This is my first time using a forum like this so wish me luck!

I just got a 49 Ford F3 the other day. So will be asking a lot of questions and be looking for a few parts. The truck has been owned by my brother inlaw for the past 20 years. Early on he used it to go to the dump and to plow. For about the past 10 years he used it to plow only, which was great untill he last week when he was plowing and heard this loud clunk. At which time it stopped moving. Drive shaft turns, its bent, but the truck dosen't move!! Think it may be the axle???
Any hints on how I can tell which one???

The trucks has a 1 1/2 yard dump body on it, right know there are trees growing in it. With a PTO powered pump. Seams to work fine. Does anyone think it may be orginal? Looks like it is to me?

It also had a snow plow attached to the front. I removed it yesterday. Plow and mounting hardware weights 1/2 as much as a small car. The lift for this was a "hand powered" pump attached to the pasanger side floor. Works find.

Have plans to patch it up and haul my old ford tractor to some shows.

Now for my first question: Was trying to remove the door latch so that I could get some WD40 on them. Could not figure out how to remove the key lock?

Won't be doing much work on it untill I finish my shop.

 

Welcome to FTE. Sounds like a cool ol' truck!

On the rear end, you'll probably want to pick up a shop manual for these trucks. Sounds like something let go inside the diff. Axle, side gear, etc. Can only find out which it is by pulling it apart.

Door lock mech. - it's been a long time since I tore mine apart, but I believe there is a small allen head set screw hidden under the weather strip of the door. There is a flat connecting bar with a pin that actuates the door latch. The flat bar breaks relatively easily so take your time and good luck. If you do break it (like I did) you can buy replacement lock mechs

 

Hi Peter, welcome aboard!. Check out my User's Gallery of my 52 F4 to see if your dump body/pump are similar to mine. BTW, does your F3 have single or dual rear wheels? If dual, what diameter wheels does it have?

Fran

 

Peter, Welcome to the Forum. I've gained a lot of info about these old trucks from some of these Ford Gurus. I usually sit back and read as I'm still learning. I've got a 49 F3 and at the end of 3 years, I have it down to the Chassis. I'll send you an e:mail to see how close we live.

 

Peter,

I'm in northern NH near the GreatNorthWoods and the White Mountains. My F-3 will be a rod and already has a Chrysler T-bar front suspension under it. When I get around to removing the rear axle it will go very cheap...

 

Welcome aboard Peter! I have to second what Newt said, these guys are dang good, I have learned a boatload of info from them.

 

Hi Peter, welcome to FTE!
Sounds like a great old truck! The PTO you described could very well be original. It's hard to say without seeing it.

 

As far as I know hoists were never put on these trucks from the factory. Companies and owners were the ones that put them on.

 

Thanks for the welcome!!

I got the dirt cleaned out of the dump body today. Found a tag that said the dump body was sold by the Hercules Body Co. Looks to be in good shape considering?
F4Fran my dump is quite a bit lighter than yours. Will try to load some pictures this week?? You know a pictures is worth a 1000 words! Right now my truck has single wheels on the rear? Without going outside I think they are 17"

Also got the door latches apart. There was a small allen set screw under the door gasket. Thanks!! After about a pint of WD40 and few taps with my small hammer things freed up. I can now latch the doors. Of cause they both "sage" a bit. Well something to look forward to repairing.

Newt, I got your email but could not figure out how to reply. When my brother inlaw got this truck it came with a "Motors Truck & Tractor Repair Manual" 4th edition. Real beat but all there.
What is interesting is that the first page is signed by, Francis H. Field, Field Drive, Windham New Hamp. 1951. Let me know what you think??

Looks like my axel is a "Timken Split Housing Type Axel" I'm thinking that I may be able to pull the axel out without splitting the housing?? If I have to split the housing I will have to remove it from the springs. Sound like fun.

Found a 1959 quarter under the seat, may be worth more that the truck??

Well more later Thank again for the help!!

Got to go see what that quarter is worth??

 

Thanks for the welcome!!

