Greetings from a new member! I don't feel like one in a way because of the amount of reading I have done within the forum. Excellent forum!

I recently purchased a 49 F5 with the Marmon Herrington conversion having a 132 inch wheel base. Some of you I am sure saw this truck for sale on eBay or Craigslist recently. Not much gets past you guys. It is a former fire truck that is solid, fairly original with low miles. There are several things I would like to do to it.

1) Replace the widowmaker wheels. I would prefer to replace them with 22.5s, either the 6 or 6.75 that Stu McMillan has brought to my attention through his many posts about this subject. If anyone has any near central Florida they would be willing to part with, call me (813-748-2969). I would consider 20 inch lock rings as well.

2) It has the crashbox transmission. I would like to adapt a NV4500. I have an early Chevrolet version, the one with the extra low 1st gear. Does anyone here know what the transmission input shaft length is on the crashbox, i.e. from the transmission mounting face to the end of the pilot nose? Also, it would be helpful to know the length of the pilot bearing portion as well.

3) Remove the front plow structure and install a bumper.

4) Though the truck is pretty much rust free, it is weathered and the cab and fenders have quite a number of dents in them. After it completed its service as a fire truck, evidently it became just a work truck. It might be better to find a straight cab and fenders rather than fix what is there. I don’t know.

I tried to insert a picture from my hard drive and I guess I don't know the trick.

 

Welcome to FTE!

The pics have to be somewhere on the Internet first, like in a PhotoBucket file or in the Gallery here on FTE.

Here's one way to post pics. You can copy direct from your computer if you're a Supporter. Otherwise, follow these steps.

Go to Photobucket.com and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.

While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...ghtsafter1.jpg

Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).

When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain) and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).

Your pic will be placed in the post.

Hope that helps.

 

Thanks Joe. Here is the picture:

 

Oh Man! What a cool truck!

 

Thanks Joe. I am very much looking forward to digging in. I want to turn it into something I can use a little bit.

Nelson

 

Definitely a very cool truck. Congrats on your find and welcome to the club!

Cab dents are pretty easy to fix, and easier to fix than rust. Unless it's really bad and/or rusty, it may make sense to fix the cab rather than replace.

Good front end sheet metal is still out there, and the nose is the same 48-50 from F2 to F6. You should be able to find lots of good options there, depending on your level of patience or willingness to travel/ship. But again, dents are typically easier to fix than rust. If they're dented and rusty, move on to plan B.

 

I am not a body guy but I don't mind digging in. The sheet metal is solid but there is quite alot of straightening to do. Maybe fix the cab and replace the fenders. Whatever the case, it is nice to know there are parts out there. I think I am going to need some. Thanks Wayne.