OK so update, I'm gonna go look at a 1999 F550 front axle tomorrow morning.

However ya'll are definitely right, The F53 chassis seems to have the look I'm going for with an Ibeam front axle as opposed to the tube front axle.

Anyone know what motorhomes have the F53 chassis so I can start looking through yards.

 

Ha... thousands upon thousands upon thousands of "puller" motorhomes are built on the F53 chassis. Too many to possibly give you a list. Besides, motorhome models, brands, and manufacturer's appear and disappear with the winds of the economy. Furthermore, the same manufacture, brand, and model can be built on either a GM P-series, Workhorse W series, or Ford F-53 chassis. So I wouldn't guide my hunting based on "what motorhome."

An easier way to get close is to ask what engine is in the motorhome. If it is a V10 Triton, then for certain the chassis is an F-53. If the mill is an 8.1 Liter, then it's a Workhorse. If a 454, it's a P12 or P32. If the motor is a 7.5L 460... then it is either an Oshkosh, a John Deere, or the F53 chassis that you WANT for your project.

So that is key... look for the 7.5L or 460 engine. This is a great advantage for you, because motorhomes with that motor will be at least 15 years old, and thus will be more plentiful in the bone yard, with presumably cheaper prices on the parts.

But that isn't the only reason why you want the older chassis with the 460. The REAL reason is that there are many different iterations of the F53 chassis. Most of these iterations are defined by GVWR... which can make a difference in several areas of key concern to finding a front axle... including but not limited to track width (you aren't supposed to cut and reweld a drop center I beam axle), rotor size, bolt circle diameter, hub offset, spring perch locations... really, a bunch of stuff.

Your posted picture to your project demonstrates that you ain't scared... so let's continue to narrow what you want out of an F-53 down a bit by ruling out what you probably don't want. The biggest difference between F-53 motorhome chassis is between those that are 1997 and earlier (with the 460's) versus those that are 1999 and newer (with the V10s).

You probably don't want an F-53 with the V10 Triton (with one exception). Along with the rest of the F-Series SuperDuty line up, model year 1999 marked a new beginning for the F-53 chassis, and came with far more changes than just the motor. The most significant change with respect to front axle shopping was that Ford increased the front frame width by 7.9 inches for the first 73" of the frame length (which would include the fore and aft spring hangars of the front axle).

This frame widening obviously dictates a comensurate increase in front axle width, which increased by 9" to 81" wide from centerline to centerline of the front tire track width. The track width of the older F-53 front axles is 72", which might be a better match for the frame of your project car.

Speaking of the frame, the earlier F-53 chassis had the NTEA standard 34" straight frame rail width (measured web to web outside surfaces) from stem to stern, throughout the entire length of the chassis. Kind of like your project car looks like.

The newer F53 frame widened out to 41.9", beginning right behind the #3 cross member, which is just behind where the aft front spring hangar is. So if you don't want too wide of a front axle, hunt for the pre 1998 F-53 chassis (there technically is no model year 1998). On the other hand, if you DO want a super wide front axle, and can manage moving the spring perches on the axle inboard to match your frame, then hunt for a 99-up F53.

But axle width is only part of your cost benefit ratio equation. What about the hubs and rotors?

The earlier F-53 axles used the 1990's era original "F-SuperDuty" wheels, which were 10 lugs by 7.25" bolt circle diameter, which is a much smaller bolt circle diameter than the 10 x 225mm bolt circle diamter used after 2005. The advantage of the earlier wheels however, is that they used 16" tires. (16 x 6 wide, 10 x 7.25" bcd, 5.46" bore, hub piloted).

The first 6 years of the newer, wider F-53 axles used 8 lug wheels, but the bolt circle diamter was 225mm, and the wheels were 19.5" in diameter, just like the 2005 up F-53's that use 10 x 225mm 19.5 x 6.75" wheels.

I don't think you'll find adapters for 10 x 7.25" to 8 x 170 mm. I also don't think you'll find adapters for 8 x 225mm to 8 x 170. Nor for 10 x 225 mm to 8 x 170. The circle diameters are too close. And be aware that these are hub piloted rims, and the bore diameters dictate the concentricty of the rim to the hub. The 19.5" wheel bores (both 8 lug and 10 lug) are a good inch wider than the older 16" 10 lug wheel. Anyways, if you did, they'd not only be expensive pieces, I'd be worried about the safety of using them.

I also don't think you want dually hubs up front. Do you? Are you sure you even want motorhome axles of any width? Might be cheaper to go with the drop center I beam front axle similar to my old 62 unibody Ford, standard issue before they came up with that twin I beam. Lug centric single wheels, conical seats, tapered lug nuts, 37" frame rail spacing, spring perch on frame instead of out board of frame... I dunno.

 

I have to again complement you on the post, thanks for taking the time and doing that, it is a big help

Thanks
Scott

 

Oh and heres what I'm going for, except this gentleman did not update the driveline. So I want this look, but with the capabilities of driving down the highway at 70 mph

I'll also be replacing his express bed with a stakebed

 

I did the same thing to my 77 f150