I just acquired a '48 F3 pickup. I'm familiar with the F1, but this is my first dealing with the larger truck. The wheelbase on this truck is 122 inches whereas an F1 is 114. It has a massive differential and gearbox and eight lug wheels. What I would like to do is convert this truck to an F1 if that's possible. There is no bed on this truck. I assume that the pickup bed that came on this truck is longer than one for an F1 since the wheelbase is longer. Is that true, or are the beds all the same. Has anyone tried putting an F1 bed on an F3 frame? Has anyone tried shortening an F2 or F3 frame to make an F1 bed fit it. I'd like to hear from anyone who has had any experience with F2 and F3 pickups. What other differences might I encounter from the F1 with this truck. It will be a street rod eventually, so the drive train is not a big deal. The main thing I'm concerned with is getting the body and bed to look right.

 

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The parts that are interchangeable between all models is the cab, inner fender panels, hoods and interiors.

The F-1s have their own front and rear fenders alone with their own box.

The F-2 thru F-6 share front fenders. The F-2 and F-3 have the same boxes and rear fenders.

The F-7 and F-8 share a wider grill and front fenders.

Transmission covers are slightly different for each size too but will fit with alterations

Bob Jones
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'49 F-2 pickup
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Bob, thanks for that information. It is my understanding that the only difference between F1 and F2/F3 front fenders is the wheel well opening. If that is true, can I still bolt F1 fenders onto my F3? I would prefer the smaller wheel wells since I will be using 15 inch wheels. Since the F2/F3 beds are longer than the F1, are the rear fenders also longer, or is it just the size of the wheel well opening that makes them different as on the front?

 

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Vern,
The front fender openings on the F-1 are smaller than the larger trucks. I had a set of F-1 fenders on my F-2 for a while and my 7.50X16 tire rubbed slightly when I turned sharp. I would think if you used 15 inch tires you would be alright. The rear fenders on the F-2/F-3 have a larger wheel opening than the F-1 and the F-2/F-3 fenders are also narrower. the wheel wells extend further into the box on a F-2/F-3 than the F-1. The F-2/F-3 boxes are wider and higher than the F-1.

Bob Jones
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Bob, thanks again. Just the fact that you have F1 fenders mounted on your F2 gives me hope I can convert mine. You wouldn't still happen to have those F1 fenders would you? Anyway, the main thing I wanted to accomplish is to be sure I could bolt F1 fenders front and rear to my F3 and it sounds like I can. Now, if I can just find a place to sell my F3 drive train and miscellaneous original parts I won't need, all will be well.

 

Hello Vern; I have a
Canadian F68.I'm not sure whether it equates to a F2, or F3, or what, but the manual in the glove box calls it a 1 ton with a gross vehicle weight of 6,800 pounds, and a load capacity of 5,000 pounds. It has a 122" wheelbase, and 17" (7.00x17 6 ply front, 750x17 8 ply singles rear) 8 lug wheels. It is very well sprung, and has a 450 gal water tank on the back. But the manual shows that it can be equipped with a 8 ft "express" box. That's probably the box you need to fit on the 122" wheelbase. Watch the running boards. The ones for the truck with the pickup or express box extend behind the cab to the front of the rear fender (hence "stepside") but mine stops at the back of the cab. What are yours like? If they are cab and chassis shorties like mine, you will have to make sure that you get the right length running boards. I don't know if the running boards for the 6 1/2 ft box will fit the 8 ft box.
As for the wheels, if you rod it you'll have the option of putting a new front clip on it, and a new rear axle, so no problem. I'm keeping mine fairly stock (in this incarnation, at least)
I'm going out this afternoon to measure up a 1947 ONE TON with a 8 ft. box. I'll checkout the wheelbase for you.
Let me know what you want for your spare parts, and let me know where you live. I'm in Ontario, Canada, between Toronto and Kingston. Good luck. Keith.

 

Keith,

According to a friend of mine who has a book on such things, your F68 is probably the same as an F4 or larger. The F3 was the largest and heaviest 3/4 ton available in 1948, but it definitely was a 3/4, not a 1 ton. My F3 also had 17 inch wheels originally and the rear axle is equipped for either single or dual wheels. I've found that the most obvious difference between the F2 (regular 3/4 ton) and the F3 (heavy duty 3/4 ton) is the size of the rear axle. If your running boards stop at the back of the cab, I suspect it never came with a pickup bed. My running boards extend quite a bit past the cab, so apparently I have the "right" running boards for a large bed pickup. As far as the running boards fitting the 8 foot box, I'm hoping I can just attach the rear fenders to the bed at a point that they will line up with the running boards...even if it means moving the fenders forward or rearward a few inches or so. What do you think? Would that work? Actually, I have a 56 Dodge bed that's about 7.5 feet long that came with the truck, but I'm not sure if I can use it or not. It's about the right length but I definitely couldn't use the Dodge rear fenders or running boards, so those would go up for sale. What do you need in the way of spare parts, or what parts would you be interested in? Do you have any spare parts? I'm open to trading parts also. I'm in Littleton, New Hampshire. Thanks.

 

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The story I read is that the F-3 was suppose to be rated at one ton but could not keep up with C&%$y's one ton so Ford designated the F-3 as a heavy 3/4 ton. I also think I read in the same article that the F-3 didn't come stock with rear shocks.
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Vern;
Just time for a quick note - working very long hours. I went out and measured a 47 one ton with the same wheelbase as yours. I took some photos too, I can send them if you'd like. The big box is quite a brute. It is 8 ft x 54 in and has partial wheel wells within the box, sort of like a modern fleetside. There's room in front of the rear fender, above the running board on the driver's side to hang the spare tire. The rear fender is slightly indented to accomodate the 17 " spare. The one I looked at (it's for sale) had a dump mechanism and the whole box dumped (it was a grain truck out west). I'll talk later. We'll probably be down past your place this fall. KB

 

Bob,

My F3 doesn't have rear shocks and there is no evidence that it ever had or does it have any shock brackets so that agrees with what you said.