I am new here and did some searching before posting, but couldn't find any answers. I have a 1959 F350 I have been restoring/driving for about 10 years. I don't know that I'll ever be done because working on it is part of what I like. Anyway, the problem I have sounds familiar to this group. I have a top end of 50 mph with 19.5 wheels and a Timken rear end that has 583? gears. The truck is not all original, so I don't mind switching rear ends. What options do I have to stay with the same wheels (6 bolt pattern) but get a little more top end. Any information or pointers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

First of all, welcome. I'm glad to see another big truck guy come aboard. Are your 6 bolt wheels the deep dish Budd style as would be used on a dual rear wheel set up? I must assume so because they're 19.5s and because that's the only 6 bolt I'm aware of on a Ford. That assumed, on my 52 F-3 M-H and on my spare 53 F-250 rear ends there are wheel spacers on the rear axle that bolt up to the normal 8 bolt pattern on the rear hubs. My adapters are for the older 5 bolt Budds, yours I assume are similar for the 6 bolt Budds. They are removable and could be reused on a later model Dana 60 or 70 to get you up into a 3.7 or similar gear that you're probably looking for. I think all the 8 bolt patterns are the same across the years. Everything I've seen written says that the 67 to 72 Dana 60s and 70s are a bolt in swap that require little or no adaptation. Stu

 

truckdog, My rear wheels are not dished out for dually. Certainly the rear drums are made to fit duallys, they are deep and the rear end has fully floating axles, but I may be missing your point on the adapters. Either way, does that make a difference for the Dana rear end? I could certainly try to forward a picture, but not sure how to do that just yet. However, getting into the 3s with gearing certainly sounds good.

 

Stu, do you mean there are 6-bolt adapters for the DANA 60 (or 70) axles, or that you can get 6-bolt axles, hubs, and brake drums for the axle? I've got a DANA 60 in my 1956 F-250, but I have the 8-bolt pattern.

 

These are pics of my 53 F-250 MH donor Timken rear and of the 52 F-3 MH Timken rear. If yours don't look like these, I'm no help. Its possible that Timken did away with the adapters by 59, but like you George, I'd think we'd be talking about 8 bolt wheels. I've not seen 6 bolt disc wheels on Fords. The only 6 bolts I've seen are Budds that have an 8 inch bolt circle and have the big 3/4" studs. The way I see this, the only issue here is retention of the stock wheels. Getting a Dana 60 or 70 to fit is I think well documented. They, though, will all be 8 bolt. Stu

 

Those are the same sort of hubs that were on the front axle of my F350 dually.

 

I'm sitting here with the factory Illustrations Catalog for the 48 - 56s and I don't see a good break out of how they're put together. I've thought, and seen it said here, that these are spacers. But I've not had them apart. It could well be that these are integral to the axle/hub and are not removable for use on any 8 bolt pattern. I'll have to defer to old hands that have really had them apart to know for sure. Stu

 

Stu, OK, now your reply makes more sense. I'm going to try to attach some pictures of my wheel and rear end....hope this works. Cy [IMG]wheel.jpg[/IMG]

 

If someone can tell me how to add a picture....it's worth a thousand words. I'm new at this. Thanks,
Cy

 

George did a thread a while back with instructions on adding pics. You might want to do a search. It's not simple to my view, of course I'm not Mr. Computer either. I opted to become a "supporter" which gives more freedoms and which makes it pretty easy. Stu

 

Stu,
I'm working on the picture part, but until I can get that going. Let me try to explain what I have. Your picture is very similar, but at the end of your drum you have the adapter you are referring to that has a large 5 bolt pattern. I have the same kind of shape without the adapter and at the next set of bolts back, I have 6 larger bolts that attach to my wheel. Does that help? Meanwhile I will work on the attachment part. I'm sure a picture is better. Cy

 

So it sounds like your drum/hub has only the outer set of 6 lug bolts. Do I have it right that you don't have the inner 8 bolts that holds the "adapter" (if that's what it really is) to the hub/drum? That would seem to add up because you've said you don't have the deep dished dually wheels. Your wheel mounting surfaces might not then come out as far as mine because of the lack of DRW off set. That still leaves us back at "go" with 6 bolt 19.5" rims that need to mount to a Dana 60/70 that will undoubtedly have 8 bolts. If there is no adapter on your axle, I think you're left with finding wheels to match the new rear. Unfortunately, that also leaves you with miss matched front and back bolt patterns. Unless you can dig around and find a different pumpkin for your Timken. That takes you in a whole different direction. If you can find a Hollander interchange book that goes up through 59 and into the 60s you might find other vehicle applications that used that axle. I've got a Hollander but I think it's for older vehicles. You might also check to see what ratios were optioned on your truck. Somebody out there would have to have pulled such an axle and saved it. Even if you came up with a 4.10 or similar it would help I'd think. I'll check my Hollander. But first, it's time for Illinois basketball. I'll be gone for a while. Stu

 

I've a conundrum for y'all.
The '58 F-350 that I traded to Father for his '58 M-100 doesn't have the look that y'all are discribing for the rear hubs.
The hubs look the same a regular 9" rear end, but w/ the 6 lug pattern sporting solid 17.5" rims & it has the Same speed limitaions as '59F350 mentions

 

My Hollander manual only goes up through 56. Colonel Flashman's rear end in Cy's truck might be the ticket. Assuming the same bolt pattern. Undoubtedly Flashman's ratio would be taller (lower number) than Cy's given the wheel sizes. If this is the direction you follow, I'd suggest a parts book for your truck and a Hollander interchange book to see what else was out there using it. Stu

 

The 6 bolt Dana 70's were used from 58-66 on the F-350's. In '67 they went to the 8 bolt pattern. There has been 3 versions of the Dana 70. You have the first version with the .625 ring and pinion offset. The other two versions have a .500 pinion offset so you cannot buy a new ring and pinion. I wonder if you could use a later dana 70 but swap the entire backing plates over. Find a '70-78 F-350 Dana 70 (You want the one with a large B cast on top of housing). Many of them have a 4.10:1 ratio and it will bolt up with no problems other than having to use a conversion u-joint. I have a '74 F-350 Dana 70B in my '51 M-3. I had to make to modifications to make it fit in my older truck but you should be fine.