[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Jan-03 AT 10:41 AM (EST)]Okay, I've looked at the No-Limit video on installing a Volare into a 53-56 F-1 a couple of times and now I'm curious as to the difference in frame width of a 53-56 as opposed to a 48-50. I measured my 48 F-3 and it's 32 inches wide outside to outside at the axle centerline. Does anyone have this measurement for a 53-56 F-1?

 

I believe that the 53-56 is 34" wide, from front to back. I think yours is 32" in front and 34" wide in the rear.

Larry

 

Vern,,

the '53-56 is straight railed 34" inside from rail web to rail web...

I think the inside measurement from flange to flange is 28½" but I'd have to check that tonite at home

I'm sure on the 34"... I've measured that bout a hundred times


hope that helps..

john

BTW... my frame at least,, had a little variation from front to back, as much as a ¼".. figured it was just old age

 

John & Larry,

Thanks. The reason I'm concerned is that in watching the video on how to install the Volare in the 53-56 the steering box is really tight up against the left frame rail. So tight, in fact, that in order to box the rail at that point, they had to dimple it to clear the steering box. If my frame rails are two inches narrower, I'm wondering if the frame rail has to be notched to clear the box. Anyone out there who has put the Volare into a 48-52 know about this?

 

Yes the frame has to be notched but only on the top lip.You need about an inch deep cut on the top which can be tapered out to the front. When I did mine I made the notch then boxed it for strength there.

 

Vern

Your mileage may vary. I did not notch my frame at all. The PS box cleared my frame. I am pretty sure you will probably have to cut your narrower frame but sneak up on it gradually.

'fenders

 

>BTW... my frame at least,, had a little variation from front
>to back, as much as a ¼".. figured it was just old age
Probably from getting cut up so often.

 

<<<I'm sure on the 34"... I've measured that bout a hundred times>>>

John

Why would you post something like this? Now I have to go measure mine.

'fenders

 

<<<I'm sure on the 34"... I've measured that bout a hundred times>>>

Just for completeness sake, the T-750 and T-800 tandem axle frames are 34-1/8" front and 34-5/32" rear for 1956. I mention this for John just in case he's substituted a big rig frame somewhere in the loooong line of IFS clips and has forgotten about it.

George

Truck restoration - does the fun ever start?
See my 1956 F-250 in progress at www.clubfte.com/users/earl/index.html

 

OK, my clip is not tweaked out two inches as I feared after reading John's post. I am dead on 34 inches. Guess I got a skinny Volare. In any case, I have a bit over 1/2 clearance from the steering box to the top of the frame.

'fenders

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jan-03 AT 07:43&nbsp;AM (EST)]I must have gotten one of those Friday or Monday frames when the lazer alignment system was on the fritz and the lazer alignment system technician was working on the paint robots... you know how troublesome those robots were back in 1952... had to keep winding them up and pulling them out of the corners of the paintbooth...

I'm surprised that your's is that close DeWayne... did you just check front and back or randomly along the rail ?? with all the years of flexing I'm tickled to death that mine was THAT close...

'course you guys are amazed that I've got any frame left at all I guess... but your memories are as short as your strutrods... it ain't cool if you don't cut it up

George... I did round up a little on the measurements The actual inside measurements was 34.015625 front and 33.984375.... that is of course until you remove .345 pounds of air from the left front tire then they are the same... sheesh

later today I plan on installing my own original 1952 factory lazer alignment system/frame machine/ geshtookina ray gun ( I picked it up on e-bay) and check all these measurements. Precision should be on the order of .00000000021" plus/minus a 1/4" -- being a former precision engineer ( we set machinery) I live by the precision engineers motto "measure it with mics, mark it with chalk and cut it with an axe"



later John (cool with a 1/4" )

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-Jan-03 AT 08:17&nbsp;AM (EST)]Fenders,

If you have a 1/2 inch of clearance and your frame is 34 inches wide, then I should have a 1 3/4 inch deficit with a 32 inch frame. That's some rather serious notching, but with all you "precision engineers" like John out there backing me up, how can I go wrong?

 

John

I guess I better qualify "dead-on" I used a tape measure OK? I did not put it on a laser frame machine nor did I compress logarithms at any time. I measured in 3 or 4 places. Looks like everything is +/- about a 1/16-1/8 inch.

Vern

You will probably only have to notch the top rail. By the time you box it you'll be fine. Volare's have been installed in F1s many times.

'fenders

 

Vern

I got to thinking, you have to divide the 2 inch difference frame width in half. The Volare clip will be centered in your F1. One more inch of Volare clip on each side. Your frame notch shouldn't be too big at all.

'fenders

 

'Fenders,

Well duh! Math never was my stong point!