1953 C600
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1953 C600
Hey fellow Ford lovers, I am restoring a 1953 f600 COE - wanted to do a 6bt Cummins swap- have that all completed, but now I need to stop this thing😊- didn’t realize brake parts are soooo hard to find, so I am thinking about a better solution - ie- a front axle swap - or has anyone on here done that ? And if so what did you chose as a donor? My goal is to run Alcoa’s on the truck and possibly have disc brakes on the front. Hope I’m posting in the right location. Thank you for any help - Gord
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,350
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From: Maryland
Just what is a sterling. My power steering just went out and i had a power steering box with 7812269 on the saginaw box.I think its off a bus if thats what a sterling is? I found all i needed at NAPA . You should put a dual master cylinder on and if its under cab as mine is you will have to move it back some.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Mustang ,OK
Sterling is a (former) medium duty truck manufacturer with close ties to Ford and Dodge
JML
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Trucks
JML
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Trucks
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 910
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From: Mustang ,OK
Welcome Gord,
There have been a handful of folks plop these bodies onto E-350 / E-450 chassis.
You might explore the front axles out of a F-550. I've not dove into one very deeply, but having glanced at one with the front steer configuration, I think it could be made to work?
JML
There have been a handful of folks plop these bodies onto E-350 / E-450 chassis.
You might explore the front axles out of a F-550. I've not dove into one very deeply, but having glanced at one with the front steer configuration, I think it could be made to work?
JML
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 910
Likes: 8
From: Mustang ,OK
My avatar is just a photochop I did a few years back.
I do have a '56 COE but didn't get the chassis, sheet metal only.
It's simmering in the back of the shop as I search for the medium duty chassis that's right for me.
JML
I do have a '56 COE but didn't get the chassis, sheet metal only.
It's simmering in the back of the shop as I search for the medium duty chassis that's right for me.
JML
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Thanks JML- I struggle with discarding my frame only because I have seen a couple of projects where the motor ended up sitting too high in the cab, I know there are many guys that are capable of truly amazing modifications but I am more comfortable with working below the frame- lol. Just wish I could meet someone who has done a front axle swap on a coe - most modern axles are quite a bit wider, but I am convinced there is a simple solution. Here is a pic of my 53, and progress so far. Thanks to all
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 910
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From: Mustang ,OK
Wow. You've got a beaut' there!
A Merc, no less...
CN?
Discarding the frame was the nadir of the previous owner's ambition and precisely how I came to own mine so affordably.
In CA, TX, and OK, and probably others, it's a much bigger hurdle to resolve the vehicle title once you break up the VIN trio (paper, body, frame.)
I'd strongly advise against it unless you are fully educated with your jurisdiction's bureaucratic hoops and meeting them before they change.
As for your axle, I did come across a guy who narrowed a medium duty I beam axle to fit under his (70's?) F-350, IIRC.
I'll see if I can drum that article up.
I have a pretty good feeling about the F-450/F-550 axle working out for you. Spring pads and steering shaft angles are the two largest variables I foresee there.
But definitely do let us know what you sort out. This type of QnA is precisely what makes this forum, and more specifically, this board, the valuable trove that it is.
JML
A Merc, no less...
CN?
Discarding the frame was the nadir of the previous owner's ambition and precisely how I came to own mine so affordably.
In CA, TX, and OK, and probably others, it's a much bigger hurdle to resolve the vehicle title once you break up the VIN trio (paper, body, frame.)
I'd strongly advise against it unless you are fully educated with your jurisdiction's bureaucratic hoops and meeting them before they change.
As for your axle, I did come across a guy who narrowed a medium duty I beam axle to fit under his (70's?) F-350, IIRC.
I'll see if I can drum that article up.
I have a pretty good feeling about the F-450/F-550 axle working out for you. Spring pads and steering shaft angles are the two largest variables I foresee there.
But definitely do let us know what you sort out. This type of QnA is precisely what makes this forum, and more specifically, this board, the valuable trove that it is.
JML
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Thanks so much JML- yes it is a Canadian Merc, thanks for reaffirming that the decision to keep the frame original was correct. The body of this truck is truly amazing, it was found on a farm in Saskatchewan in the late 70’s, then restored by a family that had began their trucking career with a similar model. It has been stored inside and loved since that time. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be its caretaker for a while. My short term goal is simply to swap front and rear axles so that it is capable of being safe and fun to drive at hiway speed. Love this site, and folks like you that are willing to take a minute and pass on what they know. I will post front axle pics as they are available. Thanks to all😊
Cross-Country
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 70
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Since you installed the 6BT I would just add disc brakes to the front axle and install a dual master cylinder with a hydroboost. The cheaper but more labor intensive route is to use later model Ford disc brakes off a larger truck but the easier option is to use all Wilwood components and find a rotor hat that will give you the right spacing and drill it with the 5 x 5.25" hole pattern. Beautiful truck.
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Since you installed the 6BT I would just add disc brakes to the front axle and install a dual master cylinder with a hydroboost. The cheaper but more labor intensive route is to use later model Ford disc brakes off a larger truck but the easier option is to use all Wilwood components and find a rotor hat that will give you the right spacing and drill it with the 5 x 5.25" hole pattern. Beautiful truck.
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