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I'm nearing the end of a restoration of a '48 F4 and I have questions about the flatbed. The flatbed is dimensionally the same as a Ford script bed (without the Ford script) built from the blue prints provided by a fellow board member.
How does the bed attach to the frame of the truck? I've Googled pictures and it appears a plank of wood is used but I don't know what size. Obviously it would be the length of the bed but how tall is it?
Also, for the flooring, do the flatbeds use those metal strips between the boards like a F1 does or is it just the planks of wood?
This factory F-4 diagram allows you to calculate for yourself how wide the wooden bed rails should be. The difference between your measured frame to ground (assuming you have stock 7.00-18" wheels/tires), and the chart's load level measurement (minus wood bed thickness) lets you calculate width of the rails. The bed is secured through use of "U" clips as pictured.
If you do still have your stock 18" wheels and tires they are the widow maker style, Firestone RH-5°, that you will want to do a Google search about. Stu
Edit - I notice the chart's 39.5" is to the bottom of the bed floor. Stu
I used full dimension 2x8 stringers atop the truck frame. I fastened it to the frame with steel plates outboard of the frame front and rear. I used threaded rod, two locations mid frame. I built the top and bottom plates for the threaded rod. U bolts were probably used as original. In retrospect, I probably would have ripped the 8" dimension down to 7".
The skid strips on my truck are original. The outboard wood is fastened to the outer steel frame but the inside boards "float", held down by the skid strips.
I built this one to drive and it does get used so the wood bed shows wear.
I am sure the guys here would like to see pictures of your truck.
TruckDog, RayTasch: Thank you so much for the information, that definitely helps. As for the rims, somewhere along the trucks 'storied' history someone replaced the factory 18" rims/tires with 20" rims/tires. When I first started working on the F4 I found BobJ49F2's website and his write up about the Widow Makers. Having worked on split ring rims while in High School I knew the dangers and the fact these factory rims were split rims I started my search for the replacement 19.5" rims/tires. I feel safer with the solid rims and don't fear my kids walking by the truck.
As requested, here are some pictures summing up 8 years of work.
Truck as found.
This is what the truck looked like when I got it.
Powder coated and assembled frame. Notice newer rims. I have the extra wheels for rear, they're just not installed.
Dressed and detailed engine. Internally it is stock 302 from a '89 Mercury. Trans is the AOD.
Engine installed.
Freshly painted cab.
Here's the flatbed, made from the drawings BobJ49F2 created from his original Ford script flatbed.
I plan on replacing the bolts with something that looks like rivets.
Your truck is looking great! I turned the heads on some bolts to look like rivets to install the bumpers on my bed. I used permanent Loctite, 609 or 640 on the nuts and held the threaded end with visegrips to tighten the nuts.
Mark
