1953 Ford F-350
 

I just got mt grandpas 1953 Ford F-350 home and was wondering how to tackle this as a project. I want something I can drive on the road, but I also want it to be able to do a little off roading. It turns over but doesn't start. It has the original straight 6 cylinder in it, but I want something with a little more power. But i'm not sure what I should put in it for a motor/ trans. The lug nuts are stuck/ frozen on (only about 1/3 of them have come off). Any ideas of getting them off... Unless i should just get new studs and lugs. Not 100% how to get started with this project, if you could leave some tips and/or ideas that would be great.

Check the lug nut studs for a stamped letter "L" that would indicate left hand threads. Normally used on the left side of larger trucks, these things can be a booger bear when some well-meaning soul has randomly interspersed them throughout the vehicle. Do not ask how I know this to be true.

Welcome CLau3!

If you are contemplating a major build project and are unsure of important details, and are a bit limited on skills, I would strongly suggest that you don't start disassembling the truck now. Until and unless you have a plan with a realistic budget, you don't do yourself any favors by creating piles of parts.

Since I am not an off-roader, I'll let others comment on the suitability of solid axle vehicles for the sport.

Any pic to share?

Welcome to the forum! Be aware, the wheels on your truck are called "widowmakers" due to their tendency to blow apart violently and with (sometimes) deadly results. Read about them here:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-options.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...xperience.html

Until you can deal with a replacement, be very careful airing them up!

Add my welcome. Ross has it right that you will want to learn about your wheels. You haven't said whether your truck is a single rear wheel model or dually. If you have 17" wheels on either model they are the widow maker style. If you have a dually with 16" wheels they could be the safer side ring/lock ring style. If you have the 17" wheels there are solutions, but the issue you face with an early F-350 is the 6 lug x 7.25" bolt pattern. This pattern hasn't been available on any vehicle since 1968, and on an F-350 since 1966.

One solution is to have the centers pulled from your 17s to have remounted in new 19.5" tubeless outer rims. The centers fit snugly along the drop center of the 19.5" rims. The other solution is to find a set of the tubeless 17.5" wheels that first became available on F-350s in 1956. There were two styles made. Budd #71320 has 6 hand holes and Budd #79120 has 3 hand holes. I don't know of any sets that are now available. Stu

As far as the off roading, it isn't the solid axle that hampers the performance, but rather the lack of a front differential between those hubs. There are many examples of capable off road vehicles with a solid or straight front axle. But wait, maybe his Gramps left him an MH...... So, is this truck a 4wd? I have a line on six 16" split rims for these trucks and still have six 17.5s that I seem to be holding for a Canadian Tow truck owner who hasn't shown up in a while. The shipping is often a deal killer. Welcome to FTE. Stick around and you will be an expert before too long!

Darn Gary, how many times has it occurred that somebody has committed to a set of your 17.5s then hasn't followed through? Seems we've been here before a few times. Stu

Just an FYI, I now have a set of 6 f350 tube less as well

Put that info on your list Stu!

Thanks Kevin, I'll add it to the "Wheels" page on my phone. Helps me keep track. Stu

I also still have 6 16 inch split ring wheels on my 66. All with good radial tires.

Now we're talking SHIPPING. I'll add them to the list too. Stu

Welcome!!!

Welcome aboard! Can we get more info on what you have and what do you mean by 4 wheeling? I know guys that say they go 4 wheeling on dirt roads, old washed out roads, fire roads, sand, dirt, mud, snow, and rock crawling... Each one is unique, you can build an all around 4 wheeler. What speeds do you want to do on road and off road? What size tires are you planning on running?

Could we see some pictures? Here is how.


But I got ta say becoming a supporter is the fastest and easiest way to post pics right from
your whatever pad/cell thing or home computer.
Few of us look in the users Gallery or album as you can see by your recent visitors.


Quote:
Originally Posted by 76f350spercamprspeal

Welcome to FTE, Best Damn Forum EVER!
------------------------
Here's How to Post Pictures:
1. Login to FTE.
2.Click User CP (In the Top Left Hand Corner)
3.(On the Left, There will be a list, The 5th Option Down, will say "Pictures & Albums) Click That.
4.Then, Click Add Album, Enter a title, and description, if ya want to.
5. Click Upload Pictures, Then click Browse, Locate the Files of your truck. (You can add 3 files at a time)
5. Click Upload.
6. Add a description to the individual pictures, then click save.
7. Add more files if ya want.
8. Click The Picture you want to post, it will give you two codes at the bottom, Right Click The Second one (It say's BB Code, Then Say's [IMG]http:blahblahblah...[/IMG])
Then, Once that is highlighted, Right Click, Then Copy, Then Paste it into your post.
You can add up to 30 Images in one FTE Post.
If, Ya need any help, Don't hesitate to ask.


Quote:
Originally Posted by old_dan

You can also go to the "Garage" tab and start an album right here on FTE. After you post pictures to an album, we can look in your album, but you'll also be able to "insert a picture" by pasting in a link to the picture in your album.

It seems awkward, but whenever you "insert a picture" to one of these threads, the forum is looking for the picture somewhere on the web (which is always available) rather than from somewhere on your hard drive (which isn't always available).

Quote:
Originally Posted By Jolly Roger Joe

Welcome to FTE!

Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.

While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
The best photos and videos | Photobucket

Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).

When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain) and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).

Your pic will be placed in the post.

Hope that helps.

Here's a tutorial Bob put together: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/67...-pictures.html Bob's link is not working. Can someone in the know tell me why?

How to upload pictures to the FTE Forums. - YouTube. Thanks Sam Rusty_Old_F250. Best we can find is that this video was done by Gundown64