Hey Guys, I bought a 1948 Ford straight frame off a guy. Im ***uming that the frame is from a 1Ton because it has duallys in the back. The front suspension has leaf springs as well as a stock "I beam" axle with a 4'' drop. The front has giant drums as well as the back. My question is do they make spindle kits for this axle so I can run aftermarket disc brakes? I called speedway and the tech told me that the ones they have are for cars and they would not fit? Also can anyone confirm if they even made dually 1 tons in 48? Thanks, Bret
I don't have an answer for you but check and see if the king pin size matches any later 1 ton fords with disc brakes. The twin I beams used king pins and the spindles brakes and all might switch as a unit.
REM: when you say later 1 ton fords what years are we looking at here 50-2010? JohnEvans: The tires are pretty big and the frame is 18ft long with two piece rims left thread lugnuts. dont know if that is information that you needed. they are 18'' rims
I'd say mid 70's would have seen front disc brakes on most 1 tons. Any thing bigger might be a different deal. Most 1 tons had 8 bolt 16" wheels. Might not work for what you have.
If you can find hubs/rotors (they don't have to be from a Ford) to fit the spindles and then fab up a way to mount the calipers. It has been done on a lot of things.
Ford built dual wheeled trucks from the early '30 and before, I don't the exact dates. If your truck has 18" rims then it's a F-4. F-4s came from the factory with 18" all the way around if the rears are duals. They came with 20" wheels if the rears were singles. Ford did this to limit the load for the truck. Many people switched out the 18" to increase the load capacity. The F-4 is considered a 1¼ ton. There were less of the F-4s made than the other models because it was too light to haul really heavy loads and too big to haul loads that could be hauled in a 3/4 ton pickup. The F-4 has a single layer frame, the heavier F-5 & F-6 has a double wall frame that tends to rust between the layers and force the layers apart. No one makes a disc brake conversion kit for the front axle for this truck. The axle and spindles are larger than the ones used on the F-1 through F-3, half ton to heavy 3/4 ton trucks. The F-1 through F-3 have the same front axle and spindles. If you want to switch spindles to a newer truck spindle you'll have a hard time. You have to realize that the earlier Ford trucks the steering is outboard of the frame and behind the axle while the newer trucks are inboard and ahead of the axle. Also, if the wheels are stock Ford wheels you will have wheels that are commonly referred to as Widow Makers. These wheels were a bad design new and haven't gotten any better with age and use. Most tire shops won't touch them because of liability issues. I've been told some states even have mandatory confi****ion if they are brought into a shop. The problem is they are made of almost two equal halves that are locked together by a narrow lip. When they are first inflated, or even deflated, they can come apart with violent force. Even if parked they can blow apart if they develop a slow leak. Just thought you should know. What are you planning to do with this frame? If it turns out you cannot use the frame please don't s**** it. I know there are some people looking for the brake parts for the larger trucks. You can go to the FTE site and post on their cl***ifieds. www.ford-trucks.com
Ok so I got home and did some measurements. 1.)The frame is a straight frame measuring a little over 15 feet in length. 2.)Wheels are 22'' with screw on grease caps 3.)Rear is dually with 2 of the 4 total 22''m tires 4.)Steering is outside the frame. 5.)Single layer frame, not boxed. 6.)It has a vin number is it possible to look up the type with the vin#
There is really nothing there usable for a rod. That most likely was a f-8 3 to 5 ton depending on the way it was specked.
Bob is right about how deadly those old split rims can be. I knew one guy who had a steel plate in his head because of one of them, knew another guy whose father was decapitated by one of them.
That is crazy good thing I have no intentions in using them. My plan is to replace the rear axle and suspension with a 2000 ford explorer 8.8. I then plan to use my 1960 Diamond T p-2000 series cab and channel it over the frame. I was going to use the stock Ibeam axle in the front and convert it to disc brakes with aftermarket spindles from speedway. My plan was to "z" the frame to have the middle section dropped and since the frame is 8'' high i thought that it would be a good stance. My problem now is that axle. I think that the frame is still useful but Im not sure about the drop axle? As stated above the axle might not be useful. However the tires and wheels i was going to run were not the original but cragar 15x10 in the rear with and 15x8 in the front. What would you guys do in my situation. I will take pics tommorow and post them so you can see the frame , my cab and the rearend I plan on using i havent cut anything just ac***ulating parts still. I did remove one wheel to check the spindle size possible get measurements. thanks guys Bret
rear spring hangers center to center: F4, 5, 6 =44.5" F7,8 =51.25" 4th digit in serial # C=F1 D=F2 Y=F3 T=F4 (IIRC) T=F5 TH=F6 EQ=F7 (IIRC) QH=F8 (IIRC)
F-4 through F-6 have five bolt wheels. F-7 & 8s eight bolt Budd type rims or Dayton type with the six cleats. As I stated above, the F-4 has a single walled frame, the other larger truck have a dual wall frame. Redneck, sounds like you'd be way ahead by starting of with a late '80s or '90's truck. I hope you sell the parts you don't need.
first 4 of vin are either 799T or 799I 44.5'' from center to center so its a F4 or F5 which means I probably cant find a spindle right
Bob what would you reccomend for a late 80's or 90's Im ***uming a s10 with the IFS. however im running a fenderless rod with just a grille. I have seen some nice RR's with IFS but if i do go that route is there better frames with IFS than the S10 or should i say less bulky. And can you get upper and lower control arms to fit a s10? I appreciate your help guys..If it were your frame would you mess with it or try to sell it. I guess im not in it for that much...I prob. could s**** it if i needed to even thought i would rather not.
That's right. The frame is about all you can make use of ,springs WAY to heavy. EDIT: OOOOOH I just seen the RR word !! This place ain't about them nasty things.
I personally think it's a really bad choice for hot rod project of any kind, just too dang big. Don't s**** it, post it on FTE where someone might be able to use the parts.
but if i do go that route is there better frames with IFS than the S10 or should i say less bulky. If you think the S-10 is too bulky, how would that giant 2 ton Ford frame be any slimmer?
IIRC=If I remember correctly. I'd personally look for an original 20's/30's frame. Up here I see them range from 100$-300$. No beauty though, lol.
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