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Yes, widow makers. The only period 17" (major edit starts here) SRWs that are not WMs are your tonner 5 x 6 7/8" pattern (RH rim) and the Chevy/GMC three piece ("AR" rim) that you saved from your old tonner. There were LOTS of locking ring/side ring DRW 17" wheels used during the 1940s on into the 1970s. And then there's some shallow dished single 6 x 7.25" used by Studebaker, Divco, and others, but that's not something we need to worry about. That's better. Stu
Been down for a few days recovering from surgery, so I missed the initial post about the '53 F350. Did anyone contact the seller or get the contact information? Everytime I click the 'reply' button all it does is reset the map, doesn't display any info. I'm thinking the ad has expired, though it still comes up.
Stu, I'm not familiar with the lug pattern on the big Fords. I'm guessing they're different from the IH trucks otherwise the 17" lock ring wheels IH used would work okay as replacements?
The Ford tonners '53-'66 had a 6 lug x 7.25" pattern, same pattern as the IHC 120s/130s. There's one IHC exception but I won't belabor it. The F-350s used either 17" singles or 16" duals. Same also applies to the SRW and DRW 17.5" and SRW 19.5". There was no DRW 19.5" having the 6 x 7.25" pattern. The SRW F-350 changed from the deeply dished single used in '53/'54 and in '55 through the remainder of the era used a shallow dished wheel.
The F-4 and other big Fords had a 5 x 8" pattern same as bigger IHCs. The F-4s had either 18" or 20" Budd's, bigger models just the 20s. The 17" DRW IHC/Dodge/Studebaker type Budds having 5 x 8" pattern won't clear a Ford rear drum on an inner dual. What's interesting is that the tubeless Budd 19.5" (#89340) will clear a rear drum even though it's center disc is exactly the same diameter as the DRW 17". It clears because the rim's drop center moves the bead out away from the center disc. Stu
VERY nice! We're learning that they cost 15 grand to paint these days.
Yep, was quoted 'approx' $2K just to get the two front fenders for my '52 F1 into primer. Decent NC fenders with minimal rust in the typical running board/chin seam areas.
Stu, thanks for the wheel info. I was thinking of what to use to replace the widowmakers on something like that '53 F350 if I were ever fortunate enough to have that problem. Immediately thought of the 17" set from my R-140 but they're 5 lug of course. I remember that IH used a slotted 'real truck' steel wheel on the 130 trucks, 6 lug and 6 slots. Guessing they might be 17" and if so, they'd be a decent choice.
Dan, all I can say is that hanging around near you online is dangerous! The night before my surgery I was up until 2AM looking up M-15 info after seeing the photos you and Stu posted. Then that first '53 F350 got me to thinking that it really could be a good replacement for my 2002 Ranger four banger (no, really!). Now this one.
Wonder how difficult it is to get it back into the country?
Boomer, My friends call me "the devil". If I've caused you to lose sleep, my work is done...
I do, however, think that a lumbering F350 is probably not going to replace your 2002 Ranger. It won't go on the freeway, and will probably have 5.14 gears, or 4.88's if your lucky. Maybe good for a local cruise-in, or a trip to Home Depot. These big ol' pickups need to be left as they are, other than maybe treating them to a fix-up, and a coat of original paint.
I solved the problem of not being able to go very far in my old trucks by adding my "modern", 50 year old daily driver. It goes 80 mph cross country, gets groceries, hauls a 4x8 sheet of plywood, and serves as a rolling dog house. Like a truck, pretty much. But it gets me into Billetproof and Goodguys car shows, so it's the best of both worlds. I'm a dedicated historical truck guy, but also like hot rods, vintage drags, rat rods, antique toys, and everything else. But especially WWII warbirds.
We can all do this. Drive old cars and trucks every day for about a quarter of the cost of a new car. There's more to life than the gas mileage and screw the frickin Prius...
Are you saying I couldn't get into the billetproof or good guys car show with this? Only been to a car show once, and the people weren't too friendly. Seriously what is the criteria, or is it just they don't allow trucks? Your wagon is ok I guess, but I'd rather have one of our big pickups and suffer with the other motorists riding my bumper and not getting into car shows......
