whodaman.
here is a frame that maybe just what you need.
1953 Mercury M350 Chassis - Red Deer Collector Cars For Sale - Kijiji Red Deer Canada.

and its right in your neck of the woods.

 

Great find!!!! I just emailed him and awaiting a response. Thanks for the help Roy, its a great help. Just got my first issue of LMC in the mail too

 

The 350 frame will work if you want to use the longer express bed or can shorten it to F(M)-100 length and WB (2 places, in front of and behind the rear axle) The 350 also had frame doublers that can be removed. The front axle is the same, just heavier 8 lug hubs and spindles and heavier springs. The rear springs are heavier and the rear axle is much heavier 8 lug likely with low gear ratio. If you decide to shorten the frame, step cut it and add a doubler plate, don't just straight cut it. be sure to level it, weight it down and do short skip welds allowing complete cool down between to keep from twisting the frame up like a propeller.

 

i have a 53 f1 front axel if you will need one.but i used the brakes and backing plates on my m 68 for the 5 bolt pattern.it has the springs,shackles,axle and spindles.let me know.

 

According to the Ford service parts catalog, that is incorrect. The 53-56 F-350 uses it's own axle shaft, king pins, spindles, spindle arms, tie rod and ends, etc. The whole front end is different and has more in common with the larger trucks. They are not the same parts as used on the F-100/250 of the same vintage.

Personally, fwiw, I would keep looking for the correct frame, and not mess with the F-350 parts. There's way too much modification necessary to make it a truly feasible and economical swap.

 

I stand corrected on the front axle. In that case unless you want a large truck, or are going to swap the suspension anyways, then you would be better off finding a lighter duty frame.

 

Hi again,
Just my opinion but I think you would be better off waiting and finding an F or M-100 frame. All of what Wayne said and more. Be careful though as F and M-100's, at least in Canada, came in both short and long box versions. I would hang in there for a short box frame from a 53 - 56. There are minor differences between 53-55 and 56 but very minor and liveable. If I remember correctly the only difference is the running board brackets. Parts and knowledge to modify an F-100 frame are a lot easier to come by than for a F-250 or 350.
And by the way 250's had 8 stud wheels and 350's had heavier 6 stud wheels.
Good luck and keep looking for a short 100 frame.

 

You brought up some very valid points in your post. I couldn't agree more with your advice, and just to add my two cents heed what he says closely, just bought myself a nice 55 Ford Truck. Thought all was well until the minor issues developed into major headaches. I have come across two frames for your truck on ebay already, cheap enough, but shipping is a killer. Right now I am trying to undo what a previous "modifier" did to the frame on my truck. Why would anyone cut out a radiator support cross member and bolt in a piece of crap spaced with huge nuts under what they put in to act as a cross member? Anyway good luck with the build, stick with a stock frame, but modify it correctly with sound mechanical reasoning.

 

Especially since the radiator support horseshoe is the key piece for the entire front sheetmetal alignment.
The 53-56 frames are interchangeable, they came in two versions, 110" WB for the shortbed F100, and 118" WB for the 8' express bed optional on the F100, std on the F250, F350. The 53-55 used shorter springs than the 56, but that doesn't affect the interchangeability as long as you use the right length springs that match the frame hangers. The longer WB frames used longer running boards.
Good news is the 53-56 frames held up very well so they are relatively plentiful almost anywhere.