John,

     I know where there's a bunch of older one ton's in a place about 70 miles from here, I'll check it out.  Old Railroad surplus mostly.  The Uncle had long retired the horse from the milk route.  He used him a couple of times a summer just to limber him up a little and make people scratch their head wondering what they were seeing.  Same in the winter with the sleigh rides.  He (horse) was over 30 years old when he died.

                                                     Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Michael:

Whoa!  Even I don't remember horse drawn milk wagons.  I hope you remember that because of your location, not because of your age!  Anyway, those wheels are 50 or more years old now, good luck on your search.  I believe they were made by Budd.  Studebaker may have also used them.  Actually most trucks used Budd wheels at one time or another, so probably most 1 ton trucks used that bolt pattern.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John,

    Thanks so much for measuring for me.  The sizes are the same so if I can find some 16" that would be a lot easier than the 17.5's that I currently have. I remember Divco quite well. My great Uncle had several of those for his Milk delivery business.  When we were quite young ( 5-7 years old) he still had his old horse that he used to deliver with that he would take us for sliegh rides in.  He still used the horse when it was quite old to do a few deliveries in the summer before it got too bad.  Pretty neat memories.

                                             Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Michael:

Mine also measure 7 1/4.  The center hole in the wheel is 5 9/16.  They are what are referred to as "split rims".  One of my wheels is from a Divco milk truck (maybe you are not old enough to remember home milk delivery in those trucks).  I have heard that Dodge trucks of that era are also the same.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

John, thanks for info. on your 53. I was wondering how you had it set up. I'm kind of surprised it turns only that amount of RPM with 5:14's??? Thought it might be a lot more than that. If you can John when you get a chance, can you measure the bolt pattern on yours??? My F350 is 7 1/4" on 6. I'm trying to find something like 16" wheels& tires so I don't have to pay megabucks for 17.5 tires times 6 for mine. When ever you get a chance I appreciate it.

                                                        Michael 

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

Thanks fellas for all of the information. The 61 is a 5 speed, shifting great and running perfectly. I will have to look at the rest of the running gear when I pick it up later on this week. To me, this truck is a real deal for what the owner is asking, and if we can use the parts for dad's truck, great, if not...I told my dad I would buy the other parts and let him keep the rest.

It's a Y-blockin' family!

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Michael:

My "bean hauler and car hauler" is an F350, but it is a '53.  It has the old Timken rear end, 5.14 gears.  '55 probably used the same rear, but don't know about the ratio.  When I put the Y Block in it, I also added an overdrive from a T86 in the driveline.  After a couple of failures, I upgraded to an OD from a T85.  With the OD and the original 7.50 x 16 tires, 6 lug, it runs 2500 at 65 mph.  The 324" Y handles the car or a load of beans with little effort.

John

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Good point on the rear gear ratio. My 99 F350 Super Duty has a 4.11 gear with the 6 speed o/d trans. Swapping one of these in an older truck should be pretty simple and give you better brakes plus allow you to use modern wheels. These rears should be pretty plentiful in wrecking yards and for sure cheaper to overhaul than the older units and give you better streetability.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Like the others said the trans. will work if its either a 4 or 5 speed but the 5 will probably require the driveshaft shortened up. The wheels will be completly different. The  F600 should have either 7:50 or 8:25X20 tires where the 55 probably has like my 57 F350 has, 8:00X17.5's a real oddball for tires and the 55 is probably 6 lug too like the 57. The other thing to consider is rear end gearing in the 55, probably the same as a lot of other F350's. something like 5:14's?? 50 mph is going to be something like Mach 2 for that thing unless you get a newer rear end with like 4:11's, 3:73's, something like that. A 2 speed option for a Dana or Spicer 70 rear doesn't exist that I know of for better gearing. I'm also trying to find out a newer/different wheel pattern from possibly something with easier to find 16" tires. I know the newer Chevrolet W series 1 ton cabover trucks have 6 lug but don't know what the pattern measures out at.  Maybe some body with a 55 "Beanhauler" from Indiana might have a few answers to this. John I don't know what your truck is a F350 or larger.

                                                 Michael

Michael

Sandy Valley, NV

The trans should work no problem, I don't think that the wheels will work with out swapping in the complete running gear. Overkill unless you are after the monster truck look. The tread width on the 600 is wider than the 350.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL