Hi all;

The front discs are on the F-3, and it was not a very dificult task, with with help from Doug, who suplied the recipy.
The setup uses caliper mounts and calipers, and hoses from a 78 F-350. The center hole had to be machined to match the original spindle, then the mounting holes had to be pluged, welded and then redrilled.
The disk comes from a 74 dodge 1 ton dually and had to be machined down a small bit (diameter). The original 8-bolt hubs are held to the disc using 610-279 dorman studs. The hub is sandwiched between the wheele and the disc, the studs hold it well when the wheele is off.
The flex line mounts are off a 74 f-250 whish are placed about a inch to the rear of the original location.
The shocks had to be moved to the back side of the axle, which ment drilling new holes about 4 inches toward the back, for the upper shock mounts. the bottom mounts just bolt in from the otherside of the axle.I had to trim the inner fenders for shock clearance.

I will be finishing the plumbing and bleeding soon, then i will be putting some pics of the conversion in my gallery.

I hope this is some help to someone, because I noticed there are quite a few F-3's out there. I would be happy to answer questions, and supply more info, and part numbers.


Paul.

 

Congratulations keep the recipy handy when I come for the inspection ( to give it the A-ok ) I'll check it out.

 

Oilyowl,

So how has the brake project progressed. I am trying to do a similar job on my F4, but am not sure if it can work ..... the F3 and F4 spindles and axles are different. Do you have any photos done now of the completed work? It would be great to see how it all finished up.

Bob in Spokane, Washington

 

Bob
I will be getting pics up soon as i get them developed. All i have to do is bleed them, I am waiting with that till i get the toyota box mounted, just in case I have to move a line, I hope to have the toy box installed by next weekend, time permitting.
I am not sure how much of a difference between a 3 and a 4, What is the carrying capasity of the 4?

Paul

 

Oilyowl,

Thanks for the reply. I'll look forward to the photos. The difference between the F3 and F4 is substantial. The F4 is considered as part of what I would call the medium duty trucks. Many of the parts are interchangeable between the F4, F5, and F6 trucks.... particularly in the steering and suspension stuff. I have seen the F4 described as a 1 1/4 ton, the F5 a 1 1/2 ton, and the F6 a 2 ton. My F4 came with a dual wheel rear axle, and a stakebed. It also has the same running boards as the F5 and F6 trucks. Most F3 trucks I've seen are pickup types, and are described in the parts book as being 6800 lbs GVW rated, while the F4 with duals is rated at 10000 lbs GVW. The wheelbase for the F3 is listed at 122", while the F4 is listed at 134".

If it is convenient at all, would it be possible to share some measurements regarding the spindles on your F3? We might have to figure out how to do this directly via email. Let's try this .... think about how email addresses are structured. My first part is robertr, and then that little letter a with the circle around it, and then the isp provider is icehouse, followed by a "dot", and then "net". If you can sort all that out, it would be easier to work on this project directly.

Thanks,

Bob in Spokane

 

Bob;

Sorry the reply took so long, but, the front brakes are completely installed, making it imposible to measure the spindle. The f-4 sounds like it has a similar GVW to my 57, m-600.
I am sure that something will match up, or it should be possible to swap the complete axle, spindals, ect from a F-3. In that case I have all of the info, and pics too...Yes I will get them to the lab real soon.

Paul.

 

Paul,

Sounds like you are making real progress on the truck. I'll have to do some scouting around and see if I can find a local F3 to do some measuring. The axle idea might be a good way to go, if the spring mounts are the same. If memory serves the F3 axle is different than the F1, as well as being different from the F600 which I also have. I just don't happen to have any F2 or F3 trucks. It will all work out in time I suspect.

Thanks for the update. I'll look forward to the photos for sure.

Bob in Spokane

 

The axle is the same for the F-1, F-2 and F-3.

 

51 Dueller

Thanks..... that solves the axle question. The springs are different for the F3 than the F4, so I'll have to do some work on that issue. Now what about the hubs? Paul mentioned that the hubs were 8 hole? All my F1, F4, F5, F6 stuff is 5 hole, & of course with some difference in hole size and diameter of circle. Is it possible to use a late hub to fit on the old spindle? This I've not seen anything about.

......Still trying to figure all this out.......

Bob in Spokane

 

I wonder if you could fit some discs of an 80's grain truck. That would probally have the same bolt pattern.

 

How about swapping a complete axle and all from a later model F500? The big trucks changed the basics very little over decades at a time. You can also score a power steering setup.
Big trucks are easier to change things anyway, parts just weigh more.

 

could i put late 70s early 80s 1/2 spindles on my 51 f1

 

You could make them fit but you would have to use a '70's ranchero power steering box since the truck box may be to tall for your truck.