Not a big truck owner yet, but looking for the right '56 C series truck. Just missed one on Ebay a couple weeks ago. argh. I'm tired of hunting and am yearning for wrenching.

 

Mitsubishi Cabover has 5 lug 16in rims on it. It looks like it is big enough to fit my F-6. If I can find one parked long enough for me to get the measurements. If I can turn this F-6 into an F-3 just by changing the rims. Dorsey

 

That would be somewhat of a step back! But necessary if you want to avaoid the high prices of big truck tires etc!

That Mitsu lug pattern might be metric though.

 

Dorsey,

Your F-6 (and F4 - F5) have 15" ID brake drums on the rear. The brake drum's OD would be at least as large as 16". A 16" wheel won't fit. That's why the F4's have 18" wheels F5's & F6's use 20"ers. Our Trucks use a 5 lug on an 8" bolt circle. The Mitsubishi's won't fit. Search on my name for all postings. I have been researching big truck wheels as far back as 2000.

Fran

 

Fran,

Do you know if the older hubs will interchange on newer axles? I.E. 55 5 lug hub go on a 56 or newer axle etc?

I'm looking for a 2 speed axle and I'd love to know that I could go to a much newer axle ....maybe mid 1960's and still keep my 5 lug wheels. Also would like to be able to use the same 15 inch drums brakes and backing plates too. (it's all new)


I thought it might be a problem with using other wheels....I didn't even think of the drum diameter being a problem with 16 inch wheels.

His only option is to either find 20 inch wheels or go to a different rear axle.

 

Rick,

Your 55 F600 is much different than the F-X models. Most everything was changed and I believe not interchangeable. I not familiar with your "newer" trucks as far as axle, wheels, brakes, etc. goes. I do think, from reading here, that there are plenty of newer truck (60's, 70's, etc) parts that will work under your truck. As far as a 2 speed rear end goes, did the early F-600's come with them as an option? Sorry if I can't help out any more. I'm just a glutten for punishment for having the 52 F-4 .


BTW, Dorsey does have an option for other than 20 inch wheels. The old Dogde-based motorhomes of the 70's & 80's used 19.5" wheels with "our" lug bolt pattern. Of course these are rare and are probably very hard to find. Maybe after midnight .

Fran

 

Almost done with a complete restoration on my 1948 F4. Recently replaced the old crash box with a year correct t-98 transmission with pto running the dump bed. Everything bolted right up. Just needed to shorten drive shaft by 2.75". Anyone know where I can get a replacement shaft seal and seal retainer for the shaft. It is a 7/8 " shaft and the retainer has 3 bolts in the shape of a triangle. I am guessing it was sold as a kit. Not sure if the seal only can be removed and replaced. 5 years of work and down to a little seal!!
Thanks a lot,
Mark

 

I have a '52 F-6 and am using the '51 F-5 that I grew up with as a donor vehicle. I grew up with the sound of the 4-speed crashbox and am considering swapping it into the '52. The sound of that tranny is music to my ears.

 

did you try NAPA or JobLot?

 

Did your trucks both come as flatbeds? wheelbase? I have a short wb, and medium wb F6, and want to know the details to a flatbed for these, as I have an old Ford script flatbed, and would like to see how and where they attach to an F6. (I have one dump bed, and nothing on the other)

 

Havi; I haven't measured them. The F-5 has a 12' Obeco (Omaha Body Equipment Co.) grain box / stock rack on it. The F-6 has a 13' grain box / stock rack with the fold-up stock racks missing. Looks like it was a 14 foot or longer bed at one time, probably stuck out of the shed it was parked in and rotted off and was shortened then temporarily pressed back into service during a bumper crop in Western NoDak. Back end was pretty crudely hacked off and slapped together, then any potential grain leaks were sealed with expanding foam. The whole job says, "Hurry up we need another truck."

My dad bought the '51 in December of that year w/o a bed, then drove it over to Hoibe Body Co. (Mpls.) and had a grain/stock box installed. The truck was on its 4th box when we put it away 25 odd years ago. Used to haul malt for the cows from the Grain Belt Brewery in Mpls. That stuff rots the old wood boxes out fast. My uncle Harry was lucky to find the last 12 ft. wooden Obeco side and end gates in town in the late '60s after the malt trade disappeared. The truck spent too much time in Minnesota road salt and is beyond restoring.

I'm debating whether to put the 12 foot bed on the F-6 (I think it has the same wheelbase as the F-5). The steel Obeco frame is pretty sad shape but I could make a wooden bed to fit the stakes on the gates. That project is a ways off yet.

I'll have to scare up a tape measure and check the wheelbases.

 

Interesting history. Typical farm trucks up North, I s'pose. Wheelbases are 134" and 158" ( I have one of each), and then there's the long ones like school buses. My flatbed was modified underneath to fit on a '73 IHC 3/4 ton. Rail width is still 34", but the wood and vertical channel iron don't seem right, and that's where I'm looking at replacing first. Sorry if this thread is veering OT.