Hello to all my fat fender friends! I am in the process of restoring a 1950 Ford F3 Flat Bed. I know the truck I have has been on this forum in the past. I think it was in 2012. If you look in the past post it is the one that was supposed to have been in the movie Hoosiers. I have watched the movie and have not seen it myself so I am in doubt that it was ever in the movie. I just became a member yesterday however I have been checking out some of the post on this forum and have gotten a lot of good information and I would like to thank everyone for your post that have been of great help!

 

Welcome. Is this the old discussion thread? Nice looking truck. Please learn about the wheels. Stu

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...950-f-3-a.html

 

Welcome David! If you've read any posts, you know pics are a must...

 

If the old thread I linked is right, pics are there. Here's one. Stu

 

Yes, that is the truck that I have. I think there have been a few change of hands since that picture was posted. I am not very good on the this forum or with a computer but I am learning. I would like to thank all of you for your input! The truck has found a home here with me and my intent is to restore it. I know a lot of people on this forum have asked other F3 owners if the rims are the widow makers and they are not.

 

And you believe they are not widow makers because? The fact of it being a 1950 F-3, if still equipped with its stock Timken having 14" rear drums, means it has 17" wheels and tires, no doubt 7.50 x 17s from the picture. If you have 17s as pictured they are widow makers. Stu

 

Thank you Stu for your feed back! If they were the widow makers wouldn't they have rings around the edge of the rim where you would have to remove the ring to put tires on them?

 

Hello Stu, I went outside to check the rims on my truck and yes they are 7.50 X 17" tires. Someone must have changed the rims at some point and time because they are a solid rim and they do not have split rims. I even went on You Tube to make sure what a split rim looked like, just to make sure. I have not delt with split rims on a personal level but do remember seeing them on my sister-In-laws old Dodge and on a Simi Truck when I was a kid. Thank you again for your response. I think it is great to get feed back from people that have been around these old trucks and I have the utmost respect for them!

 

I always hate to be the bearer of the bad news. But you don't see an outer ring because the joint where front and back halves connect isn't visible to you. There is a raised area around the middle of the rim. The center disc is attached/riveted there. That raised area is the joint. Below are pictures to help you understand.

I know they are widow makers because all 2wd F-3s with stock 17" wheels came equipped that way. There are replacement options which we can go into when you are ready. Stu

 

Stu, thank you so much! You are the man and when your right you are right! LOL I am ready for my options. I will let you know that I have a set of Ford 16" rims that will fit when I change the rear end. I have a mid 80s Ford rear end that came out of a 3/4 ton that has 354 gears. I also have a 1952 F2 running gear on a frame that I bought that the rear end will also take 16" rims. If there are other options I am all ears!

 

The 1980s axle, if from a pickup, will be much wider than your stock Timken. If from a cab/chassis model it might be the same as stock. The F-2 Timken has 12" rear drums and will work well with your 16" wheels. And if you are lucky enough to have the original 16" F-2 wheels they will allow stock hub caps to stay in place.

From here options require some searching or will dig into your lunch money. There are 17.5" and 19.5" tubeless wheels that were first on the market in 1956 that are good options, stock looking, and accept stock hub caps. I know our friend Josh had some 17.5s in the FTE classifieds not long ago, and may still have them. And know of maybe two sets of the 19.5s, which will be a good bit more spendy, if you want contact info on them. An 8R19.5" is the truest tire size match to your 7.50x17s, both about 34" tall. An 8-17.5", 7.50x16", or 235/85R16" will be about 32" tall.

Another option that I know very little about is the use of modern Dodge 17" wheels. Same bolt pattern, but a good bit wider rim I believe. So that's a start. If you want more details please say. Stu

 

Such a simple question, that deserves a complex answer.

The stock wheels on a '50 F-3 are 17" x 5.5" having a two part construction. They are Ford #7RY 1007, Budd Company number #49380. The outer rim has a trade name of Firestone RH-5°, the more common name today is "widow maker". I won't belabor this, but would suggest you do a Google search of the Firestone trade name and widow maker name. You'll find a lot written about them. Generally no reputable shop with touch them anymore.

Your truck's stock Timken 51524 rear axle has 14" drums that required the 17" wheel for clearance reasons. Many guys swap the rear axle for a Dana 60 out of a 1972 or earlier F-250. These have 12" drums that accept any 16" F-2/250 wheel. It also affords a better final drive ratio. If you want to keep the truck as near to stock as possible, there are two tubeless one piece wheels that we've found to accomplish that. Both of these were introduced as F-250 options in 1956. The first is a 17.5" x 5.25" Budd wheel(s). There were two part numbers, both visually the same wheel, #73240 and #70740. These were sourced up to 1966 iirc. The other wheel is a 19.5" x 5.25" that is Budd #71410, also sourced through '66. These wheels when mounted with 8R19.5" tires will be the closest to your stock 34" tire outside diameter. The 17.5s use an 8-17.5" bias ply or 8R17.5" radial tire that will be about 32" outside diameter. These tubeless sizes will accept your stock hub caps if that is a priority.

Finding sets of each takes some looking. I helped another member find a set of the 17.5s not long ago, but don't have any leads for them at present. The 19.5s are very hard to find. It took me a long time to find my set. Stu




Stu , I found this online when I was doing some research. So I guess this is not your first rodeo with a new comer on this subject. LOL

 

Hoosiers has been my favorite movie ever since I first saw it. Funny because I don't pay any attention to basketball or any other sports for that matter. I will look for your ford next time I watch it. Near the beginning a model AA comes down the road with some fall leaves blowing up from it's passing. Myrna and her mom drive a cornbinder and Coach Norman Dale arrives in town in a neat early 50's chevy, fresh outa the navy. I would be honored to own that truck, but those that know me understand I wouldn't even wash it, never mind restore it. Great to see it's being cared for. Thanks for sharing it with us!

 

Stu, yes I will have to move the spring purches over, I think it is an inch on each side. I have not measured the total width of the rear end so I am not sure if it is wider in that fashion or not. I have done some research and it appears that an mid 60s 3/4 ton Ford rear end will fit right in. I do have some concerns on the gear ratio on the mid 80s rear end if it will be to high or not.

 

GB, I watched the Movie several times and slowed down the movie every time I seen an old truck and I did not see it. I do know they cut a lot of scenes out of the movie and I have tried to find the cut scenes and can not find them. My thought is, if it were even in the movie it would have been in one of the cuts. I got a lot of paper work with the truck and there are some phone numbers on them, I called and left messages. No one returned my calls. Thank you GB