When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hi I have just brought my 53 F100 and so happy with it, however I want to change the wheels.
I am going to do the front disc brake conversion which will give me the required 5 x 4.5 stud spacing, however my 9 inch rear has the stock 5x5.5 stud pattern.
I have found my wheel selection for the 5.5 pattern is very small so ideally want to change the rear stud patten to match my proposed front ones.
Can anyone suggest the best/most cost effective way to do this.
Front hubs are available in virtually any lug spacing...4.5 is common Ford but you can get them in 5.5. As for the rear, you could pull the axles and have them redrilled to the 4.5 spacing or you can buy new axles that are already at the 4.5 spacing...new drums or at least redrilled drums will be needed as well.
Besides buying new rear axles with a different lug pattern, you 'might' be able to drill the rear axle flanges to 5 on 4-1/2 pattern. I say might due to some flanges having a large access hole in the area where a new stud would go.
Might want to get more information here: Drill-guide-price
Do you know the origin of the 9" axle? The most popular 9" swap into these trucks is from a '67-'72 F-100 because the width and spring perch locations are exactly correct and they have large, modern self-adjusting drum brakes. If your axle came from a '67-'72 F-100, then changing the rear lug pattern to 4x4 1/2" could be as easy as a trip to the salvage yard. If you can locate two LEFT SIDE ONLY axle shafts out of '77-'79 Thunderbird, Cougar, or LTD II, then you can directly install them into both sides of the axle housing in your truck by just replacing the wheel bearings. You keep the same brake backing plates that you have now, but you do need to swap to the brake drums that match the axle shafts. There was much discussion about this swap on this forum 15 years ago. I've done it myself and it works well.
Do you know the origin of the 9" axle? The most popular 9" swap into these trucks is from a '67-'72 F-100 because the width and spring perch locations are exactly correct and they have large, modern self-adjusting drum brakes. If your axle came from a '67-'72 F-100, then changing the rear lug pattern to 4x4 1/2" could be as easy as a trip to the salvage yard. If you can locate two LEFT SIDE ONLY axle shafts out of '77-'79 Thunderbird, Cougar, or LTD II, then you can directly install them into both sides of the axle housing in your truck by just replacing the wheel bearings. You keep the same brake backing plates that you have now, but you do need to swap to the brake drums that match the axle shafts. There was much discussion about this swap on this forum 15 years ago. I've done it myself and it works well.
Thanks BlueOval, this looks the best option, I will check out origin of the rear axle and see what I have.
Do you know the origin of the 9" axle? The most popular 9" swap into these trucks is from a '67-'72 F-100 because the width and spring perch locations are exactly correct and they have large, modern self-adjusting drum brakes (introduced in 1964 F100 2WD).
If your axle came from a '67-'72 F-100, then changing the rear lug pattern to 4x4 1/2" could be as easy as a trip to the salvage yard.
If you can locate two LEFT SIDE ONLY axle shafts (D6OZ-4234-D*) out of '77-'79 Thunderbird, Cougar, or LTD II(not an LTD!), then you can directly install them into both sides of the axle housing in your truck by just replacing the wheel bearings. You keep the same brake backing plates that you have now, but you do need to swap to the brake drums that match the axle shafts. There was much discussion about this swap on this forum 15 years ago. I've done it myself and it works well.
F100 9" axle shafts are the same right & left. But there are FOUR different 1967/72 F100 9" axle shafts.
B7TZ-4234-A 1957/67 28 splines / Rear brakes are 11" x 1 3/4" (same as 1948/52 F1 & 1953/56 F100).
C8TZ-4234-A 1968/72 28 splines.
C8TZ-4234-B 1968/72 31 splines.
D0TZ-4234-A 1970/72 with 9/3/8" ring gear, 4 pinion Traction Lock with 31 splines.
All 1968/79 F100's, 1975/96 F150's have 11" x 2 1/4" rear brakes, but some 1980/83 F100's have 11" x 2 1/4" some have 10" x 2 1/2" rear brakes.
*D6OZ-4234-D .. Left Axle Shaft ~ 29 51/64" long with 28 splines. Use with 9" with 5 lug 4.50" bolt circle wheels.
Yep that's it, it's a dark side truck, runs a 350 Chevy with auto box but apart from that stock but very straight.
I plan on doing minor upgrades i.e. Change the distributor to a HEI one, fit front disc brakes, change to 17 or 18" wheels of the classic 5 spoke design, lower the rear a little.
It hasn't got power brakes or steering but I will see how I feel about that before deciding to upgrade.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
