F500/600/700 tow truck?
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 933
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From: Lawrenceville, Ga
F500/600/700 tow truck?
Hey! We have several offroad trucks that have gotten pretty big and have to be trailered. We tow with a '91 F250 4x4 460 (Dad's) and a 79 F350 2x4 460 (Brother's). Now my Dad has a Bronco and will be using his 250 to pull it. So I've been looking at low budget tow trucks in the 67-79 year range and even into the early 80's such as F250s and 350s with 460s to pull around my rockwell offroad project and other things but I've been thinking... Why pay 2-3 thousand dollars for a 79 F350 that will have to work hard to pull and stop when I can possibly find a road tractor (semi) that will barely feel the weight and have NO issues stopping. I've found a couple 80's model semi's in my price range but I didn't want to totally leave out the possibility of an F500/600/700. I know that the 330 series engine has a looong stroke on it, made for heavy loads and slow, short distances but I saw an F500 with a 390 (FE?)
1972 Ford F500,390 Industrial motor
for $500. So my question is, will these trucks make good tow trucks? I will have to do some highway towing as well as short distance tows. Also, if it's powerful enough and brakes work well, I may try to find a trailer to tow two trucks at once (35 footer). Thanks for any advice!!!
1972 Ford F500,390 Industrial motor
for $500. So my question is, will these trucks make good tow trucks? I will have to do some highway towing as well as short distance tows. Also, if it's powerful enough and brakes work well, I may try to find a trailer to tow two trucks at once (35 footer). Thanks for any advice!!!
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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330 has a 3.50 stroke, not exactly long. A 330 would have been a nice upgrade from the 292 in our '58, but is miserably underpowered by today's standards.
An F500 "390 industrial" should be a 391. Same bore and stroke as the car/pu 390, but heavier crank, smaller ported heads, different engine mounting, lower compression. Made to run long distances with heavy loads without regard to fuel consumption. Enough power, but no surplus. Not sure a 391 was an option on an F500.
Brakes? Big brakes, but a big pita to work on. And, imo, you'd be wise to go through the brakes on anything this old. Rear brakes are a major job, with a special socket needed for the axle nut. Trucks that size use a hydra-vac powered hydraulic brake system. Several recent threads on those. Your trailer should have brakes on it also.
That '72 looks like it would need a bit of work.
Now, once things are brought into spec, trucks like that soldier on for years without much fuss. The trouble is, once they are 30 or 40 years old, the fuss-free years are way behind them.
Another thing would be transmissions and axles. A 4 & 2 set up would work ok, but a single speed rear axle will leave you running 45-50 mph. Not sure an F500 will have a 2 speed rear axle. A 5 & 2 would be better.
Depends on your tolerence for yet another project.
An F500 "390 industrial" should be a 391. Same bore and stroke as the car/pu 390, but heavier crank, smaller ported heads, different engine mounting, lower compression. Made to run long distances with heavy loads without regard to fuel consumption. Enough power, but no surplus. Not sure a 391 was an option on an F500.
Brakes? Big brakes, but a big pita to work on. And, imo, you'd be wise to go through the brakes on anything this old. Rear brakes are a major job, with a special socket needed for the axle nut. Trucks that size use a hydra-vac powered hydraulic brake system. Several recent threads on those. Your trailer should have brakes on it also.
That '72 looks like it would need a bit of work.
Now, once things are brought into spec, trucks like that soldier on for years without much fuss. The trouble is, once they are 30 or 40 years old, the fuss-free years are way behind them.
Another thing would be transmissions and axles. A 4 & 2 set up would work ok, but a single speed rear axle will leave you running 45-50 mph. Not sure an F500 will have a 2 speed rear axle. A 5 & 2 would be better.
Depends on your tolerence for yet another project.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 26
You could get an ex-military 2.5 tonner, bob it (simple enough), and have an inexpensive, tough tow rig that might be more fun off-road that what it's towing.
Major military truck suppliers that do custom and refurb work:
SECO Reconditioned Army Military Trucks 2 1/2 Ton 5 Ton M35 M54 Cargo Fuel Water Dump Wrecker M123A1
White Owl - Home Page
Look at the Pirate 4x4 threads for "bobbed deuce" for many examples of how to shorten them.
Steel Soldiers website:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/
Major military truck suppliers that do custom and refurb work:
SECO Reconditioned Army Military Trucks 2 1/2 Ton 5 Ton M35 M54 Cargo Fuel Water Dump Wrecker M123A1
White Owl - Home Page
Look at the Pirate 4x4 threads for "bobbed deuce" for many examples of how to shorten them.
Steel Soldiers website:
http://www.steelsoldiers.com/
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