First time F-1 owner (hopefully)
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Joined: Aug 2013
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First time F-1 owner (hopefully)
Hey Guys! I just joined this site. I have been looking for an f-1 ford for quite some time and I think I have found the one I want. It is a 1950, mounted on a 1996 Explorer frame. I have a few questions about it before I commit to buying it. First off, is the Explorer frame conversion a popular conversion? What are some of the downsides to this conversion? Second, about the 12 volt conversion, is that easy to do? The truck has no engine and transmission and I would be putting a 302 and AOD in it. Third, does the master cylinder have to mounted on the frame rail, or can it be mounted on the firewall like newer trucks? And lastly, how easy is it put a tilt sterring wheel in it and how would a new tilt column hook up to the Explorer steering box? Any information is greatly appreciated. I'm looking forward to a fun project!
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,188
Likes: 4,792
From: Burbank, WA
Welcome to the forum, and good luck with your project. I think you're going to need it. My best words of wisdom here would to be think really long and hard before jumping into this, and then think again if you're still considering it. 99% of frame swaps don't go so well, and most who try them end up trying to unload their abortion onto some unsuspecting, inexperienced sucker. No offense. There's typically a lot of hackery and backyard engineering that goes on with these kinds of deal, which leaves a really big mess, and more often than not you find you have nothing more than a large pile of scrap. Unless you really know what you're doing or looking at, it's best to find yourself a better, less cobbled and more safe starting place.
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The more I think about it, the less I like this particular truck. There are several other trucks that I have been keeping on eye on to buy. A couple of them have the Volare from clip on them, is that a good/reliable swap? Just curious, why is the Ford Explorer frame swap so difficult?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 4,995
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From: u-rah-rah Wisconsin
Welcome to FTE!
The answer to your question about the Explorer swap is really 52 Merc's: 99% of frame swaps don't go so well. The issue isn't 'will it fit' and is more correctly 'will it work?' Trying to graft a body from an old truck onto to a more current vintage frame is fraught with small stuff: the MC location, the steering box, the pedal mechanisms, the shifter, and so it goes.
None of this stuff has to be a show-stopper by itself - typically (as I have read and seen) the accumulation of the tasks, along with the fab skills of the owner (this would be my limitation), the time demands for completion, and the owner's budget can all coagulate into a pretty strong barrier for all but the most capable, cash available, and time committed.
As a more novice owner, I would suggest you find a truck that runs and drives. Ideally, this will give you a chance to just put some miles on it - while beginning to develop a sense of where you want to go with it - and a better sense of the work it will take. You really don't want to become an owner of a vehicle that is years away from the road - this is more than most are ready to tackle. Would have been the case for me.
Good luck with your search.
DW
The answer to your question about the Explorer swap is really 52 Merc's: 99% of frame swaps don't go so well. The issue isn't 'will it fit' and is more correctly 'will it work?' Trying to graft a body from an old truck onto to a more current vintage frame is fraught with small stuff: the MC location, the steering box, the pedal mechanisms, the shifter, and so it goes.
None of this stuff has to be a show-stopper by itself - typically (as I have read and seen) the accumulation of the tasks, along with the fab skills of the owner (this would be my limitation), the time demands for completion, and the owner's budget can all coagulate into a pretty strong barrier for all but the most capable, cash available, and time committed.
As a more novice owner, I would suggest you find a truck that runs and drives. Ideally, this will give you a chance to just put some miles on it - while beginning to develop a sense of where you want to go with it - and a better sense of the work it will take. You really don't want to become an owner of a vehicle that is years away from the road - this is more than most are ready to tackle. Would have been the case for me.
Good luck with your search.
DW
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,793
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From: Austin
Hey Khann
Welcome! Hmmm... We've got a 1950 F1. It's a lot of fun & work to get them all working. Generally it's much easier to stick with the original frame so everything fits correctly.
We put a 2001 Explorer 8.8 in. rear axle in the back of our's. It's a very common swap or a Ford 9 inch. Probably a 2 weekend job. It gave us 3.73 modern highway gearing, rear disc brakes, & posi trac. (Stick with the original Ford F1 frame & just change what hangs off of it if you want).
We are running a 351Windsor engine with an AOD transmission - pretty much any engine will fit in these trucks. Personally having gone through this process I'd look for a rust free cab as my #1 priority, a stock frame or one with a mustang II style front suspension.
