I will grab the numbers when I get back from vacation this Friday, and I really had no clue what the thing on the floor was until now, thank you. With that lever being an E-brake, there is certainly no aux. seems how I though the switch on the stick was for that purpose, and the lever for the rear end. I love it, I am already learning stuff.

 

Do you know how to shift the two speed? Possible to damage with the wrong method, so if it's all new, let us know and someone will post it out.

There was an explanation of how to do it on the visor of the '58 & I think I remember a metal dash plaque telling the tale on a '48 we had. Switch was on the dash & it was a vacuum shift on the 48, vs. electric for yours & our '58.

 

The 56 will have a metal plate on visor also. Bill

 

Our '76 International has a two speed axle, and the suggestion (from memory) was to engage the clutch, select your range, wait for it to set, and ease off the clutch. I could be wrong, but we still have the truck so I can look at it again. But if the entire thing is wrong for these older trucks, please don't hesitate to share! One more thing that needs some TLC is the cab corners, they are pretty shot.

 

The older ones are upshifted without the clutch. Pull up, wait a half second, lift the throttle, feel the shift, back on the gas.

Downshifted UNDER LOAD by pushing down the button, stay on the gas, stab the clutch in/out quickly. YOu CAN NOT downshift the rear axle without a load such as a hill or beginning to accelerate.

Split shifting is possible, but you need to get the hang of the truck/trans etc first, plus you need to figure out if 4th hi is taller than 5th lo. A very bad surprise awaits you if you split shift from 4th hi to 5th lo and it's geared that way....

The big bang and the back end hopping off the ground will make you think twice about goofing off with a 2 speed axle. If you're lucky, it won't break the first time that happens. (I'm pretty lucky....)

 

The door tag said the transmission is a 4-SYN, which is a Synchronized unit. The truck appears to have an overdrive tranny, but the 4-SYN was not an OD unit, was it? A year ago my boss noted that it did not have OD, but it did have High/ low range and a 2 speed rear end. The high/ low range has been ruled out, so he might be wrong about the tranny as well. I must wonder how much of this truck he really remembers...I am selling my pickup finally to make room for this beast! I will try and make my way to his place and grab the transmission numbers before I leave Monday, but if not I will try on the 8th of July when I return from my second vacation.

 

I don't think your unloaded mpg will be all that bad. I am expecting every bit that much with mine.

Mine will have a 0.71 OD in top gear with a 5.83:1 axle (high range) and 40" diameter tires.

I'll have somewhere around 2100 rpm in top gear (torque converter locked) ........... Empty, it should run pretty good! AND I'll still have low range if I need it! (8.11:1)

Loaded? well no truck loaded gets really "good" mileage....

By the way, I had all 4 drums turned, replaced ALL the wheel cyls, the brake booster and rebuilt the master cyl. and relined all the shoes.... DON'T SKIMP ON THE BRAKES!! It's not good to have a 7500lb vehicle that doesn't stop!!



Here's my engine and trans that will be in front of the 2 speed axle...

 

As a senior in high school and a freshman in college in the years of '73-'74, I worked at a lumber yard and drove F-600 Ford trucks to deliver lumber and building materials. We had a couple of mid '60's trucks and a few 70's trucks including a new 1973 truck, all with the 2=speed axle. Empty on a highway, they could go pretty good. Of course on a 4 lane highway I would get passed but I think I could go at least 55-60 mph.

 

Yeah. With my current 6.80:1 axle and direct drive I get about 3500 at 60 mph. (504 rear wheel rpm at 60)

With the 5.83:1 and o.71 OD it'll be less than 2100 at 60mph.

Of course it'll go much faster now but I won't going much over that speed....big trucks shouldn't go fast!! You have to stop them too....and although the brakes work pretty good now that I have completely rebuilt them, it's still a "single" reservoir system...

 

I wish now that I would have gone with the dual resevoir instead of stock. I drove mine recently and the brakes(new) are still not quite perfect. Bill
HT--WOW that trans looks like it came from a rocket launcher--haha

 

Nah, It came out of a 94 F-450! (the internals actually....the case is for either a 300 cu-in 6 or a SBF) The parking brake unit goes on an F450!

 

I am now here in Maine, reporting great news! I broke the ice on the subject of buying the truck last night with my parents, and they really do not mind. They would like to use it for a few things anyway, so I am buying it either the day I get back, or the next. I already called my boss and told him I was taking it, so there we have it. My pickup is in the paper, which will hopefully sell and grant me some funding for this large project. I will grab the tranny number when it is sitting in my garage.

 

I don't know about the ford but in an international with that shift pattern it is what they call a SHORT FOURTH five speed and you shift it 4th and 2 speed button down, then 5th with button down then back to 4thwith button up then to 5th with button up. it's a real popular trans for smaller single axle dump trucks back in the 60's

 

Okay, here is the deal. I just had my mother's boyfriend look at it, and he wants to know a few things before I buy it. We need to know if the pickup cabs and bigger truck cabs and fenders in '56 are interchangeable (I used search, and it appears to be so), if there are any suppliers of door glass, just in case the cabs are not interchangeable, and what to do with the wheel cylinders/ brake shoes. I took a look in the F-600 break topic, and it looks like the fronts can be bought, but the rears need to be re-lined. Thank you. Also, the front wheels are splits, and the rears are normal.

 

Door glass for the 56 is flat, so anyone can make it..

MidFifty and others have it in stock.

Sam