Picked up today

 

Looks good, I have a '52 with 7,200 mi. original, my dad brought it home from an island 35 years ago where it went new. Looks about same condition as yours, happy restoration.

 

 

Welcome to the Marmon Herrington group. I suspect that is the 49 F-5 M-H SnoGo that was on Rochester, MN, Craig's List. It's an honest project. I made an offer on it but didn't score the deal. What are your plans for the truck? Of great interest to me are its 18" Budd wheels. If you don't keep them please let me know. Stu

 

I drove 2300 miles in 48 hours to get this truck I live in Atlanta Georgia thought it was unbelievable deal wondering as close to it is you are why you didn't pick it up I read all your post and have great respect for you and l have very little knowledge of these trucks but thinking about putting the running gear underneath a 51 F4

 

Hey Zoellner
Nice truck... keep us posted as you figure out your build plan.

What is that stainless steel thing parked behind it?

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

I didn't buy it because I didn't really need another project, and my low ball offer probably reflected that the wheels were my only real interest. The person you want to get to know is Chuck Mantiglia of Chuck's Trucks. He is the M-H expert. My knowledge of the SnoGos is what I've learned from Chuck. The nature of their work required them to be geared very low. You'll have 6.67/1 final drive ratios front and rear, standard for Ford and M-H, but teamed with an underdrive transmission that will further reduce the gear ratio. Generally guys remove that underdrive gearbox which makes it a standard F-5 M-H. Chuck also explained that a SnoGo has (iirc) front spacers on the wheels to make the front and rear wheels/tires track an equal width while plowing snow.

Edit: the below closeup picture of one of your front wheels shows they have square ended rear axle style Budd "inner cap nuts" on the front axle. These inner cap nuts are holding the spacers I mentioned that bring the front wheels outward to line up with the rears. Also notice that the wheels are single rear wheel style having minimal offset. They would not allow a dual rear wheel setup. Stu

Moving the drive train to another better truck is a fine idea. This will also involve swapping the transmission cross member that has been modified to allow the front drive shaft a clear path to the axle. To then have an F-4 M-H will give you a very rare truck. I know of only one original surviving F-4 conversion.

Speaking now in my own blatant self interest, the 18" wheels and tires will further reduce your final drive ratio and road speed. Your present dead tires are about 35" tall I will guess. A set of 20" or 22.5" wheels and tires would help with that giving either 37" or 38" tire diameters. This is an area where I could help, and work a swap if you wished. The 18" wheels would work great with my 4.11/1 gearing.

Another way to improve road speed is to swap the 6.67/1 ring and pinion front set for the 5.14/1 stock set probably already in the rear of your project F-4. I'm sure Chuck told me he has NOS 5.14/1 gear sets available. Teaming the 5.14/1 gears with the taller 37" or 38" wheel/tire set would give you respectable road speed. Below is a link to Chuck's web site.

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

This shows the modified transmission cross member.



A close up of one of your 18" locking side ring wheels. Stu

 

Thats a beautiful truck! The guy that sold it is also selling a 52 big job truck-stell conversion. I spoke with him over the phone as I am in Waterloo Iowa. He told me the story of your truck!!! Robert is his name. He couldn't believe you drove all the way from Georgia! Congrats on the M-H!

-Sam