68 and sunny (finally), PROGRESS =)
 

Finally had our first day above 60 and plenty of sun, hit the garage hardcore =) Making room to get the new axle and springs under the F-3, with motor/tranny mounts to follow. A few highlight pics below and a link to the rest of todays work.

1952 Ford F3 4x4 - Update 4-22-13

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254514&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254522&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254526&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254529&.jpg

Jon,
Glad to see you back at it. Weather has been up and down here....mainly windy...yuck
I'm looking forward to seeing your progress this summer.

Good luck
Bobby

Glad someone in MI had some nice weather. We had snow and rain. Truck is lookin good.

We had 65 degrees today. Not too shabby. Instead of working on the truck I spent the time after work raking and shoveling all the gravel the snow plow tossed all over my yard.
Gotta get a few seasonal things like that done before I roll the frame out into the driveway for some knuckle-bustin. ;)

.

Unfortunately, the temps dropped back off into 40's and rain, but hasn't slowed me down too much. Hoping tomorrow I can get the mounts set up for the "new" leaf springs, and just waiting for my new u-bolts to get here so I can test the fit of my freshly narrowed axle :)

Glad to see some parts of Michigan are getting nice weather! I woke up to find NEW snow on the ground today... :-arrgh

my F3 stock chassis goodies will be coming off, if you need something LMK! its all there, including a dump bed hydro assembly.

haha, I'm doing the same thing with my F-3, putting a late 70's Ford 3/4 ton 4x4 driveline in.. although that dump assembly is kinda tempting

A few more updated pics from today.. have discovered I'm going to have to tweak my motor crossmember a bit, but not a big deal. I'm also going to have to ditch the headers and go with stock exhaust manifolds for clearance.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254564&.jpg

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254565&.jpg

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254566&.jpg

More sunny day progress
 

Had another 60+ day, got the leaf springs installed and test fit the axle, looks like it belongs under there =)
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254578&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254580&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254581&.jpg

is it safe to say the bump stops are our axle centerlines??

I did a check with a plumb line first to check, but yes i did use the bump stop (mounting hole) as centerline. With my new suspension (approx 77' F-250), my new axle shifted forward approx one inch, but shouldn't really make any difference. I know I'm going to have to add shims to correct castor, i built in 7.5 degrees when i put the axle together, but now that it's on the truck is sitting at 10. Thankfully that's easy fix. Hoping new springs will ride a little better than stock.

Jon,
Looking good. Man, that truck will be a beast once its all up and running

Keep at it
Bobby

Progress 4-28
 

Another busy day in the garage. Got some of the body panels set on frame to help with planning for the engine, tranny, and radiator mounts.

Oh, and I still have to pick the truck up 4 more inches to be at final ride height (If any of you F-2 or F-3 owners want to compare, I believe the final ride height will be 44 inches measured from ground to top of wheelwell arch on front fender }> ) I'm also thinking I'm going to have to add lift blocks in rear to even out height.

Really hoping I can keep this pace going =)

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254617&.jpg
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=254616&.jpg

You do realize factory height of top of the box was 48.5" :-X04 Myself, I'm aiming for factory ride height which will be probably hard enough ;)

I think you need a bigger garage as you need some nice big tires on that bad boy to fill the wheel well.:-drink