Not to just to butt in, but hopefully add to your discussion. My older brother bought, and drove as a broker, an 57 F-700 series dual tandem axle truck. He owned and operated that truck through 1961. So I do have some memories of that tractor. It had some really wide and flared fenders with rubber flares outside of those fenders. Before that, he owned a 56 F-600 tractor. Same engine and transmission as he recalls, not for sure about displacement though. The cab-chassis wasn't big enough to accommodate pulling a three axle coal dump trailer, so he up sized when the 57 models came out. It had a big list of upgrades (no recollection of exactly what, but that he had to get the F-700 series truck to have them) that made the 57 more useful to his work and pull that trailer. He also owned a van, I think it was 47 foot long. I think he said the truck engine had a 332 cid engine. Does that sound correct? I don't really know, I'm 58 now and he's in his 70s. So things have gotten the minor shuffle with life's lessons...

 

The 52-55s biggest truck engine was the 317. In 56, they upped both to a 302, and a 332. Big old beasts of trucks. With Ford seeing a large number of their trucks being used for Commercial use, it seems that each year back then would of been trial and error. More options available in the next model, to stay in the game with other producers of commercial use trucks. Though they couldn't probably compete with the Peterbilts, and Freightliners, and such, they filled the void for short line, and local hauling needs. Seeing a nicely built F-100, it's almost common place now. Seeing some of the "real" trucks of the era, it's a treat. Seeing the light duty commercial rigs (F-500/600), and the heavy duty commercial rigs (F-700 thru 900+) it's just amazing.

 

Yup! I was a kid with a brother that had a couple "out in the driveway", so to speak. The trucks and trailers were there, just in an adjacent driveway across the yard, parked parallel to the street we lived on. Easy in, easy out!

The real treat for me was, he didn't own a car for most of those years. So if he wanted to go somewhere besides work, he took me in the truck! Being 7-11 years of age at the time, that was BIG stuff!

 

Thanks for the info i was trying to firgure out if the fenders on the f-600 were bigger than the f-100. i wonder if the f-600 cab would fit on a smaller size frame .

 

Hi,

I'm not an "expert" by any means, but I am extremely familiar with the '57-'60 era "big" trucks and their differences. A friend and fellow Ford nut had purchased a fleet of them brand new (he still has them). Various sizes, and years. A few F-500, F-600, but most are F-700 up. Another friend of mine has a few as well, a couple are tandems.
My dad has always been obsessed with the '57-'60 Big trucks over the years, and actually drove them back in the early sixties. He has just completed an extensive ground-up restoration on his '60 F-1000 single axle tractor.

Through comparison, restoration, extensive research, and memory, I have found the following to be true..........................

1957 was the last year for trucks badged as "Big Job". They became badged as "super Duty" in 1958, when the Super Duty engines 401, 477, 534 were designed for the 1958 model year.

Including 1957, All light duty trucks had standard fenders. Medium duty trucks had fenders that were narrower at the top (bigger wheel opening) to accomodate the bigger wheels (ending at F-600).
Heavy Duty trucks (F-700 and up) were the only ones that had the wider, longer "fat flared" fenders.


The cab is the same between F-100 and F-1100, but the floor pan is different. The 1957-1960 hoods for the F-700 & up are the same. Though they resemble the '57-'58 model year pickup hood, they are actually 7" longer.

The only differences between the F-1000, and the "heavier" F-1100 are the front axle, fenders, and badges. The F1100 had the heavier front axle. The fender on the F-1100 had a slightly different reveal around the wheel opening than the F-1000. In fact, If you didn't have them side by side to compare, you would probably never notice, except the F-1100 fender was re-inforced on the backside with a metal "rod" that ran around the entire wheel opening.

1957-1960 F-700 & up shared the same front valance (3 round vent holes)
1957-1960 F-700 & up shared the same hood
1957-1960 F-700 & up shared the same fenders (except F-1100 which were unique). T-950 (Tandem) with the big front axle used F-1100 fenders as well.
1957 F-100 & up shared the same grille unique to 1957
1958 F-100 & up shared the same grille unique to 1958
1959 F-100 & up, and 1960 F-700 & up shared the same grille unique to 1959.

Here are a few pics of '57 F-600 trucks.....









If you like big '57-'60's, check out my gallery links......................................

"My dad's '60 F-1000"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=34737

"Ford big trucks" (This is only a small part of the above mentioned '57-60 fleet)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=38885

 

Those are purty. I know far more about the 53-56 Big Jobs, than the 57 and up trucks. I wasn't sure which year took over as the Super Duty but knew it was between 56 and 60. So, with your input, and the rest of us few that are into the big trucks, I think we pretty much have the 48-60 big trucks covered. We really should have a sub forum, just for us. I wouldn't mind having one or three or six of them trucks you're talking about......

 

That's the ticket Kenny. I forgot about the three big round vent holes below the grill. Good to have a picture of the beast. I've looked, but it's a mystery where all the pics we took back then went to. Probably the recycler...D'oh!

 

HI all here! I love the looks of the older Fords I curently have 5 ford trucks. With the oldest a 1957 F-600 Flatbed with the 312 V8 and a 4 speed, and the newest a 1993 F-250 Supercab 4X4 diesel, automatic, I also have a 1960 F-600 Flatbed boom truck with the 2V 292 V8 and the 4 and 2 speed, a 1973 F-750 Snow plow dump truck with the 4V 391 Industrail V8 and the 5 speed main and 2 speed rear, and last I have a 1986 F-150 4X4 with the EFI 351 and auto tranny. I also have a couple trucks I'm parting out, a 1993 F-250 4X4 and a 1983 F150 4x4.
You might say I'm a ford fan as I also have 2 1998 Explorers and a 2000 Escort. In the past I have owned almost every kind of Ford made.
From T-birds to Mustangs and Pintos to Torinos. Also had many trucks one of my favs was a bright red 1966 F-100 with a 390 and 4 speed that I used to haul my race cars around with. I had a 1965 Mustang k car with a 289 and a 4sp I ran in the hobby stock class and a 1971 Mach1 fastback with a Boss 351 Clevland in it I ran in Figure 8's. I also had a 73 Torino I raced.

I'm looking for parts for my 73 F-750. Like inner and outer fenders and running boards if any of you know where to get some and my 57 F-600 is for sale if anyone is interested. If you know of any parts for my truck u can email me at fishnfoollures@verizon.net

 

The 312 Y-Block was only used as a replacement in late '58 in the F-100/250/350s when the Ford plants ran out of the 292 Y-Blocks. Standard blocks for the '57 was the 223 I6 & the 272 Y-Block.
As I recall the standard engines for the larger trucks was the 223 I6 & the BBF 302 v8.