Recently, I've had more people contact me looking for F2-3 parts than F1 parts. It's a sign of the times. The F1 are getting scarce to find, while the F2 and F3 are still plentiful. I think it'll take at least 10 years for the repro vendors to fully support the F2-3 models with the F2-3 specific parts. I'm sure that the F2-3 trucks will soon be common, like the F1s.

 

When you were at John's salvage did you ask John if he had any 3.54 ratio Dana 60 axles from 1972 or earlier F-250s? If John isn't readily available the other guy to ask is Sylvester.

I think a 3.25 ratio is too high speed for an F-2 with a stock flathead. With 29.5 inch diameter tires (about the height of most 650-16 bias ply tires) you get the following r.p.m. for the following gears at 60 miles per hour:
4.10 ratio -> 2800 r.p.m.
3.54 ratio -> 2420 r.p.m.
3.25 ratio -> 2220 r.p.m.

An F-2 is a fairly tall heavy vehicle. A flathead is a great engine, but it doesn't make a lot of power. Really the 4.10 ratio is probably the best answer. I purchased a 4.10 ratio from a 1965 F-250 from John to put into my F-2.

 

Hello everyone!
It does not have the e brake drum, it just has the e brake setup under a crossmember and from there it goes to both rear drums...I went to John´s Salvage again yesterday, talked to him and he said he wasnt sure if he had any 3.54 or 3.73 ratio rear ends, so I went looking again and he has these big piles of rear ends of trucks that they have crushed and they kept the rear ends, and on that pile there was a 3.73 gear ratio rear end, and I also found a 3.25 from an F100...I gave him $100.00 dollars down and told them I would be back for one of them, wasn't sure which one, and he promised to hold both until next week when I go back...

Answering Dan, my intention is to keep the flathead, use the running 226 for some time while I save up some money to rebuild the original flathead 239...at least that is the initial plan...

Tractormanbill, my email is lchavez@hotmail.com, thank you!

The name of the ebay seller that sells the tailgates is 09-40, I made a search and the name of the company is Howell's Sheet Metal Company, from Beaumont TX, their website is Howell's Sheetmetal Co. - Model A Ford & Model T Ford Parts, check them out, they specialize in Ford sheet metal parts, he doesn't show any tailgates on the website, but when I emailed him, he replied saying that they also made the one for the F2...

Pineconeford, I am already working on straightening the running boards, they are a little bit banged up, but nothing major...I haven't given much thought about the heater, I don't even know if it was original or if it was added at some time, it was painted meadow green just like the rest of the truck, and it had this line connected to the carburetor in a weird "non stock" way, I will take a picture and show it to you...Anyway, if I decide not to use it, I will sure let you have it...it doesn't get that cold down here!

38 coupe, so in your opinion, the Flathead would not have enough power to run properly with a 3.25 ratio? I hadn't thought about that, good point...another thing to consider...

 

In my opinion part of the appeal of the F-2 and F-3 trucks is the eight lug wheels.

With the 29.5 inch diameter tire and a 3.73 rear axle you get 2550 r.p.m. at 60 miles per hour. This is the "fastest" I would consider for a stock flathead in an F-2. A 3.25 will be a real dog.

I have a friend who has a 3.25 ratio ring and pinion in his otherwise stock 226 powered 47 sedan. His car doesn't have enough power to pull the hills going out to Bandera without slowing down a lot. It will be worse in your truck.

If you are interested in restoring the truck you might want to drop by a meeting of the local chapter of the Early Ford V8 Club. Meetings are usually at 2 in the afternoon on the second Sunday of the month.

 

The heater in your truck is aftermarket and utilized the fuel line from the carburetor. Not very safe. Majority of these heaters were installed in cars starting in the late 30s through the 40s. I have the same heater waiting to be installed into my 37 Airflow, but for pure nostalgia. It will never be hooked up.

 

I would really like to attend one of the meetings, where do you guys meet? Taking what you say into consideration, I might just go with the 3.73, The I found has some oil leaking from the 3Rd member, I will just make sure it is nothing major...

 

I've tried both the 3.50 and 3.25 ratios in my F-1 with V8. I agree with 38Coupe's friend, the 3.25 was just too much, a 3.50 might even be pushing it. Not so much for flatland cruising, but around town going around a corner required a lot of clutch slipping in 2nd gear (which is comparable to 3rd in your truck). Plus you don't have synchros, so lots of angst. Hills were a definite issue. Wind resistance is a huge factor on these above 45 mph.

Note that the stock F-1 ratio in 51-52 was 3.92... also an option but different bolt pattern. If you have any thoughts of a 5-sp conversion in the future, don't toss your old axle, with an OD 5th the old ratio may be just right.

 

Whoa, a fuel-fed heater located in the cab? Yikes! I can imagine ripping a fart being so close to that thing and blowing my stones off.



I'll stick with a coolant style one, thanks.
My truck did have this funky heater that was half on the firewall and half in the cab that a previous owner put there. It was U G L Y and they cut a hole big enough to pass a loaf of bread through. I'm going back to a 6-volt system and am looking for a heater that belongs in the truck. I replaced the whole cab with a donor and have a fairly clean firewall to start from.
Heaters are quite necessary around here.

Tom

 

Those were Southwind style heaters, popular on VW's and some Corvairs, Model T's and A's, etc. Fairly valuable I believe, more as a curiousity than to use.

 

My truck has the timken 4.86 rear end, I would still keep just in case, and the transmission I plan on using is the 3 speed light duty...I am now considering a 3.73 Dana 60 rear end or even a 4.10 based on what you guys have been telling me....what needs to be done to be able to install the T5 5 speed transmission?

 

Ross, I am surprised that you found the 3.50 to be a problem in your F-1. I haven't tried a 3.50 in my F-1 but ran the high speed, 3.54, ring and pinion for about 30,000 miles in a stock 34 Ford Tudor and loved them. It came stock with 4.11 gears. I also ran stock 3.78 gears with a 38 Percent Columbia overdrive in my former (wish I still had it) 38 Ford Woodie. Both ran stock flatheads. I had rebuilt both engines so they were in good condition but were factory stock.

 

No problem with the 3.50, it was the 3.25 that was too much. Keep in mind, I'm at 5300', which costs me some HP, also I am sure my tires are bigger diameter than your woodie's. The main thing tho is that with your Columbia, you only had the low ratio in OD, you could drop to non-OD 3rd and 2nd with the 3.78. With a 3.25 and no OD with a 3-sp, you don't have many options, just 2nd or 3rd. Like being in OD all the time. Also a lot more weight and wind resistance with a truck. All that being said, I'm surprised you could pull a 2.40 ratio (in OD)! Did it kick out on every hill?!

 

Ross,
That 38 Woodie (see pix in my gallery) was fantastic on the highway even on hills on the interstate. It was not unusual to drive it over 70 mph in overdrive (of course) on the interstates in the hills of Vermont and New Hampshire. I had it set up with 39 Juice brakes. Both cars ran 6.00 x 16" tires. The 34 had a set of Kelsey Hayes 16 inch bent spokes.

 

Bill. I went and I did not see the Woodie. What album is she in?

 

The Woodie is in the 1st album, "early photos".