'63 F350 Dually Disc Front?

reflectionpoint · Post by **reflectionpoint** » October 2, 2009, 2:29 pm

Hey all,

I've dug through the forums and can't find exactly what I'm looking for. I'd like to swap discs onto the front of my '63 F350 Dually. It has the lovely 6-lug hubs and I haven't found any compatible setup to date. I can convert the D70 rear (if I switch to 8-lug axles).

So, discs in the front?

Can you do 8-lugs in the front as well? (for better wheel selection so I don't have to use the splits it came with).

Thanks in advance,

-~E

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » October 2, 2009, 3:28 pm

answer is no, unless you get a twin i f350 front from a 67- 79.

dod not say if you had a single wheel or dually truck but there are non split 17.5 wheels made for the single. not that its easy to find 17.5 rubber.
international used the 6 hole 1 ton too, so theres another source of wheels.

reflectionpoint · Post by **reflectionpoint** » October 2, 2009, 7:08 pm

ICEMAN6166 wrote:answer is no, unless you get a twin i f350 front from a 67- 79.

dod not say if you had a single wheel or dually truck but there are non split 17.5 wheels made for the single. not that its easy to find 17.5 rubber.
international used the 6 hole 1 ton too, so theres another source of wheels.

It is a dually. I found sources for 1-piece wheels for the dually with this bolt pattern but prices are circa $220 each. A little steep when I can get new steel dually 8-lugs for half that (I work in the tire/wheel industry).

Does the Twin-I setup 'bolt in' or is there additional fabrication on the F-350? Pros (most are obvious) / Cons?

36truck · Post by **36truck** » October 2, 2009, 7:13 pm

Changing frame to a late model would be alot easier than trying to install twin I's in your truck.

reflectionpoint · Post by **reflectionpoint** » October 3, 2009, 2:43 pm

36truck wrote:Changing frame to a late model would be alot easier than trying to install twin I's in your truck.

I'd rather this truck have 4-wheel drums than to swap frames. Just seems like it would lose some of it's--character. I'm not one of those 'everything has to be authentic' types; nothing wrong with swapping some parts here or there--but to swap the entire frame would be like making it an entirely different truck. Yes, a more functional and possibly more usable truck.. but just not the same.

I don't know why it concerns me with this truck. If I had a bump dually I'd swap to a dent frame if I had to--just seems different somehow. Maybe just 'cause this truck screams old, strong, dependable, workhorse. These trucks are the reason Ford can use their slogan 'Built Ford Tough', among others.

I think my main issue is--this is the single oldest vehicle I've ever owned. I respect it as it is, it was 21 when I was born. Yes, I want to make it more functional and safer.. but within the limits of it's design.

That was a lot of rambling, hope it makes sense. If I had a few more of these trucks to play with, I'd be way more open to that type of modification. That way I could have my one true slick, then have my real cool 4x4 dually with discs and blah blah whatever monster.

jwh f-100 · Post by **jwh f-100** » October 3, 2009, 4:30 pm

reflectionpoint,,

That is a great looking truck you have. I didn't reply to your pic post cause I was drooling too much..

Have you thought about just installing a power dual MC on it.. My fathers '62 cornbinder has power assist drums and it stops well..

Ask Barnietruck about his f250. I think it has power drum/drum that my neighbor Norville, the previous owner, installed

reflectionpoint · Post by **reflectionpoint** » October 3, 2009, 8:41 pm

jwh f-100 wrote:That is a great looking truck you have. I didn't reply to your pic post cause I was drooling too much..

Have you thought about just installing a power dual MC on it.. My fathers '62 cornbinder has power assist drums and it stops well..

Ask Barnietruck about his f250. I think it has power drum/drum that my neighbor Norville, the previous owner, installed

Thank you for the compliment, after looking over a few hundred of these trucks (online) and a few in person, I feel VERY fortunate to have found this in this condition.

The PO actually installed a power booster from (he said) a 65-66 T-bird. It does have the booster on it, but it's still the single pot design MC. I have not really driven the truck enough to decide if I like them or not, they grab hard and fast so I think some adjustment needs to be made to reduce the vacuum to the booster. My main thought is when I am towing/hauling. This is a very mountainous area and brakes are one of the most important considerations on a vehicle (regardless of terrain).

I have talked (in the other thread) about making the truck into an extended length car hauler. Other considerations are a simple flatbed tow rig, a true 'wrecker'. Regardless of what the truck becomes, it will be used for one purpose. Work. I don't intend to abuse it and thrash it, but it will be put through it's paces. I just want it to be as safe and reliable as possible for a (by the time I'm done with the build) 50 year old truck.

If I don't do discs, I will install a dual MC and replace/upgrade all the brake lines, etc. The truck will be wearing premium industrial radials also, as traction/tire flex is often times half the battle in braking.

I'm really just shooting ideas around for simple(r) things I can do in the driveway while I save up and research the more complicated and costly parts of the build. I just found out that I can't even remove the left valve cover without either removing the brake booster or engine! So much for just throwing a $65 gasket kit at the engine..lol. I love trucks