Getting ready to buy parts for my build. Looking for suggestions on a setup.

Truck is a '56 F600 (see signature), lot going on with the build so I figured I'd get some suggestions in case something falls through the cracks.

Will be running 1 ton axles on it and 37" hummer tires. It's actually set up from factory for thinner 37" tires, but 4x4 wasn't a factory option back then (aftermarket though). Built 460 with a ZF5 is the planned powertrain.

All I have is leaf springs currently. I have so much leaf springs in the back that without two tons sitting in the bed, I might as well just weld the axle to the frame. So everything must be addressed.


Looking to use the truck as a daily driver that I can take up into the mountains and snow. Don't need it to be a monster, just want the thing stable at 80mph and on the mountain passes.


Kits? Good donors? Don't have the axles yet, full donor would be nice but all depends on the deals.

 

Maybe have a spring shop build a custom set of springs for the normal load you will put on it. Add a set of air bags for when you want more load. Might need anti wrap bars with the 460 to keep the axle from wrapping up with a heavy right foot. Lots of other more expensive options -4 link etc. But it does sound like a cool project.

 

the problem with that rig is the frame spacing. it is the narrow frame like a cab chassis truck uses, so you are limited the F-350 cab chassis axles, or to having a set of axles custom made.
for the springs, i would just use a set of F-350 4X4 springs.

 

How does a narrow frame limit axle choice? Single wheel axles work fine just move the spring perches in.

Now if you are trying to match the front track width that may be more of a challenge.

 

a truck with 33 inch frame is not as wide as a truck with a 36 inch frame.
the axles are shorter. so to use newer truck SRW axles under that truck they are going to have to be customized.
it is not quite as easy as " moving the perches"

 

Like I said its only an issue if you are trying match the front track width. Otherwise yes it is as easy as moving spring perches.

 

and the axle will be 3 inches wider than the truck will be, causing the wheels to stick out from under the truck.
cab chassis trucks have a narrower axle than the pickup trucks.

 

The truck is an F600, not an F100, it thankfully has wider fenders and bumpers. If it was an F100 the wheels would certainly stick out too far. Might be something one can combat with offsetting the wheel backspace for an F100 but I never got to far into that as mine doesn't have that problem. I need to get a comparison picture next to an F100 one of these days, I'm about 2 feet taller and noticeably wider (about 10" if I recall, but don't quote me off hand).

I don't have my notes off hand but I did remember figuring out the exact wheel base I wanted turned out to be the standard 70's axle width with standard back spacing on the wheels with the tires I want to run (I was quite happy to discover that).

If it makes a difference the frame is also considerably more stout, though it is still narrow like the F100.

At this stage I'll probably just leave the front on the leaf springs it has, they're built up a bit more do to the factory size tires. I've decided to not do everything at once on this build this time, but go back and paint and upgrade some things later. The rear is going to need some of the springs removed now though. If I recall I have 16 per side, and they're a half inch thick... might as well weld it on at that point. (Factory flat bed was about 2,000#s, this truck had about 6,000#s worth of aftermarket bed and broken compressor on it when I bought it, however with a standard bed that weighs like 500#s, it's a little rigid, lol)

 

IMHO, I would look into aftermarket (complete) chassis..............

 

i realize the truck is a F600. but it still has a 33 inch wide frame, and a pickup rear axle out of anything newer than 1978 or so will be set up for a 36 inch wide frame and 3-4 inches wider than the proper cab chassis rear axle.