I'm looking for a new tailgate for my 52 Ford F2 longbed. Everything I see is for shortbeds. Is there any place that make body parts for the longbeds? I can use something from another model (F3?) to make it work?

 

I believe mid fifty has parts for long bed replacements, you can call and ask at 1-800 252 1956. Are you sure the tailgait from an f-100 wont work?

 

Tailgates for the F2 are about 6" wider than the F1, so they won't fit. Most body parts are different, other than the cab, doors, and hood. Not sure if they are available in the aftermarket or not.

 

I found a tailgate from a 1965 long bed for my F3. I had to make my own tailgate hinges because the lower hing tube sits closer to the bed on the tailgate. The tailgate has a slight angle but it sure looks better than the plywood tailgate the PO made. BTW I could sure use a tailgate for my truck as well

 

There aren't any aftermarket F2 bed parts being made. You'll have to hunt down used parts for that one. How bad is the tailgate that you have?

The differences between the F1 and F2 include:

1. Longer and wider bed...the F2 bed has wheel wells inside. There is a wider tailgate to go with the wider bed

2. The fenders are different...the F2 has larger wheel openings for the larger wheels that are used on heavy duty trucks

3. The F2 has 8 lug wheels compared to the F1 with a 5 lug arrangement

4. The F2 has heavier duty springs both front and back

5. The F2 has a heavier frame. The channel sections are bigger than the F1 version.


Both trucks (as dmack points out) have the same cab, hood, grille, doors, front bumper, seat, and sometimes the engines were common (the 215 inline 6).

The parts that you need show up occasionally. Last week one of the members here was trying to sell some factory new (old stock) front fenders for an F2. Often on the heavy duty trucks, the beds were pretty trashed after 60 years of work.

You should post a pic or two. Oh...welcome to the forum. You should tell us about your project.

Dan

 

Dan, was thinking the bed sides would be interchangeable. I knew front fenders were larger, and did not know the box was wider on the bigger trucks.

 

The bed sides on an F2 are longer than the F1. I did talk to one of the companies who makes bed parts....they said that they would make long bed sides for me, but the part that wouldn't work was that the 52's have a stamped step in the bed side. the fenders have a matching recess, so I would have had to make up some kind of filler spacer.

In the end, I took the easy way out and made my F2 into an F1. My decision was relatively easy...my bed was trash, my front fenders were rotted. My cab was in OK shape.

51Panelman had an F1 frame....so I bought it and went with a new F1 bed and ended up with fiberglass fenders.

If you don't want to go that route, be patient and ask around. The F2 express boxes do show up on occasion...you'll probably have to take a road trip to go get it.

Dan

 

Here what I'm working with. Most of it's probably worth repairing unless there's something I can find aftermarket, or new old stock. I'll keep looking around, but if y'all hear of anything please let me know. I'm willing to travel to pick stuff up.

 

That's a better looking F2 than most. F2 and F3 bed parts are the same. If I were you, I'd repair what you have. I don't see any issues with the tailgate.

About two months ago I had two F2/3 tailgates. Both of which sold quickly. Neither one was better than what I can see in your picture.

 

Blmoore, you have a nice F2 there, well worth putting some time and money into. And not just because we are a bunch of co-dependent enablers for this truck habit.
If anyone could have seen the absolute wreck I started with....yours would look like it a showroom condition barn find. I didn't have a tailgate at all. Or a bed....or a nice rear bumper like that.
Keep us posted on your progress. Welcome aboard, you found the right place to talk about F2's.

Tom

 

And if you can take a few pictures of that rear bumper for me, I'd like to see it from a closer perspective and gap relationship to the bed. I found a bumper like it for mine but have to fab some brackets for it.
Thanks,
Tom