete 6 lug Timken axle if you want it. I also converted my 6 lug front to 8 with a set of 'Toledo adapters'. Your front hubs need to go to a machine shop to remove the bell shaped 6 lug flange. I did mine at home using the vehicle itself as my lathe, but that's just me. Got the adapters from wheeladapters.com. They are about 500.00 a pair, but very HD made of cast steel.

 

Here are pictures of the truck:



















Extra 6-lug Wheels







And the biggest bumper I've ever seen...

 

You have widow maker 17s on the front, and looks like tiny 16.5" tubeless on the back. Rotten combo. Front tires are 34" tall, backs maybe 29" depending on tire width. Do a Google search for the term "Firestone RH-5°" and read about the fronts. A set of the 19.5" tubeless wheels and tires that have similar tire size to your 17s, along with Gary Sisson's rear axle would set the truck back where it belongs. Stu

 

F35 = F350.

C = 292 2V

0 = 1960.

K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.

36062 = 1960 Numerical Sequence of Assembly, the trucks specific serial number.

130" Wheelbase.

L = Dark Green.

25B = Assembled February (B) 25, 1960.

F = Borg Warner T-98 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

07 = Timken model B140 Rear Axle / 5.14-1.

9,800 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

146 net HP @ 3,800 RPM

8067: Domestic Special Order number, truck was ordered special by the original purchaser, not "bought off the lot."

 

Is it called the "widow maker" because the rim is two piece and if it comes apart wrong...well Mama will be sad or glad?

Yea, I agree, I need to get the same tires all around. I like the 6-lug and the 30-32 inch height rollers.

I need gearing that will let me hit the highway speed also.
Thanks

 

Taller tires like the 19.5s will get your gearing a lot more friendly with modern road speeds. This axle would be spendy to ship, but all you need to come up with is the shipping. Nice truck! btw.

 

GB SISSON...thanks so much for thinking of us. My youngest boy (14 y.o.) has it bad for this truck. I'm beginning to like it also.

I have not been able to get it started yet...working on it though.

I will check on the shipping and see what I am up against.
God bless you.