I’ve have a friend with a stock 1950 F2. He is considering options for better highway gearing while keeping the original Timken rear end. His current pinion ration is 4.86. I looked in the Truck Chassis Parts Catalogs for both 1948-1952 and 1948-1955. For catalog # 4207 they have listed 4.11 and 4.86 as the gear ratios. So I was encouraged that that we might find a 4.11 in my pile of F2/F3 axles from parted trucks. I checked the axles and they were all marked 7-34 on the pinion shaft … 4.86 ratio.

Does anybody have an idea of how many 4.11’s vs. 4.86 were produced? And where would one find a 4.11?

 

Hen's teeth. I've heard of maybe four having been found. The solution is to call Chuck Mantiglia for a set of his custom 4.11/1s. Several here have them and say they provide much improved road speed. I have them too, front and rear, but haven't got the truck on the road yet. Stu

Chucks Trucks LLC., Chuck's Trucks, Chucks Trucks

 

Thanks Stu. I hoped there were a few more than that out there. But it's great there is a replacement source. And the good thing is that the only non-original part is on the inside and unseen.

Would like to hear from some that have driven the new gearing how much improvement was gained. Thanks

 

Here's an old thread with comments from guys that have Chuck's 4.11/1 sets. Stu

Chuck's Trucks 4.11 conversion? - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

 

That's the answer. Thanks Stu.

Now if I had thought to search first I could have saved a lot of wire brushing on pinion shafts.

 

I think having found 4 is generous , must have been like a special order . Chucks Trucks has a good kit . Your only other remotely simple alternative is a Dana 70 out of an older model F250

 

I think that's what you meant.

 

Four might be a few short, especially if I add Studebaker owners whose trucks used the same Timken. The first I heard of long ago having been found in a 1950 F-2, another Ford I heard of from a Studebaker guy (who is also a member here) near Sandpoint, ID. I tried unsuccessfully to track it down. Another set was on eBay as mentioned in the thread I linked. Then, a couple summers ago, I visited a major Ford collector in WY who told me he has two trucks with original 4.11/1s. The Studebaker guys had the advantage since, as Bill has said, Studebaker inventoried more parts for their trucks than would ever be needed during the trucks' service lives. I drop in on their forum too but haven't heard of a set having been found in a long while. Stu

 

I stand corrected

 

I had no idea they were that hard to find. A few years ago I picked up a Dana 60 because I didn't know they had a 4.11 Timken. In this case my friend wants to keep it as Henry made it.

BTW is every one running in Mobile page layout since last night?

 

I do all postings from my phone and never use the mobile format. I hate it. Is there something that caused you to bring it up? Stu

 

I agree Stu. The mobile format is terrible. I avoid it like the plague it is.

Thanks for the info on the 4:11 gears. I'll get to that one day.

 

Some how I got stuck on mobile format for a couple days. It was pretty hard to find anything. Just tripped across a 'view full site' link and now it back to normal.

 

Happens to me too. I stay in it for 2 nano-seconds before switching to the full site. Stu