So, is there no way just to change out the hubs/king pins without having to redo the entire front end?

 

I just recently decided to convert my 66 f 100 to disc brakes. I found a 79 f 100 to pull my parts from but the truck was wrecked so I can only pull spindles will I be able to change kin pins. And keep the 66 I beams. I read one forum that said NoProblem. 1 that said different size king pin would not work. Appreciative of any help.

 

I paid $800 for a 75 100 with a 390/3spd, ps, pdb, and a bunch of new parts.

The PO had plans to do a "restore" but got fed up and sold it all.

I sold the new fuel tank, fuel lines, and Holly 750 for $250 and the carcass for $200 after I pulled the engine, tranny, PS, and PDB. I also got a new uninstalled LMC dual exhaust system.

BTW: LMC is the last place I would buy a F100 exhaust system. I paid $75 to have it installed, the shop had to do a bunch of cutting and welding to make it fit. There's no way I could have done that in the driveway.

So parts truck are out there, you just have to spend hours looking and be patient.

 

Kirby, You can connect it all up as one piece. I parked the 76 donor beside my 66, dropped the I-Beam set slid it under the 66 bolted it all up and drove it away.

The king pins are a different size that need a little work to make work.

It has been a few years now, but I sold my donor parts for more than I paid for the truck.



John

 

The other nice thing about buying an entire donor vehicle is that I ended up with tons of spare parts. Tranny, starter, alternator, brake drums ect.

 

I hope this isn't considered "hijacking" the thread. But can someone explain why 73-79 are the optimal years for a donor?

I have a 69 donor and it seems to have everything I want.

 

'73 is when discs became standard equipment. If the '69 has everything you need, then you are good to go.

 

I used a 79 F100 to get the disc brakes for one of our 66 F100. I used a 1979 king pin set as the pins are a bit longer so you have more kingpin in contact with the spindle. The 66 king pins will work, but have less area of contact (yes, I put one side together twice to compare 66 vs 79 king pins)

 

Thanks Becky that makes me feel better. Do you happen to remember the diameter of the king pins so I can make sure my part guy gives me the right one.

 

Diameter is the same for 66 and 79; I do not recall the diameter. Look up a set for a 66 and a 79 on NAPA or Oreilly website; they both gave dimensions and photos so you can compare.

 

I think the cut off on 1/2 tons is 1974.

65-74 I-beams and spindles will interchange, wile 75-79 interchange.

As many have said, its much easier to keep the -beams and spindles together, but if you keep your 65 or 66 I-beams make sure you use 67-74 spindles.

 

We have been running the 79 spindles on one of our 66s for a year now; it is the little lady's daily driver. We used the original I-beams, the spindles out from the 79, and replaced the draglink and tie rods with new parts listed for the 79. The only problems we had were: (1)the driver's side tie rod listed for the 79 would not seat far enough into the 79 spindle to insert the cotter key. Took a grinder and put a little slot into spindle so cotter key would fit (2) we had to modify the push rod so it was long enough to hook to brake pedal (3) the position of the little clips that secure the transition from brake line to brake hose had to be changed so the 79 hose would work -- fabbed up some L brackets to position them.

We jacked her up this weekend to change oil and service. We greased the kingpins, u-joints, adjusted parking brake, checked for play in suspension and wheel bearings, etc.; everything was in tip-top shape. Maybe I just got lucky, but all seems to work just fine. Maybe I should check the part #s on the I beams and spindles to confirm they match a 66 and 79, respectively (are would they not really be part #s, but casting or machining #s?).

 

Do the 65-66 I beams have the notch for a swaybar?

I seem to remember they don't.

So if you want to run a factory sway bar, that is another thing to consider.

 

No, the 66 I beams did not have a notch to accommodate the sway bar that was on the 79 we pulled the parts from.

 

FoMoCo didn't offer swaybars for F250/350 until 1973, didn't offer them for F100/150 until 1975.

If you find front and/or rear swaybars on 1972 and prior year F250/350's, 1974 and prior year F100's, they're aftermarket, installed by front end shops and RV dealers