Where might I find a good rundown or description, history, etc, of the 1959 F100 4x4 drivetrain? I understand 1959 was the first year this was offered to the general public, and I think I have a good line on one. How rare was the 4x4 option in '59?

Any direction would be great,

brider

 

Standard Ford rearend, 9" in 1/2 tons, Spicer 60 in 3/4 tons;
Dana 44 front for both;
Ratios: 3.92:1 for 1/2 tons, 4.56:1 for 3/4 tons;
Spicer 24 transfer case for both;
223" I-6 standard, 292" Y-8 optional;
3 speed standard, 4 speed T98 optional.

I don't know off-hand the number of 4wds. Suffice to say it would be a low percent of total pickups built in 1959. Yes, '59 was the first year of the factory-built jobs.

 

Thank YOU, 1952Henry!

That Spicer 24 transfer case, would that setup be the "divorced" transfer case? Any idea what the low ratio is?

Is the Dana 44 front axle the "closed knuckle" design?

Thanks for all your help,

brider

 

Should be a divorced case and it's a closed knuckle with 19 spline axles.

 

Yes, it was a rare truck. Back then only power line companies, const. companies, Govt. forestry agencies, etc.. used them. The general public wasn't using them much. The 4x4 boom didn't take off until the mid 70's as the manufacturers started to push them. Any 4x4 from that era is worth saving to restore or parts for others.

Barry

 

If anyone has a set of front and rear axles lying around, could you please measure them drum to drum? The Dana 44 front axle is a couple inches wider than the 9" rear that came on my truck, and I'm wondering if this was normal.

 

Dana Spicer 24 gear ratios for high range is 1.00:1 and for low range is 1.86:1

Do you have a VIN number?

Also inside the cab near the back there is a triangular piece of metal welded on each side of the cab I believe to stiffen the cab for 4x4's. I haven't seen this on 4x2's. Also the steering box utilizes a different case and sector shaft but uses a 1 ton shaft and worm. Good luck getting your 4x4. I have a 59 1/2 ton 4x4 and 60 3/4 ton 4x4. Let me know if you need any more help. Parts are hard to find but not impossible. They are great trucks and easy to work on.

 

The front should be longer then the back. You don't want the back wheels following the same tracks as the front. More traction that way.

 

Thanks for the info, guys. To idaho211, great to hear from someone who has one. I think I'm going to buy it today, after I sift thru it I'm sure I'll have TONS of questions. I'm kind of curious to see how capable it is, with just that little 223 six.

 

Thanks frigerator! So that almost certainly is a genuine axle set (a PO installed it on the '57 panel truck, but I swapped it back to 2WD). So all I need is a transfer case and crossmember...