I have not been on in several months, but now my wife and I are talking about buying an older 4x4 truck (1950ish...) I really don't know much about 1950 series 4x4s period. This sounds like a great project, any advice and knowledge you can pass on I really must thank you so very much...

 

Are you saying you found one for sale? Or you're going to start looking for one? They're pretty rare birds as they were aftermarket conversions, the most common were built by a company called Marmon-Herrington. Parts for them can be hard to find.

 

I'll add a bit more on this, but any answer will be probably be inadequate because there's way too much to say on the subject. If you're looking at the 1948 to 1950 body style, the factory authorized conversion will be a Marmon-Herrington. American-Coleman also did conversions during this era, but I've never seen any Napco or Fabco conversions done on these early trucks. Availability of them will probably depend on what model you are wanting. The small half tons (F-1) and 3/4 tons (F-2/3) are pretty rare, and finding M-H parts will be a challenge. The F-4 is probably the rarest of the models. I've heard of one that has survived, but have never seen one. The F-5/6/7/8s, though, are reasonably common because they were used in good numbers by governments, mines, utilities, etc. Parts will thus be more plentiful because many gave up their bodies to the customs crowd. The authority on the subject is Chuck Mantiglia of Chuck's Trucks in Hamden, CT. and he is also an excellent source for all Ford and M-H parts. I'll link in his web site below. I'll leave it at this and wait for your more specific questions. Stu

Chucks Trucks LLC., Chuck's Trucks, Chucks Trucks

 

Thank you both for your replies, we are just at the thinking stage. We have not had a chance yet to look. I have found several Dodges and GM's on line but only one ford (it looks like 70's axles). I guess my real question would be are there old iron Fords that are 4x4.

 

Stu is our resident MH expert..

as he said, there are no 'factory' 4x4 in the early Ford trucks.. these were done by an aftermarket company

Sam

 

Factory 4x4's by Ford started in 1959.

 

There were many more Dodge 4x4s during the '40s and '50s simply because war surplus vehicles were widely available. And while I don't have numbers to back up this opinion, there were probably also more GM based Napco conversions back then simply because they were cheap compared to the Marmon-Herrington conversions. I have a book that details the initial purchase cost of vehicles between 1950 and 1956 which shows that the Marmon-Herrington option doubled the initial purchase price of a truck. This is because the M-H factory completely disassembled a truck to incorporate frame and drive line modifications. GM based Napco conversions, on the other hand, were dealer installed and for this reason the same basic equipment could be installed on a Ford or Studebaker if the dealer was able to do the modification. Chuck Mantiglia has estimated that M-H did about 200 half tons each year during the Bonus Built era. I've archived all the 3/4 ton trucks I've come across and have recorded the M-H front axle number of each which suggests there were about 250 to 300 a year converted. Chuck has said that more half ton trucks have survived than 3/4 tons because they weren't used as hard. He said the 3/4 tons were used more like F-5s and died in the process. I can confirm this because I have, or have had, four F-3s and one F-250 of which three had either frame fractures or axle fractures. My 1951 has had a transfer case replaced with some orphan unit that I've yet to identify. If you do a Google search there have been a number of good discussions here on this subject. You might also check out Mark Mossell's Hub Garage site. He's putting together a M-H Registry and has 57 of the survivors profiled there. Stu

HubGarage.com - Mark Mossell's Marmon Herrington Garage

 

Again folks thanks for the input. You are a great source of knowledge. I do need to do some more research on what is available. I will continue looking around here and online, if you find anything interesting please let me know as I will be checking in once and awhile...

 

If you would like a '48-51 4X4 you can make one yourself if you have the time, money and skills. It won't be a M-H but it probably would be a lot cheaper to build. IMO, an FTE member, jpb222 did the best stock looking conversion I've ever seen:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...d-f-1-4x4.html