Would the running gear from a '54 MH cabover work on a '47 2 ton conventional, or is it too wide?

 

I dont know for sure but i like where your going with this. I can measure the axle on my 53 coe MH if you want.
If im thinking of the same 54 coe near you i recall it having a later engine transplanted and i dont recall if we decided the auxilary trans was missing or not. Thats lots of speculating from looking at a couple pictures!


Backing plate to backing plate = approx 67"

 

The frames will be the same SAE standard 32" front and 34" rear. I looked at the hulk of a <47 MH COE down near Klamath Falls a while back and saw that it had the same transfer case and mounting hardware as do my 52s. The only issue might be adapting linkage. Stu

 

Aren't the 53 and up frames 34" in the front?

 

Arrrg! That's right. The SAE changed their standard. Guess that casts a different light on things. But as I think of it, I parted out a 53 F-250 MH years ago that had the same axle as my trucks. Matter of fact that axle today sits under my truck. So at minimum the spring perch spacing remained unchanged when they widened the front frame. Stu

Edit - the wider front frame now explains something that has been a puzzle since I parted out that truck. As I said, the MH front axle in the 53 (#544) is exactly the same as the axle that came out of my 52 (#342). But on the 53 axle MH had tack welded 5/8" thick flat plates to the drums to move the wheel mounting surfaces outward. The plates have ball seat indentations at each lug hole, just like would be seen on a DRW set up. They used Budd style rear wheel inner cap nuts on the front to hold those plates. The MH model M254 manual shows this feature. Now I understand why they did this. It allowed use of remaining old supplies, which they were good at, and moved the wheel mounting surfaces outward to ensure frame clearance. Stu

 

This is coming my way. It will have a good hood and the outer duals. Details to follow how I got it for 1/2 price and 1/2 shipping...... And the MH is about 45 minutes away on this island. Today after work I started mounting a 10,000 lb winch behind the cab of my '92 F350. Should be all bolted down after work tomorrow. It should crank just about anything onto my 12,000 lb tilt bed equipment trailer. Thinking of painting 'the retriever' on the front fenders of my '92..... Getting married barely slowed me down!

 

Sweet truck. Looks pretty solid. I have a 47 ex MH truck. Maybe you could use a few of the remaining MH specifics. There is a few brackets and a flat mounting plate still under there as well as the front crossmember with the notch for front driveline.

Post pictures of the 54 when you go see it again for us.

 

It's pretty wet and mossy down in the hollow where the '54 is. The owner's son told me he remembered they drove it to where it sits, but the rear axle had given up the ghost. That's why they retired it. The '47 is in Minot ND. I have a buddy here who runs a fleet of '49-'55 chevy dumptrucks and they all have an 'Anthony Hoist'. When I showed him the pics of this truck, he said he'd split the cost of the truck AND the shipping if he got the hoist and dump sub frame. I don't need the dump and I have a nice 9' script stakebed from my '59 F350, siting on a parts truck, looking for a home. If I don't end up going MH, it will still be a nice truck. But..........

 

Thanks for the replies, and Josh, your generous offer of rare parts. The guy got our check yesterday and has it 'on the board' for a trucker to pick up. I became a Grandpa yesterday, my first grandchild, so I'll be in Seattle this weekend, not in the woods getting another view of the MH. Can I assume that any tires/wheels would interchange? Also would the rear axle that's in the '47 work if I did the conversion? It IS a 2 speed, but maybe one of the ratios would match ?? My buddy and I will take my truck and trailer off the island to meet the trucker on the other side. This winch should be a godsend. I cranked my '59 onto that trailer with a come-a-long, and suffered for a couple weeks.

 

Congrat's on the grand baby, Gary. They're a joy. As for the axle ratio compatibility, MH would obviously not have used a two speed axle but you could very well have a match on the lower ratio. MH geared things for work, not speed. Josh has the MH manual for his 53, and if the 54 is the same Ford model it should also apply to yours. MH didn't change things model year to model year. And yes, the wheels should interchange as long as the 54 isn't an F-700+ model having the 8 lug x 10" pattern.

Oh, and yes, the 47 is a beauty. Stu

 

maybe you should just come get this entire thing? the engine and radiator is only thing missing. You probably could really use the "snowco" grain unloader out there right?

the rear axle would work for you, ( Stu told me you could use another parts Truck! ) jk

 

Man, Gary has more toys than you can believe. Makes me feel like a piker! Stu

 

Don't tempt me! I amost have this winch mounted. I told somebody today at the Napa store that with 11 rigs, I still don't have as much as most guys have in their DD pickup and the wife's minivam. My wife commutes 25 miles daily in an '84 mercedes diesel wagon we spotted overgrown with grass when I was looking at a job for some summerfolk. New battery, aftermarket gypo heater switch screwed onto the face of the dash, and an alternator later, good to go. Oh, and a grand to buy it. Couldn't pry it away from her OR the dog now. Fortunately many of the trucks are insured through the business, and a few on the personal acct. Some never leave the property, but everything runs. I can't wait to see how this MH thing unfolds. The '47 is shown on Dick and Mike's Hot Rod Garage. 'trucks for sale' item 1372. Thanks for any and all encouragement on this endeavor! Back to the winch mount.......

 

Well, did you get that winch mounted yet, been waiting patiently to see pictures of you dragging that 54 out of the swamp!