Does a 48-50 shortbed exist?
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Does a 48-50 shortbed exist?
I have an oppurtunity to buy a mint , and i mean mint body for a 50 f-1. Only thing is the box has been cut short on the front but about 6 inches to a foot. It currently sits on a jeep wrangler frame. The guy selling it said that some trucks those years were short beds. I'm curious to if this was true or not? I have a frame and engine ready to go. All I have to do is put body on it but i'm unsure if the box will fit. If it don't would i have to cut the frame and drive shaft shorter. If it was shorter on the rear i don't see it being a problem. The running boards are cut short also.
Flyhound
Flyhound
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From: Ashland, KY
Yes they are short beds in 48-50. 114" is the wheelbase on a 1/2 ton truck. He has cut it alot to fit it on a wrangler frame. What type of frame are you going to use. If you want a good modern frame to use for one of these trucks you need to find a ford ranger frame. It has to be a extended cad long wheel base. (maybe a short wheel base) I forget know. But it is one of the two I know that for sure. It has to be extended cab, there is a difference between the two frames. One of the two frames will get you around 113-1/2" to 114-1/2". Either way you will have to do alittle work to the back of the frame. Anyway 114" is the wheelbase on a 50 model truck. If he tells you there is one shorter than that he is telling you a story!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: NM
It sounds like you are saying that the stock F-1 box (which is a 6'-6" "short" box) has been cut even further? Or do you mean an 8' "long" box was cut down?
If you have a stock frame ready for it, you can buy a complete, new, short box (or just new bedsides) from Northern Classic Trucks: http://northernclassictrucks.com/
They aren't cheap! Even the '51-'52 is almost half the cost, I wonder why?
If you have a stock frame ready for it, you can buy a complete, new, short box (or just new bedsides) from Northern Classic Trucks: http://northernclassictrucks.com/
They aren't cheap! Even the '51-'52 is almost half the cost, I wonder why?
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yes the stock box has been cut short. Where these boxes 8 feet to begin with? On the 50 i got at home it looks shorter than that. I have 4 stock frames but am unsure if this bed will fit. I also have 3 boxes but they are beyond repair. finding this box is a deal i can't pass up. We there really a short box. The guy was telling me to find a shortbox frame cause there actually was shortboxes for those years. I think i can make it fit, only thing i'm worried about it having to movre rear axle forward.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Minnesota
Are you talking about the red one on ebay right now? If so that body isn't stock. The hood has louvers in it and the bed has been cut down. The stock f1 bed is about 6 foot. The F2 and F3 had 8 foot beds.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Seattle WA.
Short Bed
The bed wood on my 51 F1 is 78" long considered a short bed, if there was anything shorter I would be suprised. I've never seen or herd of a shorter bed. If I were you, and I wasen't planning on a total restoration back to orginal. I would leave the bed 6" shorter and lengthen the cab. I would extend/cut down the middle of the doors and lengthen it. There was a feature article in one of the classic truck magazines a few months ago of a 51 with 50 style front clip on it. I couldn't tell it was lengthened till I read the article. I would love to do that to my 51 eventually. Or if not, you can purchase a new box Mar-K, or Pro's Pick there are several others but these are two good sources. If you want me to dig out that article and let you know where it is let me know.
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From: Ashland, KY
The beds for these trucks are not cheap. One thing people do is buy a bed for a 51-52 to put on 48-50 is b/c the beds on 51-52 don't have the imprestions on them. The front of the bed is different to. 48-50 have groves in the front panel. Later 50's had the same bed as the 51-52. These bed sides and front panel are flat. Thats what my 48 has on it right now, and it is the wrong bed for it. Luckly I found the right bed sides for it. All I need now is the front panel and I'm going to buy it from Early Ford. They have alot of nice parts. I seen the magazine 51fordfan is talking about. That truck looked good but that is beyond my ability to do. If you already have a frame ready to go. the beds are the same size from 51-72. The only things different is the back fenders and the tailgate. If you have got your fenders and tailgate, then the bed sides isn't that hard to find. As long as you like the flat bed sides.
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yes it was the one on ebay. I ended up buying it. I figure if nothing i else i can triple my money buy parting out the trucks. I got a f1 body on a jeep 4x4 chasis, a rolling f1 frame, a complete f1, and an f1 with everythign but box and rear end, plus a pile of parts such as new glass, weather stripping, crome. I know the f2 and f3 boxes were longer but if you look at the pics it sure does look like the f1 box is shorter than it is suppose to be. The rest is all stock. The guy who had it before him had luvers cut in the hood but the hood i have from my original f1 just needs to be sanded and painted so i can use that one if needed.