Hello to all,

Just wanted to introduce myself to the board and ask my first question. I am restoring a 48 F5 that is in really good condition, the VIN number indicates the truck was built with a flat-head V8, but there is a flat-head 6 in it that is true to the year. I plan to keep it as close to original as possible, with the exception of getting rid of the widow makers and changing the color from Ford green to red. I see a lot of pictures of 48s and some have signal lights on the fenders and some don't. Mine has them but they are obviously not original, just the old tractor types you get at TSC. Can someone tell me if these signal lights are supposed to be on the fender tops or not? Thanks in advance for any guidance I can get.

Mike

 

Welcome to the forum. Good to see another of the larger trucks being preserved. Fender mount seemed to be the location of choice for the auxiliary lights. I don't believe there was a mandated location to install these. Fender location can make for a real PIA when working on the truck. My F4 has those lights mounted on the vertical side of the cowl. I have only seen one other truck with them in that location, out of the way yet good visibility.
Where is the battery located on your truck, passenger or driver side? V8s had the battery on the passenger side and the six had it on the driver side, AFAIK. Like all things, there could be exceptions.

 

That's a nice looking truck you have there.
Welcome to FTE! We seem to be seeing more of the F4 F5 models lately. Those bigger trucks are cool.

Sounds like you have a good plan. Be sure to post some pictures for us.

 

Thanks for the reply. Battery is on the passenger side and VIN number and head numbers don't match. No doubt the 6 was a swap out, but there is nothing better than a flat-head 6 in my book. I have a flat-head V8 (51) available to me and I'm considering installing it to get it back to a true type engine for the model, but then I have to give up my favorite engine. Also converting to 12v to make parts a little easier to get.

Mike

 

Welcome Mike. The big fellas handle the fender mounted signals well - mechanic access aside. Glad to have you with us.

 

Welcome mike,you will find every one on this site is super helpful! It's great to see a bigger truck get saved as well ,I just recently purchased a f-4 my self in great shape with a flathead v8, as far as your question 6 or 8 either motor would be cool! Drive it and enjoy it, also I just found budd wheels at. A junkyard so that's a smart move, if it wasn't for the guys on this site I wouldn't have known the difference between the widow makers and any other wheel. Good luck with your project, also my truck has the turn signals in the same location as yours, not sure what I'm going to do yet

 

That's a great color cab for a black stake bed. Looks awesome.

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I think the six has 5 less horsepower, however it has more torque. 226 is a good engine. drive and enjoy

 

Welcome! The flat-8 might not be a good idea anyway, as a 51 likely wouldn't have hardened valve seats from the factory. Is the 6 a 226 or the bigger 254?

 

Thanks to all for the responses. The 6 is a 226 in great shape. I may be on the hunt for a new exhaust manifold, as the one in the truck is a bit pitted. Probably okay to use but not as good a condition as the rest of the engine. I also have in mind to split the exhaust behind the muffler and put a pair of stacks on it just for fun. Special thanks for the tip on the 51 V8, that seals the deal to keep the 6.

Mike

 

Welcome to the forum. Since you're keeping the 6, it might be good to know the exhaust manifolds on those engines are prone to cracking and are difficult to find in good condition. If yours isn't broken, I'd advise not trying to "fix" it.

 

I will add another welcome to the thread. It is nice to see another truck being restored.

Turn signals were not a Ford option when your truck was built. Many people added them at some point and put the lights wherever they wanted.

Are you 100% sure your truck started life as a V8? A complete conversion to a 6 involves changing the radiator, air damn in the hood, exhaust system, fuel line, battery box, wiring harness, accelerator linkage, and probably some parts I have forgotten about.

 

While most turn signal setups we find on these trucks were aftermarket add ons, Ford did offer a nice, self cancelling switch, and fender mounted lamps. They came with instructions showing the exact location they were to be mounted. They were sold separately, so you could just buy the switch, and install tail light sockets in your parking lights and run double filament bulbs for the turn signals.
Chuck

 

Welcome to the forum! That's a great looking truck you've got there

 

I too decided to keep the 226 vs. the 8. Somewhere along the line my truck was also changed. The PO changed the radiator, radiator saddle location, accelerator linkage, air dam and replaced the 3 on the tree for the 4 spd spur gear transmission. The trans cover from the doner truck was used as well. Now that I am restoring the truck I completed the transformation with the 226 battery tray on the drivers side and new wiring harness. When you look under the hood I want it to look like it came that way!