53 F100 to F500 conversion

[Fat Brian]

I'm looking at converting the AMT 53 F100 can into an F500. It looks like the only change is to open the front wheel wells a little more. Has anyone done this or does anyone have any info about what needs to be done to make the conversion correct?

[Chuck Most]

You'd also need to widen the fenders- how much I'm not sure, but the fenders on a 500 were also wider in addition to having a larger openings. The grille opening is the same size. I know a guy with a '54 and '55 F-500 (same as a '53)- I'll see if I can get over there this weekend with a tape measure and find out for sure.

[Aaronw]

There was an article in one of the model magazines that walked through converting Revell's 1950 Ford F1 into an F8. I'm assuming the 53 would require similar modifications. Maybe someone can lay their hands on the article. Think it was an older SAE issue.

Edited September 14, 2012 by Aaronw

[Jim B]

This one? http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/scale_auto_enthousiast/sae_2000-2004/sae_2001_12__december/

[cdnmodman]

Brian,

Were you looking at something like this one that greymack posted some time ago:

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=41291

I also remember reading on another forum where a fella took the fenders off the pickup bed and used through for fron fender extensions and reworked the wheel opening

Rick

[Aaronw]

This one? http://public.fotki.com/modeltrucks25thscale/model_magazine_articles/scale_auto_enthousiast/sae_2000-2004/sae_2001_12__december/

That looks like the one.

[Fat Brian]

The F500 doesn't have the widened fenders like the F800. Here is a pic of a 55 F500

And a stock 55 F100

And an F800 with the wide fenders

The F500 is only a 5 ton truck, it may not really be worth it when I can also widen the fenders and have a much higher weight truck. I was thinking of making some kind of a medium duty wrecker, I have a couple of 53 Ford cabs laying around and was looking for a project that wouldn't need much body work.

[cdnmodman]

_{Brian, go for the Big Job and build this one !!!!!}

_{http://www.zibe.com/for-sale/used-1956-ford-f800-big_job_truck-saddle_river-nj-145-783930.html}

[Fat Brian]

I saw that truck, very cool. I also liked the 57 F800 but there isn't a good starting place to build it.

[Aaronw]

AITM has a 1960s F series medium / heavy duty truck, similar to the '57 but I don't think it is currently available.

[cdnmodman]

Brian,

Frontier started selling this, never seen their castings though ??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-ford-big-job-ran-600-to-900-new-release-/330792238734?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d04c0fe8e

[Brian_B]

The front fenders are the same width...just larger openings. The cab, hood, doors, dash..all the same. No changes.

I have a 56 1:1 and am in a F series club.

[Fat Brian]

Cool, firsthand knowledge.

[Brian_B]

In fact, the Y-blocks are the same. Transmissions vary in the bigger trucks...not sure of what is in what size. Stock F-100 and 250 (3/4) ton was often just a 3 speed on the column. Then there was a 4 speed (floor shift) that had a granny gear also in some of the 3/4 tons.

Beyond that..not sure at all. Sorry

EDIT: 53 had the flathead still. 54 had an odd duck Y-block. 55 started the normal y-blocks.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Brian_B

[Fat Brian]

Found this on ebay a while ago, added to a very long want list...

[Chuck Most]

Ah, right- a 500 wouldn't have the wider fenders, just the larger openings. Wasn't sure at what weight class the wider fenders came into play. That being said I'll still see if I can get some photos/measurements this weekend, the guy should have a suitable reference truck out there.

[Fat Brian]

It would be nice to know how much to widen the fenders for the 800, if not for me then for reference for anyone who might want to try.

[Chuck Most]

Speaking of reference pics, I might also be able to get some for that '57. My father has a '57 T-650 (?) that's in pretty nice shape. (T-Series is an F-Series tandem, by the way.)

Another fun fact about those Fords- see that hood scoop on the resin one you pictured? Looks like one of those highly sought-after Pontiac Super Stock hood scoops, doesn't it? That's because it is. Pontiac actually used the Ford super duty scoop on their drag cars- they even assigned it a GM part number so it would be legit with NHRA factory stock rules.

[Fat Brian]

I was wondering about the scoop, I wouldn't think it's functional though is it?

[Chuck Most]

I'm not 100% certain, but I believe it was functional.

[Brian_B]

Back in the 50s (that resin cab is later)..there was a factory hood scoop and hood bird (hood ornament) optional on these old trucks. A friend of mine has a 56 that he and his dad searched the U.S. and Canada for every option available to put on it. AM radio\speaker, the better heater, the foot pump windshield washers,the big back window cab (only an option in 56), etc.

Mine only has two options..a heater with defrost (not the fancy one) and the spare tire mounted on the rear fender. That was only an option in 56 (not earlier).

Most of these things are repops now and added to any year..but several were not available until 56.

[Chuck Most]

Well, got over to where the trucks are- there was quite a lot more stuff jammed around them in the barn than there was last time! I did manage to squeeze in between them and get a measurement of the bottom of the wheel opening, 39", and height of 22".

Armed with this, I dug out an AMT '53 Trophy Series cab, and tried those measurements out on the fender. Turns out, if you cut away the raised 'lip' already around the wheel opening, that will enlarge the opening enough to match up pretty well with the F-600's measurements. Then you'd just need to add a new raised lip around the newly-enlarged opening. I'll try and get some pictures up later on- because now I'm thinking of giving it a go on a spare '53 to see how close it really looks.

[Fat Brian]

Thank you, that is great. I'm glad you got the height measurement too to, they looked a little taller but I couldn't tell how much.

[Chuck Most]

Keep in mind that vertical measurement might not be 100% exact- I got it as close as I could with just a tape measure, measuring from the bottom rear of the fender up to the top of the fender opening. I think it would be close enough to look right.

[Chuck Most]

Here's the '54 F-600, and as you could see space is pretty tight...

And here's a visual for the idea I had.

Like I said- cut away the existing lip marked in pencil and add a new one to the enlarged opening and it should look pretty close... but I think I'm gonna try it out and then go back and compare it to the 1:1 and see how it looks before I reccomend my method!