Does anyone know where i can find the tracking width/wheel bases of the 48-56 models? from an f-1 up to an f-6. im looking to see which one matches up best with a 95-97 f-250/350 chassis.

 

There are actual scale drawings with meqsurements in the "Salesmans Handbook." I have one for 1951 (1948-1952 will be the same by type, ie all F1=Same all F2=same). And I've seen those drawings on FTE before so perhaps someone will scan them in for 53-55. And I believe for what you are looking for, 56 was the same as 53-55.

There is a thread currently going around about 48 truck beds that I posted a link to a third thread that has the pictures and measurements you are looking for.

I'll try to go get it and transfere it here for you; Standby!

Julie

Here ya go.....Go to page 3 and scrole through about the first four posts and you will see the drawings I was talking about. Maybe someone can send you the info for the 53-56s

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...r-51-52-a.html

 

Several people have posted the line drawings with dimensions for most of that stuff. I can't remember off hand who did but I'm sure they will see your post and let you know where to look.

I am looking at a similar situation with my '53 F-100. I'm not sure about the '48 to '51 but the '53 to '56 are shorterand much narrower than the '95 to '97s. Even the F-150s are wat too wide. If you happen to want to go with 4WD as I want to do, there are even more problems. I'm not saying it can't be done but you are in for one heck of a project. I have seen one that was posted here months ago and the wheels stuck way out. In front you can go with the wider fenders from F-700s or larger. For the rear you can fab up a wider bed that looks really nice if you have the skills and facility to do the work. That is also a way to keep from shortening the wheelbase because your can fab your bed to any length and fender position you want.

Later Man...

 

<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Hi Julie,
I figured you would see this and help out. You may have been the one I saw post it before. It's funny that I was thinking you would answer this when I was typing my reply.

Later Girl...
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<TABLE id=HB_Mail_Container height="100%" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 UNSELECTABLE="on"><TBODY><TR height="100%" UNSELECTABLE="on" width="100%"><TD id=HB_Focus_Element vAlign=top width="100%" background="" height=250 UNSELECTABLE="off">Nope Julie, that's not the stuff i was thinking of. I believe BobJ has that. I believe it's a link to a site with that stuff on it but I am not at my computer in the office where I habe most of that stuff book marked. I'm using the shop computer right now.

Later Girl...
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"Great Minds......." I guess.

I remember talking about different issues and those drawings popping up from time to time, but it happens far enough apart that I can't remember all the posts we past those drawings into. I finally have a jpeg of the 48-52 measurements (which are even more narrow than the 53-56).

And if memory serves me correctly, the Newer "F-" chassis are way to big for our bodies - that's why folks are using S-10 and Bronco Chassis'.

J!

 

my project idea is a 48-56 truck on a 95-97 chassis with a psd. ive seen several guys on here setting an f100 body on something like an explorer or a dodge dakota chassis. so i know right off an f100 wont work for what i have planned. also, the old f100's have a gvwr of something like 4700lbs. even if i could get it to fit on the 95 350 chassis i would be over my gvwr before i even get in the truck. i could title it as a 95 350 and get around the gvwr of the older truck, but id rather title it as the old truck if i can.

im ok with any amount of fabricating on the bed. i can make a bed any length or width that i want it. my main concern is finding a body style with wide enough fenders to fit the newer truck while also giving me enough gvwr that i could tow the occasional trailer with it. but i also dont want to buy something like an f700 and the fenders hang out over the tires by two feet and drag the ground.

 

julie-thanks for the link. it looks like they are talking about the rear fenders though. im not worried about the back half of the truck at all. i can make any size bed i want, and i can adjust it based on the width of the newer chassis. chances are ill be using a dually chassis too, so ill end up having to fabricate the fender flares anyways. my main concern is the front fenders being the right width.

 

Yep they were. But as I mentioned, on the third page is the line drawing with the dimensions and one of them shows the stance measurements. I know it's a "read between the lines thing" but thought you might be able to pick out some measurements from the drawing.

