HI,
Just new to the forum with this question. Redoing a 47 1 ton and want to replace the original low gear rear end with something newer. Has a free floating axle with 1" lugs, 5X6 7/8 pattern, 16" drum brakes and 7.5X17 tires. Will a 9 inch rear end work, what bolt pattern, wheel size suggestions, any info will be greatly appreciated! Want the proportions to look OK with those large fenders.

 

I aslo have a 1 ton. I have/ had the same dilema. I have a 8.8 rear end from a 150 at the axel shop that is currently being shortened so I can add disc brake to the rear and install a 373 or 355 gear this way i'm not shifting into 3rd inthe middle of an intersection.

 

Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you can re-gear the stock axle. There is a guy who takes ring and pinion gear sets for the large quick change rear axles and machines them to fit the original Timken axle. It isn't cheap, but it is the way to get decent cruising speed and keep your stock wheels. If you are willing to put up with the change to 1/2 ton wheels I think the 9 inch axles from the late 50s through 72 from F-100s are the correct width. These 1 tons are fairly unique and look good with the bigger parts, why change them to look more like a 1/2 ton?

 

I agree about the unique look of the one ton, really don't want to put the smaller axle on it, just looking at the economy of it. Don't think I can afford to do the rebuild as you suggested. Maybe a later model F250 rear end would be better? I heard the Dana 60's are good and may be able to use the larger wheels. Any thoughts?

 

You can get a 3.54 ratio Dana 60 from a 65-72 F-250. Actually I'm not sure when the 3.54 ratio Dana 60 was first offered in F-250s, but I suspect it was when the big block automatic combination became available in 1965. I know 66-72 is the correct width for your truck and the axle diameter works with your existing U-bolts.

These axles are 8 lug, so you will need to convert your front drums and find 8 lug wheels. I don't know what is involved with installing 48-52 F-2 & F-3 front drums on your spindles. Ford wasn't in the habit of changing what wasn't broken, so they might go on. I would check to see if the bearings used are the same and if so contact someone who is hot rodding a F-2 or F-3 and see if they will send you front drums for the price of shipping. You will also need to find a set of F-2 16 inch wheels or 17.5 inch wheels with the inside hub cap bumps. I don't think these will fit your stock hubcap, but at least you can run the reproduction 48-56 caps.

The last option is to get really lucky and find a Tinken axle with the optional 4.11 ratio already in it. The only ones I have seen (2 of them) were in pre-war trucks.

 

38 coupe,
Thanks for the great info, I'm searching for the Dana today. We're dead in the water on my project till I get this figured out. Any other info will be greatly appreciated!
Jen

 

My memory is that Ford used the same spindle for F-1, F-2, and F-3. I have been told that F-1 drums will bolt onto 47 spindles. If all of this is true, you should be able to put F-2 / F-3 front drums on your spindles, but I am not sure which bearing and seal set you would need. I suggest posting a request on the 48-60 Forum as there are several people there working on F-2 and F-3 trucks. Some of these are not going back stock and might be able to help you with parts.

 

As for a smaller rear end the tubes measure 3.25. Stock 1 ton measure 3. All my jeep and offroad friends prefer the ford axel because of availbility and choice of rims which one reason I decided to go this way. This axel is more than strong enough to do what the stocker did in its day. I don't think your going to load this thing down and haul grain like it was designed to do along time ago. Just my thought, just another reason I like these big trucks and have tried to keep it this way. I have big trucks f-450 is my daily driver till i get this swap finished and I can install my 17" repo rims.

 

Still trying to figure out an axle solution. My local drivetrain guy says he can get a late model GM rear end with the correct width for around $300 complete with drum brakes. It is 8 lug so I need to change everything in the front end too. Possible solution is a 12 inch disk brake kit to fit my spindles from Brake Tech Solutions only the largest bolt pattern is 5X5.5. So I found wheel adaptors that are 5.5 to 8 lug 6.5 x 2" that would allow me to have the same wheels on all four. Not sure if the 2" thickness is a problem or not. Going the right way or am I way off base?? Thanks!

 

Mine has what I was told is a Dana rear end/axle with 16" wheels. I'd post pictures if I could figure out how to do it on this website. However, PM me an email address and I'll email you pictures. Roy

 

I've been up in the air on what to do with my '41 tonner. Having an F-1 on hand I've looked into putting the 1/2 ton axels on the truck. The axels will both bolt onto the origional springs on the tonner. For the front the steering would need to be modified to accomidate the different swing style of the steering boxes but it looks like it would only take some parts swapping and new mounting holes. Wheel Vintiques has 17" & 16" gennies availible (at $170+ each) but I'm not sure they would look as good as the origionals since the hub caps would be smaller. Almost every brake part on the F-1 is off the shelf at you local parts store. With 5.5 on 5 bolt pattern on the front you could use an array of 9" rear axels and have the same wheel combos.

Maybe you can get a rear axel drilled to accept the stock spindle/brakes?

 

My one ton axle decisions have been a long difficult process with lots of dead ends. If I kept the original differential with the 4.5+ gear ratio, it would be very slow, needed lots of expensive work and seals, the large 16” drum brakes needed an expensive rebuild, and left me with the 5x6 7/8 bolt pattern which limited wheel/tire options. Not to mention how to deal with the front end! So this is what we decided to do:
Found a Ford 9 inch rear end from a 1959 Ford ½ ton with 3.7 gear ratio and a 5x5.5 bolt pattern, exact dimensions for a direct bolt in. Front disk brake kit #731 from Engineered Components that has a sleeve to fit my one ton spindle. It uses 73-93 Ford F-150 large rotors and 79-87 Chevy ½ ton calipers and has a 5x5.5 bolt pattern to match the rear end. I bought 16x7 Gennie wheels from Wheel Vintiques and will use LT235/85R-16 tires that are easy to find. Will lose ~2” of diameter but we’ll remove some leafs to soften the ride that will make some of that up. Hope it all works out, let us know what you think…