i have been working on reassembling my 56 f-250, and the bed is pretty much junk so i was going to buy a new one. since i am getting a whole new bed i wanted to convert the truck to a shortbed. i've looked up some information on the subject of shortening the frame but since i don't have the bed yet, i'm not sure where i need to cut and take out some of the frame. does anyone know the lengths of the f-100 frame or any bed dimensions? it looks like in order to have the rear axle centered with the bedsides that i will have to cut off part of the rear of the frame as well as the center. any help with dimensions for the cut would be appreciated.
Thanks, Josh

 

Scr8pin_f100

Hey,
About the frame shortening, I don't have the dimensions of the short box right now, I can probably get them though.. But I do know that the F-100's wheel base is 110". So, if you cut your frame to reflect those measurements, then you will be good. If memory serves me (which it seldom does) I believe your truck is 118" in wheelbase. So you need to take out 8", preferably in the "flattest" section of the frame, before the bed. One other thing to look at is this, you need to check the wheel openings for your front end, the F-250 I believe had bigger openings than the F-100.
Good Luck!!

Scr8pin_f100

 

Hey,
I think i can take that section out of the center area or the frame where it is the thickest. then all i will need to figure out is how long the frame extends after the axle. for the wheel openings, are you talking about in the front fenders? i believe the f-250's have a 1" higher fender well. i was going to be getting new front fenders for an f-100 and just get smaller tires so that there is no clearance troubles. thanks for the help.
-Josh

 

I just bought a '53 F-250 and I was interested in your comment about the fender well being 1' higher. I was not aware of this difference. Have you had a chance to verfiy?

 

i was unaware of this also until i was on the phone with Mid-fifty from arizona. i was checking if f-100 fenders were different, and she said f-250's had the taller ones to allow for the larger tires. i'm not absolutely sure but maybe someone with a shop manual might know....

 

Scr8pin_f100

Hey Guys,
I might need to retract my previous statement about the F-250 fenders being bigger than the F-100's. I have acquired an F-250 and I compared the fenders to other F-100's. I took some measurements of the wheel openings from the front of the fender to the rear and from the top of the fender to the bottom. (Kinda criss-crossing the tire).
Well, the F-100 and the F-250 fenders matched up.. So maybe I'm not taking the the right measurements or something, but they just might be the same. I'm gonna use them on my F-100, so I guess I'll find out!
I'm sure if we keep investigating this, we'll finally find out!
Scr8pin_f100