I went over to a friend's place recently to look at his handywork.  Frank is a member here and working on a complete redo of his '56 F-100.  He's doing a great job and has a new 292 power plant. 

The engine has a front sump pan.  I was very surprised because have read previously from owners that it wasnt possible.  Asked him about it and he said the pan was in use on the 272 when he purchased the truck, he just put it onto the 292. 

All of the front sheet metal was off so viewing was easy, and yes it clears .  Not by much but enough.  The truck has the stock front axle and new axle bumpers. 

So this is the second truck I've come across with the front sump.  The other was a '63.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

My last parts truck which was a 1957 had a passenger car 312 dropped in with the front sump, I guess it clears, but I don't know if the pan will come off with-out jacking the motor/dropping the front axle down?

1959 and 1960 f-100sAkron OH

I cant say for sure.  If there was a problem maybe the front of the frame could be jacked, dropping down the axle to gain clearance to remove pan.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

I still have a hydraulic front end jack that has lifting saddles that would adjust to frame width back when cars still had bumpers. We used it in the 60's to change oil because it was quicker than rigging up the lift. It helped with getting the oil pan out on quite a few vehicles....both mine and my friends. In those days we hadn't heard of insurance regulations and let people use things if it made life easier for them. Yours may be one of those vehicles that may just need to be lifted in front.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

When I bought my '56 Pickup it had the front sump pass car pan. I drove it maybe 15000 miles and the pan was never touched by the axle.  The springs were fairly stiff and maybe had a bit more arch but there was never a problem. 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

I've seen a number of 56 pick-ups in the SoCal area with T-Bird oil pans. I don't know if Ford did that or if owners went to Ford and bought them. The early trucks had no baffle in the pan and would lose oil pressure on step down hills. The T-Bird pan would help.

I swapped a 292 into a 53 F-100 years ago with a passenger pan. Cleared the axle and tie rod without problem.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

In the December 1956 Hot Rod Magazine there is an article about a dealership in Colorado (Denver) by the name of Bob Jones Skyliner Ford.



They were taking NEW 1956 ford trucks and pulling the 272 and installing 312's with the power pack option, dropped axles, and many "other" mods.



This may be an example of how a front sump ends up on a pickup.



All my factory photos and literature show rear sump pans, and I have all service bulletins for 1955 thru 1957 and there is no mention of this swap.



Kevin Bigwin

Kevin S in Akron, Ohio

I've always heard they wouldn't work, too. That just goes to show that sometimes you just have to do things rather than listening to others. The truck pan is easy to modify to control oil very well for street use. Since adding a gate to my baffled truck pan, I've not had one instance of pressure drop due to deceleration or acceleration.


Lawrenceville, GA

I think that if the rubber bottom out stops are worn out or missing there is a possibility of front axle to pan contact




Kevin S in Akron, Ohio

Well that blows away another frequent statement "No trucks ever came with 312s", understanding that it was done at a dealer.

Ditto on what Charlie said.  There hasnt been any problem at all with oil pressure dropping after the install of a rear sump having factory baffle on my 292.  I checked last year and found no way a front sump would work on the '46.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.