I got the dirt cleaned out of the dump body today. Found a tag that said the dump body was sold by the Hercules Body Co. Looks to be in good shape considering?
F4Fran my dump is quite a bit lighter than yours. Will try to load some pictures this week?? You know a pictures is worth a 1000 words! Right now my truck has single wheels on the rear? Without going outside I think they are 17"

Also got the door latches apart. There was a small allen set screw under the door gasket. Thanks!! After about a pint of WD40 and few taps with my small hammer things freed up. I can now latch the doors. Of cause they both "sage" a bit. Well something to look forward to repairing.

Newt, I got your email but could not figure out how to reply. When my brother inlaw got this truck it came with a "Motors Truck & Tractor Repair Manual" 4th edition. Real beat but all there.
What is interesting is that the first page is signed by, Francis H. Field, Field Drive, Windham New Hamp. 1951. Let me know what you think??

Looks like my axel is a "Timken Split Housing Type Axel" I'm thinking that I may be able to pull the axel out without splitting the housing?? If I have to split the housing I will have to remove it from the springs. Sound like fun.

Found a 1959 quarter under the seat, may be worth more that the truck??

Well more later Thank again for the help!!

Got to go see what that quarter is worth??

 

The wheels would be 17" with 8x6.5 bolt pattern. You can remove the axles since they are full floaters. It's not too bad to remove the axle as long as you leave the wheels on. The tough part is putting the split axle back together after you have split it. It is really heavy.

 

Thanks for the advise on the axle.
May not be getting to them untill next spring. I hope

 

Peter,

I have similar plans for my truck (to haul tractors). I have a '51 F-8 ex-fire truck that I had planned to make a home-made roll-back or tilt bed. I decided that the truck was too big, because I wanted something to be a part-time street machine too. I am currently putting the cab on a 1984 E-350 dually chassis with 460 engine and C6 transmission.

So far the project has been easy. I was able to place the cab on the chassis by just notching the back of the cab. The inner fenders run along the top of the frame, but I had to trim the bottoms a little.

I found a '51 F-3 8 foot bed that has reasonably good steel. I am widening it approximately 6" so that the fenders won't have to be widened so much while keeping some of the natural appearance of a pickup truck. Right now the duallies stick beyond the fenders by about 4". I have already welded the gooseneck trailer hitch in place and will be adding a receiver hitch too.

Currently I have it, plus a 1950 F-6 grain truck that is in excellent unrestored condition (barn fresh), 1951 F-3 parts truck, 1951 F-6 parts truck, and a 1956 F-750 parts truck.

I'll start on the 1950 F-6 next. I have removed the grain sides to make it just a flat bed. A little body work and Bondo and it will be ready for the city parades. The grandkids love that kind of stuff and riding in a parade.

 

Ken
Sounds like you have plans that will keep you busy for a while!!
Grandkids are great and will keep you going to those parades.

Greatnorthwoods
I would be interested in that reat axle if it will fit.
If we see a weekend day above 20 I will try to pull out the broken axle. 55duller seams to think they will come out without splitting the axle. Will let you know.

Keep the wood on the fire, its going to be cold tonight.

 

Welcome aboard, nice to have another big truck guy in the group. I'm currently working on a '52 F-3 that I have stretched 20 inches and made myself an extended cab truck, and am currently fitting the cab and 8ft Express box on a '79 F-150 frame.

As far as the rear, split housing axle, as dueller said, you just have to undo the 6 or 8 bolts (can't remember how many there are off hand) from the center hub and the axle shaft should pull right out (might take a tap or 2 from a hammer to loosen). You don't even need to put it up on a jack or stands since the axle shaft doesn't bear any of the truck weight. I had the shafts out of my truck not too long ago to see what shape they were in, before I opted to go with a modern frame (the axle condition had nothing to do with my going for a new frame).

So now I just have to figure out what to do with my old frame, complete with a set of overload springs (I'm assuming they are period correct aftermarkets, possibly factory options)

Again, welcome aboard, and feel free to ask questions, I'm sure one of us will be able to give you the right answer, or at least make it sound like we know what we are talking about