Apparently my first posting went to alphabet heaven. Anyway, I'm looking at a 1948 F5 stake which has been sitting in the open for several years.
I'm looking for information on this truck to determine whether it's worth getting and fixing up. It's all there but the engine head is sitting on the floor of the cab and a tree is growing out of the stuff on the bed. The bed is shot, the cab has a lot of surface rust and it's rusted out at the bottom of one fender and grill bottom. The running board supports and other supports appear solid. The cab appears to be in pretty good shape except for a crease on the roof and a cracked rear window. Instruments and interior in good to excellent shape.
From the plate on the glove box, it's a model 8HT and the vehicle ID is 87HT66177. The GVW is 14, 000, the odometer says a little under 15K, the tires are 7.50 X20, the rear springs look like two over ten leaf springs.
Can somebody tell me which 6 cylinder engine this beast has and whether it has a three or four speed transmission? It's on the floor but I didn't want to try rowing through the gears on a truck which has been sitting for so long.
Any thoughts on whether I should pass this one up and let it sink into the ground?
Any thoughts on modifying an F5 with a lowered front end, 350, new trans and flames? or leave it stock?
Any help greatly appreciated.
buzz

 

Hi Buzz,
Nobody can decide for you if its worth fixing up. The big trucks do have a certain appeal. If you take the path less traveled, well then......

Info from the vin tells that it had the "H" series 6 cylinder. That was the 226 ci. You can find them around, and occasionally on ebay. More common is the 239 V8 which would bolt up to your existing tranny, but motor mounts would be different - naturally.

Some parts are easy to find - Cab and engine compartment are same for F1 thru F6. Different and harder to find are chassis and running gear parts, wheels, brakes, etc.

My shop manual lists the 4 spd spur gear tranny as standard. Options were 4 spd syncro or the 3 spd HD trannys.

It could be a sweet rig, but whatever you do, banish any thoughts of a 350 unless you want to risk a universal collision of the planets and have Henry turn over in his grave! Make a statement and go with a 460 if you want power. A lot of guys feel they're saving money by going bowtied, but the difference spent is miniscule when compared to the cost of the total project. Do it right and you'll never be sorry - and you'll have a truck someone else will want to buy.
Good luck - tim

 

I would agree with MTflat on the 350. Putting a Chevy engine in anything just doesn't show any originality. For chassis parts, try Joblot Automotive, in Queens, NY. I think their website is http://www.joblotauto.com . They have quite a lot of parts for the big Ford trucks of that vintage.

 

On page 27 of the October issue of Classic Trucks is a restored 56 F-600. Check it out. How you react to that picture will tell you if you want that old F5 or not.

 

I have a 1951 Ford F5. I am going to make it three feet shorter, remove the two outside wheels and build a pickup bed (using 51 rear fenders and making the bed from sheet metal/plate) for it. I plan to end up with a heavy duty pickup with big wheels (don't some people put big tires on their truck, this truck comes with 20" wheels and 36" diameter tires). The cab is the same size as a F1, everything else is just more heavy duty (i.e. rides like a truck and will not be setting any land speed records).

A 1948 F5 could be made into a smaller stake bed by cutting the frame down (if you want to be able to park in a parking space). It is easy to go back and forth between a dually and single? rear wheels with a stake bed.

The only bad thing about cutting the frame down is that you will not be able to haul cars/trucks with it.

Buying stock parts is easy for a F5. Buying parts to modify the truck is hard (better brakes for example).

If you decide to on working with the F5 contact me and I will give you any help that I can.

P.S. --- A F5 is short enough to fit in a garage. With the bed removed it will fit in a deep garage. My truck is about 22' long. A full size SUV is 20'. That is why I am cutting it down to 19".

 

the big trucks are more work to restore than the f-1's.all the parts can be found though. i have a 51 f-5 with a 12 foot bed.
the truck is pretty much stock. the truck gets aloy of attention
just because of its size. don't be afraid to be different

 

 

anybody put a higher geared rear end on a ford f5 ?

 

A Dana 70 axle from a '70s era Dodge or Ford motor home is an option. Same 5 lug x 8" bolt pattern. Not sure what the axle ratio is, but certainly will be more road worthy than your stock axle. Stu

 

The very FIRST thing you need to know is that you will want to get rid of the wheels!!!!!!!!!!! They don't call them WIDOWMAKERS for nothing. If you hunt for a while you can find replacement 20" lockring, or 22.5 or 19.5 tubeless.

 

thanks for the info ! keep it comming . I am looking at a 70s f600 rearend in the next few days , hope that is better . yes I am in search of wheels too .

 

Not so sure you'd improve your final drive ratio with that axle swap. Also, you'd probably end up with a 6 x 8.75" bolt pattern at the rear with 5 x 8" at the front. Two spares. Stu

 

Putting a chevy engine in a ford is like slapping Henry Ford in the face! Its a sin in my family!!!!! What bed same stock on these f-5 or f-6 trucks i have a 48 f-6 and gonna try to put it back stock but with a 351 and a 5 speed.

 

found the rear end from a 77 f 600 to put on my '48 ford f5, it comes with 6 wheels and tires but the are 8.5x 20 but the originals are 7.5 x 20 . this makes the diameter about 1.5 inches more . I hope thats not too much of a problem . but other than the drive shaft , it should bolt right up . one other thing , its a two speed rear end , i get the concept but not sure when the shifting occurs . Is it like overdrive? anybody got advise for me ? Im trying to get to 55 or 60 mph is all and keep it original with minimal modifications so it can be driven ! thanks , any help will be appreciated.

 

Thanks stu , yeah Im aware of the spare issue . maybe I should forget the whole idea and leave it stock . now Does anybody want a f600 rearend ?Lol