Hmm let me see if I still have it in the gallery...redownloaded it. See if this helps. If it does then I'll add the F2/3 drawing for you, and that will cover 48-52:



J!

 

As I said above, you can achieve the right width in front by using fenders from an F-700 or bigger It's a bolt on deal.

 

You will be lucky if an F-700 will be wide enough. It's the same cab as the F-100, the fenders are just wider. I have an F-350dually PS diesel. Believe me, they are wider than you think. If you plan on using a PSD you will have to get all the wiring, sensors, PCM and control modules and the original instrumentation and fuel system from the tank on. You will be extremely lucky if you can find room in that old narrow cab for all the wiring, instrumentation and electronics.

Another problem is the firewall on the older cab. You will have to cut back into it about 8" to 10" so that the centerline of the fron wheels will be where they are supposed to be. The later frames are much wider and the cab will have to be modified to accomodate the extra width.

Later Man...

 

julie-thanks for the picture. thats exactly what i need. theres actually not as big of a difference between that truck and todays truck as i thought there would be. the tracking width on the 48-52 is 60" and on the 95-97 its 65". and thats for the old f-1. if one of the higher rated trucks is 4 or 5" wider than the f1 then i could make it work. from what ive read i would probably run into problems with the smaller engine compartment of the 48-52 and would be better off with a 53-56. now i just need to find a drawing like that for for all the 53-56 models.....

dave-what i am actually thinking about doing is taking the newer truck, removing everything but the cab, and then cutting the cab off around the floor pan and firewall. that way, all thats left on my new chassis is the floor pans and firewall. then graft the old cab onto the new firewall and floor pans. that way i have a chassis that already has all my electronics, wiring, fuel system, newer pedals, motor mounts, cross member, etc. it will be a lot of work, but if they are reasonably close in size i can make it work. i just need to know what size older truck i need to start with to get the right width. that way im not buying one truck for the cab, then having to find another one to get the right width fenders, etc.

 

Hi Phillip,
I am involved in two projects that are somewhat similar to what you are planning. My son has a '53 and so do I. In both cases our plans are totally Darkside as are your's. I have done a lot of measuring that you won't get from the pictures and drawings. I own a PSD dually and I can tell you that it will be next to impossible to get all the electronics and wiring in the small cab because to graft the floor and firewall in you will have to cut awy too much of it which is already occupied with all that stuff you need. There are also a lot of problems related to the size of the engine compartment. The '53-'56s are not that much larger than the '48-'52 trucks if any. To use a '53-'56 cab the firewall has to be roughly 12" behind the front axel center. That is roughly a foot less than the newer trucks. I was thinking of sitting my "53 on an '83 F-150 4WD chassis. Even with using wider F-700 or bigger fenders on the front whick would take care of the tracking width I would still have to dog box the firewall out to the dash to get it far enough ahead to maintain correct position for the axel center. I think you would be far better of going with a larger series old truck and going with an older IDI 7.3 or 6.9 with a turbo and other modifications. They have some of those babies really cranking out the torque. I've got a 15 year old 7.3 IDI that has 256K on it and it will surprise you what it can do.

I really suggest you find some trucks and make a lot of measurements before you buy something. Where I live, as long as I keep the old trucks original title and registration I won't have a GVRW issue like you mentioned. If I were in your situation I would keep the truck titled and licensed with the bigger and newer truck and try submitting a body modification. That would be the best way to go as you are essentially grafting on an older style cab. Not that much different that radical customizing...

I'm not trying to discourage you as much as pointing out what I have encountered from owning and measuring these trucks. Not many are into serious mods like I am, and even those wo are more radical than I am will probably tell the same stuff I have.

Later Man...

 

Hey Man,
I finally stumbled across the link I mentioned. It has a lot of electrical info as well as other stuff. If you go almost all the way to the bottom you will find dimesaioned drawings of what you need. You might want to print this out for later ref..

http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/Re..._Material.html

Later Man...

 

dave-that is exactly what i am looking for. i appreciate you finding that for me. keep me in mind if you come across any drawings like that for the 350 and above trucks too.