Gary, That is a seriously cool rig, and I'd take it to any show. If someone turns up their nose at it, I would just enjoy annoying them. I love messing with snobs. I take it that's a mobile blacksmith setup? I love it! Actually, I'll crash any show with my old trucks. I went to 52 shows last season and took every one of my trucks. A few times, I did four shows in one weekend in four different trucks. You meet a lot of good people at shows, not that I'm a people person in general. You can bring most anything you want to GoodGuys, though it's heavy on high end hot rods and customs. Billitproof will actually turn you away if you don't meet their rather arbitrary standards of coolness and tradition. They don't like modern stuff, or obviously billit. So far, I've gotten away with the big wheels on the Safari. My Brown Trout Studebaker has been there twice. I assure you your rig would be welcome at either. This is one of my favorite pic's of the Dodge, and is pretty typical. Notice NOBODY is looking at the nice Chevelles on either side...
BTW, The red F350 "parts truck" is being delivered tonight after a nasty, nasty trip from Minnesota.
You meant Gary on the smoker, but I'm with you. I wondered how you got away with the Dubs and rubber bands at Billetproof. Never would at our local show. But I like your use of the Safari. Great parts hauler, and safe place for the dogs. My old girl in the the avatar used to go everywhere in the F-250 daily driver with me but she's gotten pretty frail now at 13. Stu
One night I was driving home from the ferry in my cummins powered 59 f350 and the owners of the AA were back on the island visiting their old property. Property which contained a 28 AA in a shack on the back 40. They were burning a couch out in front of their trailer and they were drinking the usual MacNautins in a half gallon plastic bottle. They had wanted 2500 for it, but that night I offered 1000.00 and got the title. We sort of lived in different worlds but were both old ford families. It worked out for all of us. It needs a radiator badly, but it runs good after I put the head back on. The smoking machine behind it is a pig roaster. When I was dating my wife and welding on it to show off my machismo, she politely asked me to step aside and laid down a couple of parallel beads down the frame. I had been teaching myself to weld and turns out she had 3 years of welding in high school and laid down a couple of perfect beads. She always downplays that afternoon because she is so nice.
My wife can't weld (neither can I) but she tolerates my varied interests and (so far) accepts a certain level of 'stuff' around the castle. Two of the three garages are full of my various junk, the carport has a Farmall Super A, '52 F-1 cab, and 1930s GE monitor top fridge sitting under it, and there's a '51 rolling shell under a tarp beside one garage with the '52 project sitting in the driveway. At least the F-1s will be gone as soon as I dig out the titles and advertise them.
Nice looking Pontiac, Dan. Always loved the old station wagons. No minivan here, ever. The Ranger has been a good little truck and since I bought it cheap, I'll probably get most of what I have in it when it goes away. I don't mind going slow in old trucks, though 50-60 would be nice. I have no desire to try to make an old truck into a modern truck, but would swap out diff gears and other simple, reversible things if possible to improve safety and performance slightly. I'm like you and the other odd ducks who actual prefer driving and enjoying something old and well made. The less plastic, the better.
I've got a set of wheels that will go down the road faster, though it's currently sitting in my dad's barn up north. We bought it as a project around a decade ago but when I moved south in '08 he sorta lost interest. Told me to figure out a way to get it down here. I think his Harley is enough for him now as he approaches 80.
Warbirds.....now there's an interesting (and expensive) hobby. Was a member of the Collings Foundation back in the early-mid 90s when I was between jobs and about broke. Flew in the Nine-O-Nine. It's no P-51 for sure, but there's a lot to be said for those four Wright Cyclones. If you can hear anything over the roar.
That is a nice looking baby Lincoln. Please keep it stock. It seems like everyone with one of those tries to modify it to make it look like a customized Mercury (which is strange because it already does).
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Slideshow: The VelociRaptor Expedition gains a lift, upgraded suspension, Brembo brakes, and trail-ready equipment while retaining the stock 440-horsepower EcoBoost V6.
