New member in western Colorado. Acquired a 1965 Ford N500 after retirement. Purchased the truck in Pueblo Colorado, and hauled it approximately 250 miles home over Monarch Pass. Been gradually working on the truck for the past five years. Nearing completion of mechanical restoration. Recently completed full brake rebuild, new kingpins, and front-end work. About all that remains is cosmetic restoration. Been holding off on paint and finish until all mechanical issues are resolved. As soon as I paint it, someone will come along that wanted a different color.

Truck has a 330-cubic-inch gasoline engine, 4-speed transmission, and 2-speed differential. Truck was used as a mobile-home hauler, also known as a trailer-toter. Short wheel base, huge fuel tanks, and a custom shop-built bed to carry plenty of spare tires for the mobile homes. Equipped with both goose-neck and bumper-pull hitches. Cab sits high enough to see traffic in the intersection ahead with many vehicles in front of you. Truck is a hoot to drive, and goes to show you can never have too big a pickup. Haven't owned another Ford truck since I sold my 1950 F1 in 1973.
















Don't see many of these trucks, and most of them have been well used. A couple of years ago, I needed a wiring diagram, and got one from the Henry Ford Museum. That's what I call helpful. Hope you like the N500. Thank you.

 

Out here in rural western Colorado, we have a lot of bible-beating, gun-toting, rednecks with a different point of view from the urbanites near the cities. Here are a few photos of the N500 from the August 2016 Delta County Fair. The judges in the parade seamed to like the decorations a few months before the last Presidential Election. Maybe the site moderator(s) will let the rest of you see them. Respectfully submitted. Thank you.

 

Have an original radio for the truck, but it's not the greatest and missing the *****. Also, have an old trailer brake controller that came with the truck. Writing on the trailer brake controller says: "Empire Electric Brake Co., Newark N.J."

 

Great looking N series you have. We never had them down here in Australia.

 

Thank you for compliment. Here's your chance to have the first one:

Wife says I'm not to spend any more money on the Ford. Still wanted to add twin-exhaust stacks, and maybe paint and finish. The severely weather-checked, 8.25x20, tires I've had on the truck during repairs and mechanical restoration are not suitable for high-speed, highway driving. New tires are available, but she said I could only put better used tires on the truck. Getting harder to find good used tires for 20-inch wheels Found some excellent 9.00x20 used tires for the front, but could only find some fair, but newer, without weather-checking, 9.00x20 tires for the rear. Also she did let me buy a new battery. The truck is titled, and currently licensed, plated, and insured. Have been driving the truck to local shows for some years. Will be listing the truck for sale.

 

Looks to me like you have widowmaker wheels.

No split locking ring around the outside of the rims in front, right?

Easy for me to say, but forget about 20s, Save up aluminum cans, sell some heirlooms and buy some 22.5 rims and 9R 22.5 tubeless tires. Might be hard to find for your 6 lug pattern, but just be glad you don't have the 5 lug!

 

Of course, you are correct; however since the budget account for expenditures is now at, or very close, to zero, will have to leave new wheels and tires to the next proud, happy owner. Tires to be installed are good enough to safely get the truck to all the local car and truck shows. Will definitely be selling the truck.

 

Couldn't mount the 9.00x20 tires on the old Ford wheels. Haven't found any other wheels to fit the six-bolt hubs. Would have to change the hubs to go to 22.5 wheels. Guessing will have to search for a reasonable set of 7.50x20 or 8.25x20 tires, but still would have to mount them on the old-style, two-piece, "widow-maker" wheels that came on the truck. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

I would be surprised if you can find anyone that will mount anything on those wheels. They really are very dangerous, and many people have been hurt or killed with those wheels. Some years ago, not far from where I live, a farmer was killed just airing up his tires. I had a rear outside tire and wheel blow apart while I was driving. Sounded like a cannon going off. It blew into the oncoming lane, passed me up, slowed back down until the wheel was behind me, made a right turn across the ditch, up a small bank, into a yard, hit a tree, bounced off, and stopped in the edge of the yard.

The outer half of the rim was still attached to the tire and the inner half was still bolted to the axle. The rear outer wheels are the dangerous ones since the part that blows off is facing out.. They can blow off just sitting there. Water sitting in the depressed part of the rim rust the lip inside until the air pressure blows the rim apart. Mine was on a 1970 F600.

If you ever do change them, let the air out before taking them off the truck, and air up the front and inside rears the same way, unless it's at a tire shop that has a cage for truck tires. After my experience, I'm afraid to get in front of one. I changed both of my outside rear rims and the front rims, since if the inside rims blew they would just blow into the frame. But, I had an International truck to get some side clamp rims from.

Don't underestimate how dangerous those rims are. Once you see the rusty clamping area where they fit together, you will bee shocked. Google Ford widow maker rims and click on images.

 

There are 22.5s with the 6 lug pattern.

There are locking ring wheels that take the tube-type tires that are safe when handled correctly. You still have to find a tire shop that knows how to work them, but they are a safe alternative to the WMs.

 

Found out 6-hole wheels from a 1974 D600 Truck will fit the Ford hubs. Had a set of 6 wheels and tires to put on the Ford. Will take photos tomorrow, and place a classified ad for the truck.

 

I see it in the Marketplace, good luck with it!

 

Thank you.

 

AM radio with transistors is the same: 1964/66 F100/1100 // 1964/69 N/NT500/1000 // 1964/72 C series Tilt Cabs // 1966/77 Bronco.

Note: 1961/63 truck radios look the same, but have tubes. No Bronco's until 1966.

 

Thank you for the reply.

Here are some more numbers for you:
Bottom of the radio: 5CD4TA-18810-AA, 260-449.
Data plate on rear edge of driver's door: N50AU699084, W.B. 121, COLOR C, MODEL 1505, BODY 481, TRANS. AF7, AXEL ?, MAX. G.V.W. 20000, CERT. NET H.P. 160, R.P.M. 3800, D.?.O. 51.

Thank you.
Tom Anderson