F-2 vs F-3 wheels
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
F-2 vs F-3 wheels
There is a set of 16" wheels on uPay item #8035791679. The seller says he bought them for his F-3 after checking to see that they fit his front wheels. After he bought them he couldn't get them to go on his rear wheels because the axle hub was too big. I have always thought the rear axle was the same on the F-2s and 3s. I know the F-3s had larger drums on the back and the late '51s and '52s had different drums than the earlier models, but didn't realize the hub was different. Is this true or could this guy have a different axle in his truck? I recently scrapped a '52 F-3 but didn't think of measuring the hub. The '52 I had had 17" wheels in the back and 16" wheels in the front. Just curious.
BTW, the "Buy it now!" price is $300, not too bad of a price. The tires are used but look pretty good. If the guy wasn't half way across the country I would bid on them.
BTW, the "Buy it now!" price is $300, not too bad of a price. The tires are used but look pretty good. If the guy wasn't half way across the country I would bid on them.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Larkspur, CO
Bobj,
I'm dealing with this same issue now on my 49 F-3. My stock 17" rims are split rims and no one will mount tires on them. I have even heard they are illegal. I have an '86 F250 with 16" rims. These 16" rims are the same bolt pattern and will fit the front. However, they won't go over the rear brake drums. I am considering swaping my stock rear end with one from a mid 80s F250 to get the same look, but be able to use modern 16" rims.
I'm open to other suggestions as well!
Danny
I'm dealing with this same issue now on my 49 F-3. My stock 17" rims are split rims and no one will mount tires on them. I have even heard they are illegal. I have an '86 F250 with 16" rims. These 16" rims are the same bolt pattern and will fit the front. However, they won't go over the rear brake drums. I am considering swaping my stock rear end with one from a mid 80s F250 to get the same look, but be able to use modern 16" rims.
I'm open to other suggestions as well!
Danny
Marmon-Herrington Man
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Central Illinois
Danny - Do what you need to do to get rid of those rims.
Bob - I just measured my three donors. All measure about 4 3/4" across the exposed axle. Two are F-3 and one an F-2. One is wearing 16s, one 17s, and one 17.5s. Like you I think the rears are the same on both models across the 48 - 52 run for that axle.
Bob - I just measured my three donors. All measure about 4 3/4" across the exposed axle. Two are F-3 and one an F-2. One is wearing 16s, one 17s, and one 17.5s. Like you I think the rears are the same on both models across the 48 - 52 run for that axle.
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From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Danny,
I realize now what the problem the uPay seller is having. He says the hub is too big but I wonder if he means the drum.
If you're going to swap rear ends you will need to use one out of a pre '73, I think. The newer rear ends will be too wide by a couple of inches. If you want to keep it as stock as possible you could also swap the rear end out of the same vintage F-2 as yours. You might be able to just swap the backing plates and drums from the same vintage. If I was going to do a swap I think I would go with the modern rear so I could have higher gears.
I realize now what the problem the uPay seller is having. He says the hub is too big but I wonder if he means the drum.
If you're going to swap rear ends you will need to use one out of a pre '73, I think. The newer rear ends will be too wide by a couple of inches. If you want to keep it as stock as possible you could also swap the rear end out of the same vintage F-2 as yours. You might be able to just swap the backing plates and drums from the same vintage. If I was going to do a swap I think I would go with the modern rear so I could have higher gears.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Larkspur, CO
Originally Posted by bobj49f2
If you're going to swap rear ends you will need to use one out of a pre '73, I think. The newer rear ends will be too wide by a couple of inches.
Originally Posted by bobj49f2
If you want to keep it as stock as possible you could also swap the rear end out of the same vintage F-2 as yours.
Danny
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Michigan
On my 52 F-3, when I still had the original rear axle (it went bye bye over Christmas), I had stock 16 inch rims on front and back, same as what would have been on a F-2.
My suspicion is that the clearance issue is on the 48-50's, and not the 51-52's
My suspicion is that the clearance issue is on the 48-50's, and not the 51-52's
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From: Ossipee, NH
According to my 49 - 51 w/52 supplement shop manual, the 49 to 52 F-2s & F-3s had 12 inch front brakes. The F-2s had 12 inch rear brakes. Up to the "early 51", F-3s had 14 inch rear brakes. The "late 51" F-3s had the same 12 inch rear brakes as the F-2s. The Parcel Delivery F-3s had 13 1/8 front & rear brakes until they switched to the 12 inch rear brakes in "late 51".
Fran
Fran
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