'54 AR112

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Thought I'd introduce my AR110 Long bed (AR112), reasonably unique to the board I think, what with being RHD and built in Aus.
Bought as a rolling shell a year and a half ago, I've starting fitting a 302W +4spd auto from a 1998 Ford Falcon and I've upgraded the front brakes to twin piston calipers and rotors from the aforementioned ford falcon.

My apologies to the purists out there but the original Inter motors are reasonably hard to find down here and even harder to maintain in the long run, I would've loved to have put a 345 in there but it is not to be.

Future plans are to keep the exterior and interior looking as original as I can keep it whilst giving it a little bit more go and a lot more stop. An 8.8" is on the cards for the rear and I plan to eventually swap out the 302W for a 351W once everything is sorted and I've had it on the road a little while.

A couple of pics should be attached;

The day I bought it.

second is the 302W sitting in the bay it's an older photo, the engine is sitting lower now and is further back in the bay...... but it is more or less how it is today.

and the third is the front brake setup just need to finish off the caliper bracket and fit longer studs in the inter hubs. Good news is that it all fits under 15" smoothies....just.

I hope the photo's worked, let me know if they don't and we'll try again.

A lot of work to go, I have to thank the board for being helpful thus far, looking forward to contributing and sharing from now.

Cheers,

Mike.

Welcome. you are doing the right thing and making the truck into something that you can enjoy. The pictures are just fine.

Mike,
I put a Ford Explorer 8.8 under my 53, R112 with a 3:27 gear and it worked out really nice. I did put the axle on top of the springs to lower it a bit and had to make 7 degree wedges for pinion angle. Easy swap for sure. I was able to use the original drive shaft too...
Good luck and welcome.

Mike,
I put a Ford Explorer 8.8 under my 53, R112 with a 3:27 gear and it worked out really nice. I did put the axle on top of the springs to lower it a bit and had to make 7 degree wedges for pinion angle. Easy swap for sure. I was able to use the original drive shaft too...
Good luck and welcome.

Thanks Rattlin Jack

How'd the rear track work out for you?
I'm contemplating making the 8.8 wider by using 2xdrivers side axle tubes and drive shafts. Doing this will add 1.5" to the track and centre the pumpkin on the diff. Thinking about going wider as the disc conversion has added 0.5" on the front and I think I'm pretty sure the AR diff is wider than the Explorer diff by 2" or more (Very happy to be corrected here).


Thanks Nikkinutshop, appreciate it.
At the end of the day it's another inter back on the road and that can only be a good thing.

Another photo and no, I didn't mirror the image, though I'm pretty sure that's how International designed them.
Generally in pretty good shape, I have the gauges and glove box lid, missing the radio delete, column shifter and hood lining though.

Cheers,
Mike

I noticed that you also have flat glass windshield unlike ours here in the states.

Looks like the whole dash stamping is different. Different gauge layout, different radio location, ashtray is different.

Dean

I noticed that you also have flat glass windshield unlike ours here in the states.

I don't think we changed over til '55 and the AS series. Though I have seen a few AR's with the curved screen here.
I'm happy, I prefer the look of the split screen.

Looks like the whole dash stamping is different. Different gauge layout, different radio location, ashtray is different.

Dean

Your probably right Dean, likely a totally different stamping, though mine has 2x2" holes cut for additional gauges by the previous owner. I'll plug the holes eventually. No ashtray though and I don't think there ever was one?
Sorry, it's a terrible photo, better one below.

Always happy to find out the differences between the US trucks and the Aussie, mainly because there is a lot more info out there for the US built trucks. I did manage to score an Owners manual and Service manual a little while back and they definitely help!

Cheers,

Mike.

So it's been a little while, long enough I forgot my login and for some reason it wouldn't reset it. anyways, now it's mikek not Mike

A reasonable amount of progress but not as much as I'd like as I've been fixing up my 1998 Ford Falcon XR8 (pictured), that's done now so it's back into the truck!.

Front engine mounts are fabbed up and in (no pic), I got the engine A LOT lower thanks to the '98 Mustang sump (pictured). The 'hump' in the mustang sump is a perfect location for the Inters I beam front.
So handling should go from being terrible to slightly better than terrible thanks to the lower CoG.
Also excited about the colossal amount of room above the block for whatever intake I feel like fitting down the track.
(could make steering and exhaust interesting though)

Hoping to get the trans mounts in this weekend along with the modified hubs so the trucks rolling again for the first time in 18months.
My shed is too small to do this job properly, so the truck is coming out of the shed so I can build a bigger shed in it's place.

I hope to get a few more pics after next weekends progress.

Happy to be back!

mikek
(formerly Mike)

Big weekend!

Big Red* is back on it's wheels with the engine and trans mounted.

Everything has lined up really neatly with enough clearance to make it all work. It'll need custom headers and steering but that was always going to be the case with the 5L.
I thought the weight of the engine would've brought her a little closer to the ground which was disappointing. I'll have to look into this as I think I want it about 2" lower, thinking a combo of altered cab mounts and removing or resetting the leaves.

I fitted the modded hubs and discs as well. Should be enough room under the rim for the twin piston calipers on the 298x28mm disc..... just.
Working hard on this as I really don't want to switch to larger rims as I'm dead set on running 10" rims on the back (I currently have 15x8's and 15x10's). I would go larger rims but I cant find a suitable 16" tyre in ~295/50 R16 or a 17" smoothie rim in 10" wide. Also I think it might look a little weird to have 16's on the front and 15's on the rear..... thoughts?

*so called "Big Red" because the roller door on my small shed had to come off to get her in.

Cheers,

Mike.

Good luck on your project, Mike!
I'll be watching, for sure!
I agree with everything you're doing.