'52 F1/F3 Ford truck advice sought.

[Mart]

Good friend of mine just bought this F3 off the ebay uk site.
http://i21.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/d7/dc/cd_1.JPG
http://i3.ebayimg.com/03/i/00/d7/d7/86_1.JPG
I was wondering what the differences are that makes it an F3?
I'm guessing eight-lug wheels and bigger tyres/ wheel arch radii, lower axle ratio, longer bed, heavier frame??? Prolly got the 12" bendix brakes too, the type used by FlatErnie for his buick drum swap.
So who can tell me what we can expect when he hauls that pup home??
Thanks in advance,
Mart.

[old beet]

I can tell its a 52 cab but the bed is 48-50 style, due to thr raised sides. 51-52 beds were flat, where the fenders mount. 48-50 fenders have that contour to fit the raised bed. Rust usually found; front fenders at the seam, cab corners, very back rear fenders by tailgate and where the running boards bolt on. Sometimes the running boards. Also look at the front corners of floor boards. K-Member and I have had about a dozen F-1s, have always had at least one last 30 years. We have used flatheads,289,390 and 460 Ford motors. WE have two drivers now and some parts. Also chopped a few. Let us know if we can help......OLDBEET

[modernbeat]

Mart, I can't tell you the differences between those, but I can tell you the differences between my '48 F2 and a '48 F1.

Brakes. The F2 has what looks like 12 inch '46 Passenger car backing plates instead of the much smaller F1 brakes.

Hubs and Drums. The F1 has 5 on 5.5 pattern, the F2 has the 8 lug pattern with large center opening for the floating rear axle.

Springs, much heavier on the F2.

Transmission on the F2 is the fourspeed, non-syncro, straight cut rock crusher with granny first gear. The F1 had a three speed that was much more civilized. Both of them had the same crossmember and mounting points on the frame.

Rear axle. F1 had some Dana "modern" axle. The F2 has the funky heavy duty banjo style except the centersection is part of one of the bells.

Spindles? I thought they were the same. I'd check the green bible to make sure.

Steering box. Exactly the same.

Interior, gauges, steering wheel, same, same, same

Exterior sheet metal, same except my F1 was a short bed and my F2 was a beat-to-hell long bed. Different badges on the cowl.

To me, it looked like changing my F2 to a F1 could have been done by swapping the transmission, the springs, the brakes and wheels, and the rear axle.

The F3 may be different.

Does he want to hot rod it? Or just modernize it enough to make is usable as a real truck instead of an antique.

[fordiac]

yes. the fender openings are larger on the bigger trucks.

[Flat Ernie]

Mart,

Saw that on eBay a few weeks ago. I used to have a '51 F1 Panel that I rodded - sadly it's long gone now.
I don't think the backing plates are the same as the ones I'm using as I think they switched styles in '53 - however, I'm not 100% sure of that.
Other than that, I think it's been pretty well covered - heavier duty suspension components & possibly wheel arch radius differences is about it.
I really like the 51/52 truck front ends...

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[k-member]

Yeah, what old beet said...

[F1James]

That truck hase the delux cab chrome windsheld molding.3 pice hood spears.Might have the delux heater. Good find