I removed the bed from my 49 F-1 today. Aside from the large crossmember that the emergency brakes attach to going rearward I have just one crossmember which is located adjacent to the rear spring shackles. Is this correct or should there be another one in the middle somewhere? The one I have is bowed about two inches and has stress cracks at every rivet hole. I don't think I can straighten and repair it. Does anyone have a spare from a junked 48-52 frame? I may need a couple if there are supposed to be more than one. If not, has anyone tried replacing the rear stock crossmembers with something else? What did you use?

This is the first time I've worked on an F-1 frame. I am surprised at how flimsy the frame is compared to the F-2/F-3 with which I'm more familiar. The F-1 is only 1/4 inch channel but my F-3 had 3/8 channel. The top and bottom frame rails are also wider in some places on the F-2/F-3 than the F-1. I don't remember this being mentioned before as I thought the frames were the same except for length...

 

Vern,

Here's the diagram from the parts catalog:

 

Vern, you'll see the one that has the P brake attached to, the one in the very back, and the little angle iron one (just above it in pic) that I have no idea what is for, maybe a spare tire thingy back in the day?

 

I have the angle iron small one in the rear also.

 

The small angle iron was for the spare tire to pull up against.

 

HI - Happy 4th of July!

I just took the wood out of mine as well. This is the best all over picture I have. The bottom piece is the roller pan.

Hope it helps!



J!

 

Thanks for the pictures guys and girls. Apparently, I'm not missing any crossmembers. I even have the small angle iron one which I thought had to be something a PO had added...had no idea that was original. The one closest to the rear is the one that needs replacement. Anybody got a spare or have any suggestions as to what I should use to replace it with? If I have to improvise does anyone see a problem with welding it in instead of bolts or rivets?

 

I'd suggest bolting it in over welding it in. As an alternative, if you plan on moving the gas tank, then moving the crossmember will need to move anyway, and being bolted in allows it to move more easily. bobbytnm has done just that.

 

Hmm, I hadn't thought of a gas tank back there but you have a point. I will probably keep the original tank but bolting a crossmember in seems like the better choice....