new to the club! '52 F3
#16
11-09-2015, 09:58 AM
Welcome to the FTE...nice score on the truck! It's amazing how much better they look when they are free of weeds and mouse habitats. As you can see by the posts already, there are many experts on this forum for your particular truck, good luck.
BTW - I did a quick search on Archie Cochrane Motors and found that there is a dealership in Billings, MT...http://www.billingsford.com/
BTW - I did a quick search on Archie Cochrane Motors and found that there is a dealership in Billings, MT...http://www.billingsford.com/
#17
11-09-2015, 10:25 AM
Hi and welcome to FTE, you have chosen a great site to be on, say by your name gold co are you is the gold country in cali? the background looks like it anyway, anyway with that said in California the easiest way around the reg issue is to do a lost title on it. they "the dmv" dosen't know where the truck was or anything about it except what you tell them, vehicles stay in the system for 5 to 7 years, unless they were Stolen then it could be 15 years to Indefinatly, OR - your friend could help you with this starting with a bill sale and what they call a "statement of facts form" in which basicly you explain all the details such as it was on his property when he bought it and would like to put it back on the road, it will have to have a vin varification. so you need 2 vin numbers in this case the frame # and in the glove box there should be another one, there's your 2 numbers. then the highway patrol inspection will consist of #1 it runs #2 the lights work #3 the brakes work #4 its safe for the road. you can make your own case on the seat belt issue, i have found that just depends on the officer. & you need to have it weighed, so you need to have a weight certificate. and to get that it has to have a bed on it, also it needs to be trailered to this appointment, its not that hard to get an old vehicle back on the road here just dont change horses in the middle of the river once you start the paper work!i noticed in the photos those old 17.5 truck rims these will have some trade value to someone. you might ought to grab them if you can
#18
11-09-2015, 11:51 AM
wow, thanks for the info! good to know... 
my plan is to drop either a 351 or 302 in it -- if this 215 turns freely, are there folks that might be interested in rebuilding those, or are they a dime a dozen?
my plan is to drop either a 351 or 302 in it -- if this 215 turns freely, are there folks that might be interested in rebuilding those, or are they a dime a dozen?
Add my welcome. Great to see another F-3 rescued. And a 52 at that. Your truck has the 5 Star Extra high end trim package described in the below factory picture. The Magic Air heater was also a high end option, sold separate from the 5 Star Extra package.
Your truck, like my project truck, came originally with the OHV 215 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine. The nose badge tells us that. The engine was new for 1952.
The truck began life as an Express bed 8' pickup body based on the full length running boards.
The rear axle is not original to the truck. The 8 lug x 6.5" pattern was correct for the F-2/F-3 models beginning in 1948, but the axle is an Eaton. The truck would have come with a split case Timken model 51524 axle. From your description it is clear the rear hubs have 9/16" studs versus 5/8" studs and nuts on the donor van. That suggests to me that the axle might have come from an IHC early 3/4 ton that I know had that combination of features.
Your truck, like my project truck, came originally with the OHV 215 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine. The nose badge tells us that. The engine was new for 1952.
The truck began life as an Express bed 8' pickup body based on the full length running boards.
The rear axle is not original to the truck. The 8 lug x 6.5" pattern was correct for the F-2/F-3 models beginning in 1948, but the axle is an Eaton. The truck would have come with a split case Timken model 51524 axle. From your description it is clear the rear hubs have 9/16" studs versus 5/8" studs and nuts on the donor van. That suggests to me that the axle might have come from an IHC early 3/4 ton that I know had that combination of features.
#19
11-09-2015, 11:55 AM
#20
11-09-2015, 12:04 PM
i noticed in the photos those old 17.5 truck rims these will have some trade value to someone. you might ought to grab them if you can
i'll see if i can go through them and find the 17.5s. that reminds me though, how do i identify split rims or "widowmakers"? i only know as much as to stay away from them. were they used in this era by ford?
#21
11-09-2015, 12:05 PM
The Holley 1904 glass bowl carb should be saved, and the exhaust/intake manifold set saved if no cracks are found. Stu
#22
11-09-2015, 12:23 PM
nope: GOLDen, COlorado.
good to know, thanks. there were a bunch of wheels laying around, including some really old ones used with wooden spokes.
i'll see if i can go through them and find the 17.5s. that reminds me though, how do i identify split rims or "widowmakers"? i only know as much as to stay away from them. were they used in this era by ford?
good to know, thanks. there were a bunch of wheels laying around, including some really old ones used with wooden spokes.
i'll see if i can go through them and find the 17.5s. that reminds me though, how do i identify split rims or "widowmakers"? i only know as much as to stay away from them. were they used in this era by ford?
needless to say disregard the dmv info. i've been to golden colorado, & thats beautiful country over there, went through the coors plant and then up the hill to look out mountain to buffalo bills grave site,
#23
11-09-2015, 12:30 PM
nope: GOLDen, COlorado.
good to know, thanks. there were a bunch of wheels laying around, including some really old ones used with wooden spokes.
i'll see if i can go through them and find the 17.5s. that reminds me though, how do i identify split rims or "widowmakers"? i only know as much as to stay away from them. were they used in this era by ford?
good to know, thanks. there were a bunch of wheels laying around, including some really old ones used with wooden spokes.
i'll see if i can go through them and find the 17.5s. that reminds me though, how do i identify split rims or "widowmakers"? i only know as much as to stay away from them. were they used in this era by ford?
needless to say disregard the dmv info. i've been to golden colorado, & thats beautiful country over there, went through the coors plant and then up the hill to look out mountain to buffalo bills grave site,
#24
11-09-2015, 12:41 PM
Widow makers - all F-3s, 48-52, came with 17" two part wheels. You probably have them on the front since the rears have been changed. The wheels have outer rims that are known as Firestone RH-5°. The below picture shows the center disc riveted to a raised section of the rim. That is the joint.
Since you said the front tires were scrubbed to shreds you probably don't have one holding air. Your donor van wheels should mount on the front just fine, really better than the rear as you described. Stu
Since you said the front tires were scrubbed to shreds you probably don't have one holding air. Your donor van wheels should mount on the front just fine, really better than the rear as you described. Stu
#25
11-09-2015, 03:51 PM
A script bed is a factory flat bed having the Ford logo in the center of the rear cross member. Below is a good old thread about them. Stu
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...s-that-is.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...s-that-is.html
#26
11-09-2015, 04:03 PM
#28
11-09-2015, 06:04 PM
More Turbo
#29
11-09-2015, 06:11 PM
script bed is the stake script bed as shown in this picture.