Steering and Handling Issues
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
The F100 had a 6' bed, with the 8' (called the "service" bed) bed optional, the F250 were all equipped with the 8' bed and step bumper. you could also get the side spare mount (with the scooped out rear fender) as an option with the service bed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 797
Likes: 3
From: Cape Coral FL
First the important news!
I got E.P. (the name of or newly purchased 54 F-250) home tonight. We drove up to Colton CA, from San Diego with my trailer and brought him home with out incident.
Second:
So, i was a bit stressed about the possibility of the bed not being correct. I did a little hunting around on the net to take a look and see what I could find that looked like mine. Here is what I found.
1. The bed is the same as mine. I have the three stake holders and the same larger rear bumpber. I have noticed that all the F100's have the angled bed rails, so perhaps it is something idigenous to the F250. 1954 Ford F-250 Pickup Truck Classic Car Pictures
2. This 250 has the same looking bed, with the three stake holders, but the rails are angled in this one. It almost looks, from the uneveness of the lines that they may have been bent up to mimic the F100 look. Can't tell what's on the back bumper to see if it is the same as mine. 1954 Ford F-250 Pickup pictures from good times photos on webshots
For all the searching I did on google images, the results for an 54 F-250 were very scarce. Seems everyone want's the F-100. Oh well, I like what I got!
If anyone has any good links to some pictures of 54 F-250 that have good shots of the bed rails, please let me know. Either way, I'm sure I can make it look right, once I figure out which way is "right".
Thanks!
Cory
I got E.P. (the name of or newly purchased 54 F-250) home tonight. We drove up to Colton CA, from San Diego with my trailer and brought him home with out incident.
Second:
So, i was a bit stressed about the possibility of the bed not being correct. I did a little hunting around on the net to take a look and see what I could find that looked like mine. Here is what I found.
1. The bed is the same as mine. I have the three stake holders and the same larger rear bumpber. I have noticed that all the F100's have the angled bed rails, so perhaps it is something idigenous to the F250. 1954 Ford F-250 Pickup Truck Classic Car Pictures
2. This 250 has the same looking bed, with the three stake holders, but the rails are angled in this one. It almost looks, from the uneveness of the lines that they may have been bent up to mimic the F100 look. Can't tell what's on the back bumper to see if it is the same as mine. 1954 Ford F-250 Pickup pictures from good times photos on webshots
For all the searching I did on google images, the results for an 54 F-250 were very scarce. Seems everyone want's the F-100. Oh well, I like what I got!
If anyone has any good links to some pictures of 54 F-250 that have good shots of the bed rails, please let me know. Either way, I'm sure I can make it look right, once I figure out which way is "right".
Thanks!
Cory
That is great that you have it home. Now you can have some fun with it.
The bed on your truck is most likely from a 1973 or later long bed.
Here is an F250 that is owned by another FTE member. He has a real nice gallery with lots of good pictures. I hope this is a help. 1954 Ford F250 4x2 - 1954 F-250
And also this is a link to a lot of great information on our trucks, with an ongoing restoration of a 1956 f250. http://www.clubfte.com/users/earl/index.html
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Virgina Beach, VA
Up Date
So here is an update on E.P.
I got him home Friday night and Saturday morning pulled him out of the trailer and began working on him with the wife.
The first concern I wanted to address, and had all the parts for was the brakes.
I opened the reservoir and as suspected, it was virtually bone dry. Actually, "mucky" would be a better term, but anyway, there was no fluid in there. So I set Jennifer (the '82 Wife) to cleaning the reservoir out.
Next we jacked up the front end and removed the tires and Brake hubs, cleaned every thing and removed the brake cylinders for rebuilding. They needed it for certain. They may very well have been the originals. The shoes were in good shape and didn't need replacing as the new shoes I had purchased were only marginally thicker. It's the parts you buy preemptively that you never need to use.
We did the same for the back and after bleeding all the lines we took E.P. for a limited distance "spin" to check out the brakes. Upon hitting the brakes with some force I discovered two things. The stock 54 can stop pretty well on its own. I was reasonably surprised. Now, it still stops like a 54, so I'll have questions about that in a minute.
The other thing I discovered is that I had adjusted the drivers side front brake, but neglected to do so for passenger front. With E.P.'s shaky steering as it is, we nearly completely crossed the lane before I got it back! WHEW!!! What an eye opener. So I pulled over, and hoped out with my trusty flat head screw driver and added the appropriate amount of adjustment to the passenger side and tried it out a few more times until the results were satisfactory.
Then we went out for a leisurely <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1
lace w:st="on">California</st1lace></st1:State> Sunday drive in our new project. It was fun! But that steering has got to be fixed! Oie! Some parts are on order, but I think I will need to do more then what I have. However, before we get into steering again, let’s talk Brakes.
Oh, BTW, post drive inspection of the brakes and cylinders revealed no fluid loss any signs of failure or defect.
Now for my questions, specifically, I want to talk about Power breaks and the dual master cylinder.
