I am hoping to soon take delivery on this F2, which was my grandfather's. It has been parked now for over 25 years and is somewhat decent shape.
I am completely undecided as what my intentions are with the truck.
Here is what I am decided on:
1. It will not be a show truck
2. It will be used as an everyday truck (ie: trips to the hardware store, lake, car shows, everyday kind of things.) But I would still want it to be in somewhat good shape.
3. It will have a different Ford engine. I don't want to keep the current engine, because I don't even know if its good anymore. Plus I want to use regular unleaded gas.
4. I am open to any ideas, and I also very curious to see how/what kind of Mustang parts they have on their trucks

Also I have an 1987 Ford Mustang with 5.0/5spd and 5 lug/4 disc conversion that I am seriously thinking of using as a donor car. Has anyone tried this? Not just the engine or the EFI system I am referring to switching in the K member and 8.8 axle from a Mustang into a truck. It would be nice because then the truck would have stellar brakes and have many rim options and brake upgrade possibilities. But the truck would ride more like a car......... IDK. I don't even know if the K member would even come close to bolting in.

 

Welcome to the board.

I have a '49 F-2 which was my dad's truck when I was a kid. I restored the truck about 15 years ago to as close to stock as possible. It's not a show truck, I build my vehicles to drive. I drive the truck as much as the weather allows, I live in SE WI so I get the same weather as you do up in MN, so the truck is stored in the winter.

I enjoy driving the truck as is, if I want a soft, plush ride I take my daily driver, a '04 Dodge 1500 4X4. I like the character of my F-2 with the hard ride, double clutching and low power engine. Why don't you see if the engine is good or repairable before deciding to pitch it? Get it running if possible and drive it around a little to see what it's like. I think you would be surprised at how much fun it is to drive it stock. As for unleaded gas, SE WI has some of the crappiest formulated gas in the nation and I've never had a problem running it through my stock flathead six engine. As for swapping the Mustang parts into your truck, I think they're going to be way under strength for that size truck. There are quite a few guys on this board who have swapped in parts from the smaller F-1 trucks but I think the Mustang parts are going to be too weak.

That all being said, it's your truck and you're the one who has to decide what you're going to do with it. I'm bias, I like stockers, but there many who go modified. No one can tell you which way to go. Enjoy the truck any way you go.

 

Hi and Welcome!

There's lots of good ideas floating around here. I'm sure you will find a lot of them!

 

Using the Fox Mustang front suspension isn't really a viable option for transplant into our trucks. Because of the McPherson struts they use instead of an upper control arm, you would need to build a cage around the engine compartment, NASCAR style, for them to attach. Then there's the whole issue of it being about 4" too narrow...

You would be far better off parting out the Mustang and using the money to buy the parts you need to get the truck operational, or if you're intent on modifying it, to get the correct parts to do the job right. There's a lot of great options that would make the truck ride more car-like, that are designed and engineered for the application.

Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your "new" truck. ;-)

 

Alright, good start.. lots of good info.
Wasn't too sure about the Mustang idea, I thought it was kind of far fetched but good to know ahead of time that its not even remotely easy.
Isn't the stock transmission and axle ratio, thats in these trucks, not highway speed friendly? I am hoping to drive this truck, eventually, 60 mph+ and from what I have read these trucks sound like they are going to blow up around 40mph.

 

The F-2 are low geared and mine starts to whine around 55 mph. The easiest upgrade you can do is swap in a pre '73 axle from a F-250 with higher gears. It's basically a bolt in swap. There a few member who have or are in the process of doing it. Since you have less than 25 posts you can't use the site search feature but you can get the same results, if not better, using google. Go to Google advance search, enter Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 1948-2011 Ford F150, Super Duty & SUV owners community and information source. Covers F100, F-150, F250, Bronco, Ranger, Explorer, Expedition, Lighting, Escape and More in the domain box and then use "axle" "swap" and you should find a bunch of posts.

 

I am building my 2nd F truck, this one is for the wife. It's a 1949 F-3, I already installed the Volare front with the steering box, will be running a 4.9 (300) six with a C-4, and have a 97 Explorer rear end, it is presently on the trailer in the side shed because my Cobra build has taken over the shop. My 1st F truck also had Volare suspension but I adapted a Citation rack to it, worked fine but lost some turn radius, that one had a 351w and C-6. These trucks are very easy to build and parts are available from many sources, build it the way YOU want and enjoy it.

Carl

 

Did you get the truck? If so, what does it have for an existing engine?

Please post pictures.