MTFCA Forum

I came across this video yesterday showing the conversion of a standard Model T to a one ton truck using the Truckford conversion.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnRKsHXPEDw

thanks for posting this video ... i have a Truckford chassis that i had been unable to identify ... this is a later version apparently since it has a 1927 chassis as the Ford portion ... it is shaft drive rear axel instead of chain drive ...the rear axel looks very similar to the rear axel used by International Harvester in the mid to late 20's ... the engine and trans unit were inplace when i purchased from Martin Supply and salvage about 12 years ago ... it was thought to be an old Mountian school bus , it had been in the salvage yard since the early 1950's ...i am adding photos ...also if anyone is interested in this unit it is available and is cheap ... i want it gone ,since i only purchased for the engine / trans. ...always an optimist Gene French 970-581-2808

Have heard from 2 forum members that had seen this conversion before ... must not have been too uncommon ... this is the first i have seen ... by the looks of the rear axel and spring set this appears to be heavier than 1 ton ... probably 1 1/2 ton ... is a very stout and well built frame addition ... there are no components in place regarding the shaft drive ... not sure how they adapted the normally closed drive to what appears to be a open drive shaft configuration ... when i purchased this unit , the engine/trans. and hogshead were standard Ford components , no special features at the trans. ball cap ... also no drive shaft inplace or near by ...another mystery ...always an optimist ...Gene French

Here is a similar conversion this one is an "Olson" Ford recommended Olson for such conversions and included their brochure in their sales booklets.
There were several sizes. the drive shaft extension is also shown in this page.

Peter:
thanks for posting this info ... i will take a closer look at the T frame to see if there is any evidence of a similar cross member ... there is no cross member inplace currently ... must have been something similar in the past for this unit to be functional with the open drive rear axel ... all seems to be very well built and designed for heavy use ... looks like some original T components were used in the fabrication that is illustrated ... looks like a T ball cap is used as a rear shaft bearing ... should be fairly easy to build a similar cross member and stub drive shaft ... always an optimist Gene French

What a great video. I wonder if my Maxwell conversion was a Truckford. The rear of the frame is very similar in construction. Other conversions mention for Chevrolet, Maxwell and others.
Truckford is very illusive but I did find this FWIW. Not sure what to make of it.
Rich And this:

For Gene. What type of rear end is under your truck unit? A Torbenson, Russell or some other brand? Glenn

For Rich. Your truck unit may be a Maxfer. Maxfer developed the "Bell" style hub which saved buyers of conversion kits the added time and expense of having to remove the backing plates from the T axle tubes. Some smaller companies copied the idea. The best way to identify most any kit is by comparing the axle radius arms and chain tension adjusters. If you would post some pictures especially the other side, I should be able to identify your manufacturer. Glenn

Gene, thanks for posting this. I would like to see more photos of that unit if you still have it.

thanks.

Thanks Glenn. I had forgotten Maxfer. I think it was discussed sometime back. It is a better match to what I have.

Gene French,
Here is some more information for you, there was a post a few years back and photo's of a similar conversion I will load up some of the photo's.
There was also a similar design for a car chassis to increase the wheelbase. The kit supplied all the extra bits to do so.

My Kalamazoo truck frame had a 2 foot drive line extentions easily modified for auxs trans
Neat conversion
The drive tube extention had a squared saft and collars that slipped on to run in bearings
Adding 2 feet+ to a TT mske big truck