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This fall I traded with my neighbor for a relatively complete 1952 F-1 pickup. Being a New Mexico truck and having almost no rust, it will need minimal body work and new paint to regain its former stature. It hasn't run since the early 80's but I was able to un-freeze the engine with ATF and gentle persuasion. It has the flathead 8 with a 4sp crash box and the 4.27 rear axle. The truck originally had a 3sp remote shift and the column linkage is still there and in good condition. I just picked up a late '51 Mercury 3sp O/D trans. complete with the flywheel, bell housing (1 pc. cast), all the clutch pieces, trans. + O/D unit complete w/ mount and switches etc. I plan on installing this in place of the existing 4sp setup. First, what problems will I encounter besides a new trans. mount cross member and reworked driveshaft. Second, where can I find the 2 original truck linkage bars between the lower column and the trans. shifter arms. My goal is to keep the truck as original as possible, use parts from that era for modifications and obtain good drivability on today's highways.
Andy
First off, welcome to FTE. Someone that has swapped to an automatic may have the rods you need. I have the steering tube for this but the rods were already gone. We would love to see pictures of your new project!
Welcome to FTE, from another NM member! Are you in ABQ? I also have a '52 and have the exact same rear bumper.
Right after I got my truck I figured to do the same OD swap, and picked up an OD trans at a swap meet. After measuring it up, I gave up on it. The OD solenoid and governor fall right on the trans crossmember, and the crossmember would have to be cut real close to the brake M/C area. For a lot less trouble (but not insignificant) a T5 5-sp can be installed, and no messing around with all the electrical the OD needs. The OD trans can be done, it's just not easy.
Thanks Ross for your input on the O/D installation and yes I'm from the Albuq. area. You are probably correct it would be more straightforward to go the T-5 route. My preference is to go with the Merc O/D unit since the work involved is within my capabilities and I can stick with period parts which I mostly have. Also factor in that I learned to drive on my Dad's 50 Mercury O/D sedan and there is a degree of nostalgia involved here. I will continue searching for the trans. linkage rods.
Also Rich, on the steering column you have, is the top part complete with shifter stalk, steering wheel and horn button? There is also a question concerning the turn signal arm. Did the 51/52 come with a factory install or was it a Signal-Stat clamp on unit ( like I have) that might be a replacement for worn out parts?
No factory turn signals in '52, but the indicating arrows are there in the speedo, can be hooked up.
I haven't gone the T5 route because I love the column shifter too. My dad had a '67 Country Squire with OD and I loved that, had to be a really rare option by then.
6v solenoids are hard to come by for the OD, 12v a little less so. Someone was rebuilding them but I'm not sure if they still are. It will be a challenge to hook up the switches to the throttle linkage, too.
I have to wonder if the Merc OD you have is the same one I sold about 12 yrs ago. I sold it to a guy in town. It had the cast iron bellhousing, weighed a ton.
Wow, that is a real south west truck. Something like that is only dreamed about here in the crustiest part of the rust belt.
I really like the headlight eyebrows and the rear bumper. (had the same one on my '51 and loved it)
That truck of yours has STYLE.
Welcome to FTE. Good to have you aboard.
Tom
All I have is the tube and the rods along the tube. Shift handle is MIA. Sometime back in time the 3 on the tree was replaced with the floor shift 4 spd. crashbox. My turn signal was/ is the clamp on style.
Good to know that the turn signals were not an option in 52. The parts text does list a TURN INDICATOR - LEVER ASSY. 13305 but it does not exist in the parts diagram catalog. Interesting. Maybe Ford thought about it but didn't implement until 53. Moving on, the Merc. O/D and trans. parts my Son found from a collector in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The guy mainly dealt in GM stuff and his Ford truck project ended up a low priority/ may never get to it situation. This parts set is a late 51 and has the separate 1 piece bell housing and the 4-bolt ford flathead pattern on the trans. attaching to the bell. I have read that they are not very common being produced for part of 1 model year only. As to the electrical and throttle connections I do need to do the research and I should look first at how the 53 F-100 O/D was set up. I believe I have most of the 6 v electrical stuff (solenoid and relays). Any pointers or suggested information sources would be appreciated.
I'm interested in what you come up with for the installation. I bought a 3 speed w/ OD a few years back to install in my '48 panel. My truck has a floor shift, which I like over the column shift so I'd have to find a conversion to use a floor shift. I have a Hurst 3 speed shifter and there are quite a few posts on the HAMB on how to make them work on a column shift transmission.
Good to know that the turn signals were not an option in 52. The parts text does list a TURN INDICATOR - LEVER ASSY. 13305 but it does not exist in the parts diagram catalog. Interesting. Maybe Ford thought about it but didn't implement until 53.
AFAIK, turn signals were an option for these trucks. Radio, heater, outside mirror(s), spotlight were options, so why wouldn't turn signals be options?
0A-13305 is the T/S handle part number for 1940 Ford Passenger Cars and 1948/52 trucks.
The problem is, most of the members of this forum are using the 1948/56 Ford Truck Parts Catalog, final printing 1964.
When Ford obsoleted a part, they would remove its part number from the catalog after a year.
And...the hood ornament on your truck is from a 1949/50 Mercury Passenger Car.
The dealer installed accessory grille guard is from a 1940 Ford Passenger Car and is very desirable to people that own these cars.
The chrome headlamp bezels are an auto parts store accessory, usually seen on 1949/50 Ford cars.
I believe the OP's question is really whether turn signals integrated into the steering column like modern cars were a factory option. None of the sales brochures I've seen mention turn signals, most likely they were a dealer option. There were only two steering columns, central and remote shift, and neither has any provisions for a cancelling cam. None of the wiring diagrams show any provisions for them, none of the bulb sockets have provisions for dual-filament bulbs. They would have required separate turn signal lights (like the fender-mounted types frequently found on them).
12-15-2018, 09:16 AM