I know I can go and Google power brakes, but I would like some advise for my purchases.
I am assuming (out of ignorance) that I will need a power assist unit, and a way to hook it up. I would really appreciate some recommendations of where to buy from, what model is good, etc. Please keep in mind; I am not looking for top of the line equipment. I am on a budget of sorts, i.e. Dinner is a must.
Same goes for the Dual master Cylinder. What manufacture puts out a crap product vs. a good one?
Also, for both of these units, any advise about what additional parts to order so that I can do the job all at once, vs. realizing halfway into the tear down that I need, such and such and I have to order it.
Thanks for the help! I'll include some update pictures soon. We started working on dents and dings as well today after the brakes were finished.
Cory
I got him home Friday night and Saturday morning pulled him out of the trailer and began working on him with the wife.
The first concern I wanted to address, and had all the parts for was the brakes.
I opened the reservoir and as suspected, it was virtually bone dry. Actually, "mucky" would be a better term, but anyway, there was no fluid in there. So I set Jennifer (the '82 Wife) to cleaning the reservoir out.
Next we jacked up the front end and removed the tires and Brake hubs, cleaned every thing and removed the brake cylinders for rebuilding. They needed it for certain. They may very well have been the originals. The shoes were in good shape and didn't need replacing as the new shoes I had purchased were only marginally thicker. It's the parts you buy preemptively that you never need to use.
We did the same for the back and after bleeding all the lines we took E.P. for a limited distance "spin" to check out the brakes. Upon hitting the brakes with some force I discovered two things. The stock 54 can stop pretty well on its own. I was reasonably surprised. Now, it still stops like a 54, so I'll have questions about that in a minute.
The other thing I discovered is that I had adjusted the drivers side front brake, but neglected to do so for passenger front. With E.P.'s shaky steering as it is, we nearly completely crossed the lane before I got it back! WHEW!!! What an eye opener. So I pulled over, and hoped out with my trusty flat head screw driver and added the appropriate amount of adjustment to the passenger side and tried it out a few more times until the results were satisfactory.
Then we went out for a leisurely <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1lace w:st="on">California</st1lace></st1:State> Sunday drive in our new project. It was fun! But that steering has got to be fixed! Oie! Some parts are on order, but I think I will need to do more then what I have. However, before we get into steering again, let’s talk Brakes.Oh, BTW, post drive inspection of the brakes and cylinders revealed no fluid loss any signs of failure or defect.
Now for my questions, specifically, I want to talk about Power breaks and the dual master cylinder.
I know I can go and Google power brakes, but I would like some advise for my purchases.
I am assuming (out of ignorance) that I will need a power assist unit, and a way to hook it up. I would really appreciate some recommendations of where to buy from, what model is good, etc. Please keep in mind; I am not looking for top of the line equipment. I am on a budget of sorts, i.e. Dinner is a must.
Same goes for the Dual master Cylinder. What manufacture puts out a crap product vs. a good one?
Also, for both of these units, any advise about what additional parts to order so that I can do the job all at once, vs. realizing halfway into the tear down that I need, such and such and I have to order it.
Thanks for the help! I'll include some update pictures soon. We started working on dents and dings as well today after the brakes were finished.
Cory
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 1
From: Prescott, AZ
My suggestion for the brakes would be to first create a plan:
Do you plan on having discs up front or retain the drums?
Do you plan on mounting the M/C on the firewall or keeping it on the frame?
These questions are important because they determine the kind of parts you will need, e.g., residual valves, proportioning valve, type of M/C, etc.
There are many catalogs to give you ideas, MP Brakes is a good one. Most parts used will be from readily available off the shelf parts from various manufactures, e.g., GM, Ford, Chrysler, etc.
Do you plan on having discs up front or retain the drums?
Do you plan on mounting the M/C on the firewall or keeping it on the frame?
These questions are important because they determine the kind of parts you will need, e.g., residual valves, proportioning valve, type of M/C, etc.
There are many catalogs to give you ideas, MP Brakes is a good one. Most parts used will be from readily available off the shelf parts from various manufactures, e.g., GM, Ford, Chrysler, etc.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: AZ
Get a Mid-Fifty Catalog if you do not already have one...I have learned a lot reading it as it often gives the comparisons and breakdowns of the different parts and aftermarket accessories. Pictures/diagrams, you got it all.
Here is the link you can view the online catalog, or order a paper one to wear out like I did.
Mid Fifty F100 Parts
Here is the link you can view the online catalog, or order a paper one to wear out like I did.
Mid Fifty F100 Parts
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: AZ
BTW, I am using a frame model 8" booster and mc. Mine is about a 10 year old kit that came with my project truck. It was from Bob's F100's. This kit used a mustang II booster and mc that came with a bracket that mounted to the origional mount. This is a pretty common kit now, but most of the new ones seem to use a gm mc and 7" booster, pre valved, etc. and are very nice...midfifty has these too.
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