Hello new to site. Have two 51F3s and a 52 M3. The two f3s are going to be buildable projects and the M3 will be used for parts. All three are flatheads with the merc having a 255. Both F3 have hydraulic boxes. A only thing missing from all three is the tailgates. Thanks for all the useful info I've read on the site over the course of this winter.

 

Welcome to FTE!

Since you've been here all winter, you know we want to see pics of all three trucks.

 

Welcome Ryan!

 

Welcome! You have quite a stable already. How can you tell the M3 has a Merc engine? Is it a transplant?

 

This is the F3 my wife bought me for my birthday last fall.

and this is the newest addition that I bought over the phone based solely on these pics

 

My welcome too. Glad to have you and glad to see some F-3s being saved. There are pictures of the trucks on Ryan's profile page. The one facing head on is a 5 Star Extra model having all the rare bits that guys search for. Also has a Magic Air heater. It is a heavily optioned truck. In your readings I'd suggest researching the 17" wheels on each of them. Very dangerous, called widow makers. Technical name Firestone RH-5°. Replacement options do exist. Stu

 

The merc I bought off of the original owner he said that nothing was ever changed in it from new. Have not been able to investigate it though due to winter and a spinal fusion surgery I had this winter. Planning on rebuilding the 255 to use in one of the fords. One F3 is the five star extra cab and one is regular cab. The M3 is also a five star extra cab. sorry no pics of it until tomorrow.

 

It's a misconception that Merc trucks came with the 255; they were a Ford 239 engine. There was one exception, one of the big Merc trucks (F-5 equivalent, I think) did have an optional 255.

 

The only trucks to get a 255 flathead was the 1953 M-500/600 and 1954 F/M 600.

 

Sorry if I got it wrong on the 255 was just going by what the old guy told me and what info I could find online. Not to much info to be found on Canadian built trucks. Any info I can get is greatly appreciated.

 

You just need to find a couple of these

 

According to literature I have, the 255 was the engine available in the M-5/6 trucks at least as far back as 1951.

 

I have all the books in the post above. If you look at part numbers for the crankshafts:

1948-50 F-1 thru F-6 - C8BA-6303-S

1951-52 F-1 thru F-6 - C1BA-6303-S

1953 F-100 thru F-600 - C1BA-6303-S

1953 M-500/600 - C1CM-6303-S

1954 F-100 thru F-500 - C1BA-6303-S

1954 F/M-600 - C1CM-6303-S


Here's the engines available in 1951. The were named after how much torque they had. The big 337 flathead was called a 255. I also have a 1951 Ford truck brochure but it says the same as the Mercury one.

 

I'd build the M3 because it's a Mercury and not too many of those still around.

 

Thanks for the extra info. My plans for the trucks are to get the one I just bought running and driving because it was the one that was on the road last. Check over engine and brakes, replace rear end with on I have coming from a mid sixties f-250 with 4.11s and get rid of the widow makers. Plan to leave the paint and body pretty much as is. I wanna enjoy driving this one as my daily driver while I tear apart the five star extra truck for a fresh rebuild. As for that truck plans are to make it look like it came out of the factory. But the drivetrain hasn't been decided between stock flathead with stock four speed and rearend. Or take a 302 and auto tranny I have sitting around from a 90 F150. But that's a decision for a later date any advice or input on this is great appreciated. But most of all i really look forward to spending time trying to get these old trucks from field to road. Planning on driving these for the rest of my life. Thanks to everyone again for the info I've gotten from here.