Folks,
Are any of the factory front suspension parts interchangable between these two series of F100's? Could a dropped front axle intended for the 53-56 be used on the 57-60?
Thanks,
Brett

 

Folks,
After pokin' my head under a 62 F100 I suddenly realized that the 57-60 front suspension pieces are more like the 61-64. Are they the same?
Thanks,
Brett

 

I don't know for sure but I suspect you are right that '61-'64 parts are the same as '57-'60. In catalogs there is always a break between '56 and '57 on almost everthing. I'm pretty sure the frames are a little wider starting in '57.

 

That's a negative on the '57 frame being wider. I recently bought a Mustang 2 IFS for my '58 and low and behold it's the same as a '56. The answer man at the company I bought it from had me measure all the dimentions on my '58, then told me they are the same as a '56. It all went in with no problems. Hope this helps. 460 joe.

 

Hey Kenny,

If the frames are the same width why is it hard to get a kit that works on the 57 - 60?

Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !

Charles in Pensacola

 

I too would love to have an answer to this! I have a '59 F100 that I am just getting ready (OK, OK maybe not quite ready...sometime in the next few months or at least by the end of the year - I hope!!) to drop....the rear as I understand it is easy enough, but the front......and I don't want to go with a subframe or anything of that type.....I just would like to find a nice dropped front axle to bolt on. Any body know if a 53- 56 dropped front axle would work? Anybody know where I can find a dropped front axle for a '59? Anybody know who will build a dropped front axle for a '59? Thanks.

Craig.

59 F100
91 Bronco 5.0 SVO
99 F250 V-10

 

If the frames are the same width why wouldn't a 56 axle fit?

Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !

Charles in Pensacola

 

It prolly would fit, unless there is some difference in the way that the spring perches on the axle.......I'm not that familiar with the '53 - '56 trucks so I dunno.....Hoping that someone else may have been down that road or just has all that info stored in their brain!

Craig.

'59 F100
'91 Bronco 5.0 SVO
'99 F250 V10

 

>Hey Kenny,
>If the frames are the same width why is it hard to get a kit that >works on the 57 - 60?
>
>Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !
>
>Charles in Pensacola

Hi Charles,
I wish I knew the answer to this one.
Unfortunately I am nowhere near as familiar with the '53-'56 models, as I am with the '57-'60 (not that I know all there is to know about them either) , So I'm afraid I'm not much help here.
I suspect there must be some differences other than frame width as Craig sugguested. It seems the '57-'60 has not been as popular of a restoration choice until more recent years. As demand increases, hopefully these kits will become more readily available. (All speculation on my part of course).
Sorry I wasn't much help.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Jul-02 AT 01:53 PM (EST)]Here are the frame measurments as given by Ford in the shop manual.
This is for the 1957 F100, F250

Width............................................. .............34"
Front end dip............................................1 3/4"
Rear end kick up...........................................2"
Center to center frt spring hangers.........44 5/32"
Center to center rear spring hangers.....51 21/32"

Does any one have a 56 shop manual?

Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !

Charles in Pensacola

 

>Here are the frame measurments as given by Ford in the shop manual.
>This is for the 1957 F100, F250
>Width............................................ ..............34"
>Front end dip............................................1 3/4"
>Rear end kick up...........................................2"
>Center to center frt spring hangers.........44 5/32"
>Center to center rear spring hangers.....51 21/32"


From the 56 shop manual:

F-100
Width............................................. .............34"
Front end dip............................................2 3/4"
Rear end kick up...........................................2"
Center to center frt spring hangers.........41"
Center to center rear spring hangers.....47 35/64"

F-250
Width............................................. .............34"
Front end dip............................................2 3/4"
Rear end kick up...........................................2"
Center to center frt spring hangers.........41"
Center to center rear spring hangers.....47 27/32"

George

 

Thanks George,

That pretty much settles it. The frames are the same width. There is a difference in the spring length (based on Mounts)of 3 5/32" and front end dip 1" with the 56 dipping more.

If the track width is the same then you would think a drop axle for the 56 would work on the 57 - 60. Someone should know they answer to this. Unless there is a major difference in the axle mounting why wouldn't it work? Is there a big difference in the way the steering hooks up between 56 and 57 - 60?

On the subject of Mus II IFS unless the frame is taller I don't see why a 56 kit wouldn't work. I will measure my frame height and post it and maybe someone with a 56 can put a tape on theirs. I'll also measure track width (cen to cen tire).

Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !

Charles in Pensacola

 

I don't have a 1957-1960 manual and you don't have a 1956 for direct comparison. Tell you what - here is the exploded view of the 1956 axle and steering from the shop manual. Compare and tell us what you think.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6849&.jpg

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=6848&.jpg

George

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-Jul-02 AT 08:35 PM (EST)]George,

The bottom picture is of a F350+. The Rear spring mounts are different on the larger trucks. On the top picture the
Steering sector shaft arm, Drag link, and spindle arm
are different. Also the spindle is different. If the
king pins interchange allowing you to put a 57 - 60
spindle on the 56 axle it would probably work.
It "LOOKS" good.

I can't find the king pin specifications. Does any one
have a old suspension parts book with king pin
specifications?

Restoring at the speed of a slow sick snail !

Charles in Pensacola

 

Now don't quote me on this BUT....I was checking a while back on a disc brake conversion for the front of my '59 F100 and everything I found pointed to identical king pin specs for a '59 and the earlier '53 - '56 trucks. Can't remember now how I came to find that out. Might have been through talking with the guys at C&G Early Ford Parts.....I think they may have checked the specs for me......can't remember for sure.......