A rust free cab will save you hundreds of man hours of welding, grinding, sanding, etc.
Welcome! Hmmm... We've got a 1950 F1. It's a lot of fun & work to get them all working. Generally it's much easier to stick with the original frame so everything fits correctly.
We put a 2001 Explorer 8.8 in. rear axle in the back of our's. It's a very common swap or a Ford 9 inch. Probably a 2 weekend job. It gave us 3.73 modern highway gearing, rear disc brakes, & posi trac. (Stick with the original Ford F1 frame & just change what hangs off of it if you want).
We are running a 351Windsor engine with an AOD transmission - pretty much any engine will fit in these trucks. Personally having gone through this process I'd look for a rust free cab as my #1 priority, a stock frame or one with a mustang II style front suspension.
A rust free cab will save you hundreds of man hours of welding, grinding, sanding, etc.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 108
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From: Franklinton, NC
Howdy and welcome! I'm fairly new here myself, having recently picked up a '52 F1 project and '51 shell together in a deal. Actually hauled them home this past weekend.
My personal thoughts are along the same lines as what others have said: You're not buying a 1951 F1, you're stepping into someone else's mix-n-match mess. Not that it couldn't be finished and turn out okay, more like where do you start? How? Why? At what cost?
At least when the vehicle is basically original you can refer to old manuals and other members here with similar vehicles. Then if you want to hack it up, at least you know where it started, what was done, and why. You can also get a rough idea of the cost to rehab/rebuild since you won't have to guess at what needs to be done to fit with the current mess.
My vote would be to find a better (as in unmolested or mildly abused) candidate to spend your money on. Or buy one already done if you want something chopped up.
Then again, I like old stuff because it's old. If I wanted a shiny body on someone else's frame, those Gazelle kit cars are a dime a dozen. But that's just me. Rumor has it I was dropped on my head as a baby. Repeatedly.
My personal thoughts are along the same lines as what others have said: You're not buying a 1951 F1, you're stepping into someone else's mix-n-match mess. Not that it couldn't be finished and turn out okay, more like where do you start? How? Why? At what cost?
At least when the vehicle is basically original you can refer to old manuals and other members here with similar vehicles. Then if you want to hack it up, at least you know where it started, what was done, and why. You can also get a rough idea of the cost to rehab/rebuild since you won't have to guess at what needs to be done to fit with the current mess.
My vote would be to find a better (as in unmolested or mildly abused) candidate to spend your money on. Or buy one already done if you want something chopped up.
Then again, I like old stuff because it's old. If I wanted a shiny body on someone else's frame, those Gazelle kit cars are a dime a dozen. But that's just me. Rumor has it I was dropped on my head as a baby. Repeatedly.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: San Jose, CA
Also, I'd stay away from any "front end" conversions, like the Volare, unless it's a Mustang II or Jag IFS. Even then, I'd be cautious because you don't know if it was installed properly.
Find yourself as stock and original truck as possible and then go from there.
Find yourself as stock and original truck as possible and then go from there.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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From: Del City, OK
Have a Volare setup in my '50. Handles well, runs straight down the road with no problems. Previous owner put it in and did a good job on it. I have seen some that looked like they wore a blind fold when welding them in and won't align to save its butt. If it had been stock when I bought it, I would have went with a mustang II style suspension.
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I see from all the replies that it is usually better to start a project that hasn't been hacked into by someone else. I have an oppotunity to buy a 1952 that is still on the stock frame, but the guy also has a 1997 Explorer chassis that comes with the truck. This sounds like a way better deal. From the replies and other research, I see lots of people use the 8.8 rear end and either a jag or mustang II front end. This would be a better start, that way I can do the work myself, and know that it is done right.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,599
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From: Rockingham, VA
I see from all the replies that it is usually better to start a project that hasn't been hacked into by someone else. I have an oppotunity to buy a 1952 that is still on the stock frame, but the guy also has a 1997 Explorer chassis that comes with the truck. This sounds like a way better deal. From the replies and other research, I see lots of people use the 8.8 rear end and either a jag or mustang II front end. This would be a better start, that way I can do the work myself, and know that it is done right.
Unless you have experience in that area, I think you should really seriously consider leaving the truck on its original frame, and make changes as you like to that frame... IFS, different rear end, power steering, disk brakes... whatever. Just please understand the advice given here is to make this easier for you to accomplish.
And good luck with whatever you decide to do. We'll all be watching.
