Hello

I'm trying to help out an old mate here and could do with some simple advice if possible.
My friend has been down on his luck and his health has been very poor for some time. Now he has a 1947 Ford 1 1/2 ton dualy stake bed truck in one of his barns. It hasn't been driven in a couple of years.
Another friend and me have come up with the idea of getting this truck running for him to pick up his spirits. This is going to be a bit of a surprise.

What I could really do with is a little simple advice. My friend lives some distance away so if I'm going to head over there I want to be equipped . So for starters.

Can anybody please give me

1. The battery dimensions, anything special about the battery ?
2. The tire size as I know that two are heavily perished ?
3. The wheel bolt size ? Apparently it's a larger size and I want to make sure I have the correct socket. I know it's 5 bolt.

This I think is all I need for the moment.
The rest I should be able to figure out. I can't ask his wife for the dimensions.
Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Kind regards

Darren

 

Battery is 6 volt. I don't have the dimensions.
Tires are 7.50/20 you can fit 8.25/20 on the rear. It's what I did. The lug nuts require a huge socket. 1-1/2" also don't forget the left side of the truck is left handed thread. Make sure to post pics!!

 

Welcome to the forum.

1. For starters you need to know if the truck is 6 volt or 12 volt. If it is stock 6 volt please be aware that the battery is hooked up with the positive to ground. If you hook it up backwards you kill the generator and regulator.

2. Given the almost 70 years since the truck was built you probably need to go look at the tires to verify size. I think they will be 20 inch wheels, but I could be wrong. Tires could be many different sizes. Also, small chance but worth mentioning, if the wheels got swapped for the later "widow maker" design you need to be extremely cautious working with them. Most members here won't touch a widow maker.

3. I think you are asking about lug size. I don't know the size off the top of my head. I wouldn't take a wheel off the truck before you can positively identify a safe wheel from a dangerous wheel.

Please post pictures of the truck.

 

Welcome to the 47 and older chapter! Like said, many were changed to 12 volt over the years. Maybe you can buy a battery nearby the truck. I have 8.25s all around. The gas will probably be horrible in the tank. If you have access to a six gallon outboard motor tank with a squeezeball, cut the hose and introduce it into the fuel pump. Saves a lot of heartache.

 

Great. Thank you very much for the advice. It is greatly appreciated.

I do know that it is still 6v. But I wasn't sure if it was a standard car battery size or something larger. The dimensions would be a help as there is a battery company near by but they wanted actual dimensions. Just in case it needs to fit in a battery box or tray.

I'll get a 1 1/2 socket. I didn't know about the left hand thread. So that will be a life saver.

As we are based in the U.K getting the correct ply tire might be a struggle. So far the best I have come up with is a 700 x 20 which is a correct vintage ply. Would these work ? I have found a 850 and 900 but they are both military tires with the off road tread. As it is a dually I think it's best they all match. Actually this axle is something I don't have any expieriance of. Apparently my friend was thinking of taking one set of wheels off so that it is running a single set on the rear. Is this a good idea or even possible ?

As for the Widow makers ! Blimey I have no idea what wheels we have . If I remember correctly I believe the rims has triangle holes in them. How do I tell the difference and why are they called widow makers ? What's appears to be the problem with them ?
If that's what I have is there anything I should be careful about ?

It's also come to my attention that the brakes were smoking last time it was used !
Are they prone to sticking brakes ?

Right once again thank you. I'll let you know how it goes. Anything you think I should know please tell me.

 

The most likely rim design on a 1947 truck is called the Firestone RH. It is not a widow maker, but still must be handled with care. The widow maker is the Firestone RH-5°. Similar name, very different rim design. Much has been written about the hazards, wrongful death/injury court proceedings, pictures posted, and solutions cited. Rather than attempt to rehash all of it, I'd suggest a Google search using these above trade names. You'll find plenty of information. Stu

 

Reps to you for doing this for helping a friend out.

 

DEATHS !!!! What deaths ?!! No one told me about any deaths !
Apparently the holes in the rims are round and not triangular .
I've had a read up and those rims sound like a nightmare. Hopefully they are the RH models.
Thanks again

 

My truck has the split rims or widow makers as people call them. The only time they are dangerous is when you are removing or putting on tires. I had a special shop do it for me. Took a while calling a place that did it but its better than doing it at home.

 

Not true. I had a guy a couple years ago that bought an F-4 having them. As he was winching it on the trailer to take it home an inner dual blew apart. We've had similar stories of one letting go sitting at a stoplight or in traffic. Thankfully the guy I mentioned had an inner dual let go rather than outer dual. The ring blows off of the concave side of the RH-5°. On an RH or other locking ring wheel the ring can blow off the face side. The first thing the guy I mentioned did was buy tubeless wheels.

No matter which style multi-part wheels you have, they are not jobs for you or another inexperienced person. Find a pro to do that part of the job. Stu

 

Looking at the thread about your truck, you do not have RH-5° widow makers. You have the Firestone RH design that is an outer locking ring design. That explains your ability to have them safely serviced. Stu

 

I had a little read up on these rims. I'm amazed that they can do this much damage.
Am I right in understanding that tubed tires are the worst ?
You would think they would pop off whilst driving.
So if we have the RH model they are safer than the RH5 ?

 

Any tire can explode, and any rim can have internal rust damage that can't be seen. I had a locking ring rim split apart once due to internal rust I had not detected. Tubeless wheels and tires are safer than tube type. The Firestone RH does not have the horrible reputation of the RH-5°. I don't recall hearing any stories of the RH coming apart while in service once safely assembled using a cage. Stu