Question about 65 Ford 4x4 trucks

[Fat Brian]

I'm doing research for an upcoming project and I've noticed that the front fenders on some 65 Ford 4x4 trucks are different than others. Some have the same fenders as the 2wd trucks and others seem cut out wider, with the innermost part of the fender inside the body crease removed. It seems too common to be a "field modification", we're extra clearance fenders an option for 4x4 trucks? There doesn't seem to be any correlation to a model, I've seen F100s with the wide fenders and F250s with the standard ones. 

This is an F100 4x4 with the wider wheel opening 

This is an F250 Camper Special with the standard fenders

Edited May 21, 2022 by Fat Brian

[62SY4]

61-65 F100/F250 4WD used the larger opening fender

61-66 F350 2/4WD used the larger opening fender

66 F250 4WD used the larger opening fender

66 F100 4WD used the small opening fender

 

 

 

 

[Brian Austin]

So if kitbashing a '61-'66 cab with the upcoming ramp truck, enlarge the wheel opening to suit.

[62SY4]

Also not asked, but:

61-65 4WD F100/F250 used the 57-60 style side bed aka "wrong bed"

66 F100 4WD used the 64-66 style side bed

65 F250 4WD used the 57-60 style side bed.

 

The use of the wrong bed is to accommodate the wheel base.

 

 

[mk11]

2 hours ago, Brian Austin said:

So if kitbashing a '61-'66 cab with the upcoming ramp truck, enlarge the wheel opening to suit.

Yessir. Looks like the general rule on the F350 series was bigger wheel openings.

 

2 hours ago, 62SY4 said:

Also not asked but...

most of this other stuff can be found in this thread ...

 

[Fat Brian]

3 hours ago, 62SY4 said:

Also not asked, but:

61-65 4WD F100/F250 used the 57-60 style side bed aka "wrong bed"

66 F100 4WD used the 64-66 style side bed

65 F250 4WD used the 57-60 style side bed.

 

The use of the wrong bed is to accommodate the wheel base.

 

 

Thank you for both clarifications, I'm wanting to build an F250 4x4 with the 65 box body truck and I did notice a lot of the early bed trucks but didn't know the reason. I'm waiting on a bumper from Olson Brothers and some wheels and tires from Scenes Unlimited to get started. I guess I also need to hog out the front wheel arches. I'll round up some front leaf springs too.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Much appreciated info. I didn't know...   

[Brian Austin]

(Rather than the purpose-built race ramp truck kits we have, I'd prefer a beavertail truck body like that blue F350.)

[Ace-Garageguy]

35 minutes ago, Brian Austin said:

(Rather than the purpose-built race ramp truck kits we have, I'd prefer a beavertail truck body like that blue F350.)

Easy fabrication project with styrene sheet.

[Brian Austin]

On 5/22/2022 at 5:36 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Easy fabrication project with styrene sheet.

So is a race ramp truck, and we'll have two different ones on the market (including the old Racer's Wedge).  ?

[Ace-Garageguy]

9 minutes ago, Brian Austin said:

So is a race ramp truck, and we'll have two different ones on the market (including the old Racer's Wedge).  ?

So?

[Aaronw]

Something else to consider when looking at photos, is if you see something odd, it is not uncommon to see 2wd trucks from the 1960s and early 70s converted to 4x4, because there were just a lot more 2wd trucks compared to later periods. 4x4 options were also quite limited, 1 ton 4x4 trucks were almost always conversions before the mid 1970s.

Except for Jeep and Dodge 4x4 was almost always an aftermarket conversion in the 1950s and earlier. Demand was just growing enough by the late 1950s to see manufacturers start offering actual factory built 4x4 trucks (GM 1957, Ford 1959) rather than dealer installed kits. In 1960 only 4% of Ford trucks were 4x4, by 1971 it was up to 6% and in 1979 26% of Ford trucks were 4x4. 

Edited May 24, 2022 by Aaronw