Aussie F3 Restoration
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Echuca VIC Australia
Aussie F3 Restoration
Greetings from down under. I have just picked myself up a 49 F3 in pretty amazing condition, almost no rust and very complete. It has been sitting inside a shed (barn) for the last 20 years until I found it. After cleaning the rubbish off the tray I had it running in about an hour. The restoration is about to start and I will keep it original except for wheels. Plans are for meadow green paint and a polished timber bed. Hope you all like it.
I also picked this one up at the same time, future project.
I also picked this one up at the same time, future project.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Echuca VIC Australia
You're correct, it is a hand on a stick. There were known as a trafficator and was used as the turn signal. You pull down on the stick to extend it upwards and then there is a plunger inside the main tube which you press in and out to make the hand wave up and down. The 47 has it also, fairly rare items today as most were removed in favour of modern blinkers. I guess it worked just fine, as long as you only ever turned right. And your window was down.
Trending Topics
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: Northport, New York
Thats great!, very unique. The trafficator. I guess if someone cuts you off while driving you could pull along side them and smack them with it as well.....
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,986
Likes: 446
From: Central Illinois
I'll add my welcome, glad to have you hanging around. You'll find this a good group. The "trafficator" concept looks to have been used across the British empire. In my past I was deep into Brit cars and saw many old Austins and others that had trafficators built into their "B" pillars. As I recall they were used on both sides of the vehicles.
As you go along and start looking for replacement wheels, as you mentioned, we can link you to old threads on the subject. From the look of the wheels on the '49 it may already have had the originals replaced. Also, the wheels on your 42-47 1.5 ton are rather unique. The eight hand holes tell us they are Motor Wheel Corporation products, while trucks in the states came with Budd brand wheels having five hand holes. Stu
As you go along and start looking for replacement wheels, as you mentioned, we can link you to old threads on the subject. From the look of the wheels on the '49 it may already have had the originals replaced. Also, the wheels on your 42-47 1.5 ton are rather unique. The eight hand holes tell us they are Motor Wheel Corporation products, while trucks in the states came with Budd brand wheels having five hand holes. Stu
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
Hey! The steering wheel is on the wrong side! Good looking truck. Looks pretty solid. I can't believe the engine wasn't stuck.
Okay, I will ask a stupid question. What's that small cylinder on the firewall beside the solenoid? Turn signal blinker?
Okay, I will ask a stupid question. What's that small cylinder on the firewall beside the solenoid? Turn signal blinker?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Echuca VIC Australia
I'll add my welcome, glad to have you hanging around. You'll find this a good group. The "trafficator" concept looks to have been used across the British empire. In my past I was deep into Brit cars and saw many old Austins and others that had trafficators built into their "B" pillars. As I recall they were used on both sides of the vehicles.
As you go along and start looking for replacement wheels, as you mentioned, we can link you to old threads on the subject. From the look of the wheels on the '49 it may already have had the originals replaced. Also, the wheels on your 42-47 1.5 ton are rather unique. The eight hand holes tell us they are Motor Wheel Corporation products, while trucks in the states came with Budd brand wheels having five hand holes. Stu
As you go along and start looking for replacement wheels, as you mentioned, we can link you to old threads on the subject. From the look of the wheels on the '49 it may already have had the originals replaced. Also, the wheels on your 42-47 1.5 ton are rather unique. The eight hand holes tell us they are Motor Wheel Corporation products, while trucks in the states came with Budd brand wheels having five hand holes. Stu
I have already read most of the threads on rims, some fantastic info on here, I think I'll be a regular. I'm pretty sure they are still the original rims but for some reason it has a couple of later 60s F100 caps on it. The tyres are 17" which is a bit of a giveaway. They weigh roughly one metric tonne each, feels like it anyway. Not really sure what I'll do yet, 8 stud F250 diffs are kinda scarce in Aussie land.
Not sure what's happening with the wheels on the jailbar, only the two left side wheels are 8 hole, the others are all 5 hole. I'll put the 8 holes on the rear inners and have all 5 holes showing.
Last edited by aussiecowboy; Dec 16, 2011 at 08:07 AM. Reason: More info
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Echuca VIC Australia
Honest answer... no idea mate. I work away on the oil rigs and only picked it up the day before I flew out. Doubt it's a flasher can though as there are no blinkers on it and no controls for them in the cab. I'm currently off the coast of India so can't even go and check it out. It has been converted to 12v neg ground at some point (found that out the hard way) so it might be connected to that.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Lansing Mi
Gday Mate, Great looking F3 and early 1946-1947 ?? Ford.... Your F3 is in very good shape... Love your ideal with the green paint job.. I too am going with green on my 1948 F1... I didnt know if you knew but the F3s did come with a bo
if you wanted to find on they are out there)....
Hope too see more photos of your truck...
Cody
if you wanted to find on they are out there).... Hope too see more photos of your truck...
Cody
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,887
Likes: 3,129
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Welcome, good to see another larger truck on the board.
I also have a question about the front parking lights. Do the fenders have a raised area for the parking lights? If so, they might be the same fenders used on Mercury trucks.
I also have a question about the front parking lights. Do the fenders have a raised area for the parking lights? If so, they might be the same fenders used on Mercury trucks.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
Likes: 3
From: Newberg, OR
Welcome aboard. Very nice find.I hope you will keep us updated on your restoration progress. I got to be pretty good friends with a mason when I was in Perth in 95 - 96. He had a late 70s F250 with a flat bed but I don't remember seeing many Ford F series on the road. There were a lot of 4 door utes. At the time I wondered why there were no 4 door pickups in the US because they looked very useful. Well, we finally caught on over here.