With the help of many of you on this forum, I now know how to gear-up my 52 F2, and will be installing a 9” rear this winter (anybody in MN have one 4 sale?).

With my 8 bolt wheel pattern, I do not have much choice in rim style, so now I’m thinking: What if I went ½ ton instead ?

Obviously with changing out the rear, this would be a good time to go 5 bolt,(much easier to find, and more wheel options)

Now let’s address the front: Will ½ ton shoes and drums work on my spindles, or would I have to replace the spindles themselves (sounds spendy) ?

I don’t have the option of going to the disc brake conversion at this point in time

My thanks to Christofer2 for his post of Oct2 about using a F1 disc kit on his F3 for giving me this thought!!

 

Check into swapping to a 53 or 54 F2 or F3 front spindles & brakes, and rear brakes. Checkout www.bonusbuilt.com ask for chuck from chucks trucks. I think he has made this conversion. Drums and parts are available for this swap unlike the 51 & 52 parts.

 

Yes, you can swap the brakes on front to F-1's. You don't need to change spindles, but everything else does. Backing plates, drums, bearings, shoes, wheel cyls and hoses . You'll need the hold down hardware also. The axle and spindles are the same from a F-1 thru F-3. If those parts are ok, leave them as they are.

Barry

50 F-1

 

Thanks Gents, that's what I needed to know. I think I'll go ahead and go for the F1 rear and front. If anyone in the Minnesota area has any of these parts - please send me an e-mail (or if anyone needs the 3/4 ton parts-also let me know)

 

I am not sure about the fit, I have a 1950 F1 I am using for parts. It has a complete front axle under it, if it will work send me an E-mail.

 

It will work! I checked my parts book and here's what it shows:

King pin kit. # 21A 3111-B Models C, D, Y ( F-1, F-2, F-3 )
Spindle R/H 7HY 3105 Models C,D, Y
L/H 7RD 3106 Models C,D,Y
Axle 7RC 3010-B Models C,D,Y

Can't get any plainer than that! If they were different, Ford would list separate part numbers. ( ex-Ford parts manager, 20 yrs) The front GVW ratings on each truck model is based on the springs, not the axle. THe brake parts are what is different, not the axle.

Barry

50 F-1

 

I new that 1948, 1949 and 1950 front axles were the same across the F1,F2 and F3 was not sure about the 51 and 52 now I know.