I am doing some measuring to update my 3/4 ton to newer drive train. I noticed that the front axle hub to hub mounting flanges are approx 59-1/4" apart while the rear axle is about 63". Did these trucks actually have a wider tread on the rear than the front? I don't have the original rims & I never saw this truck on wheels. Is that peculiar to this model? I've never really looked at other vehicles before, but I always thought the front & rear widths were the same. Thanks, Dave

 

That's normal truck stance - even for newer stuff.

For what its worth, trucks from 48-72 shared the same dimensions for rear axle and would make a fairly easy swap. In fact a popular swap is the 9" from those same years. It has a 3" axle tube like your F2 stock axle.

73 and up models have a wider axle.

 

With your F-2, you can swap in a Dana 60 out of a 72 or earlier F-250, the spring perches are the same width and you keep the same 8 bolt pattern. Its a direct bolt on, however there are minor alterations to the driveshaft length (I haven't gotten that far yet). Check in my gallery and you can see pictures of the swap I did on my 52 F-3 using a Dana 60 out of a 69 F-250.

Heres a link to my gallery:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=19600