Will a 2003 lightning frame fit a 53 f100 ? , I'm wondering if this swap is possible ?

 

Anythings possible, Im betting it takes alot of fabbing though.

 

2003 Lightening wheelbase 119.8"
1953 F100 wheel base 110"
2003 Lightening trackwidth 65.3" front and rear.
1953 F100 trackwidth some few inches narrower I think.
But then again, with money and determination anything is possible.

 

The width can be fixed but the length of the wheelbase worries me. How can you shorten the wheelbase ?

 

You cut the frame in half and take out a chunk. Seriously.

So, really, the short answer to your original question...

is; not even close.

 

Heavy do a site search on frame swaps, I think you'd find your answer very quickly.

 

I searched , I didn't find much .

 

I've spoken to 2 local hot rod builders that have many years of experience , both say it can be done . by cutting it and removing a piece of the frame .

 

Anything can be done with enough time, money and trial and error.

There is also another option depending on the shape/design of the frame. I shortened a 84 F250 4x4 by removing all the rear suspension spring hangars and cross members and slid everything forward on the frame and drilled new mounting holes. Then I just trimmed off of the extra length off the back of the frame. This wasn't fun! I ended up removing over 80 factory rivots that mounted all the brackets and cross members to the frame. I did mine this way because I really didn't want to cut and weld the middle of my frame.

I'm not too familiar with the 2003 frame. But this could be another option.

I can see why you would want to do the chassis swap. But speaking from someone doing a chassis swap. You are better off just swapping the lightning drivetrain into the stock 53 frame. There are plenty of aftermarket suspension systems out there if you wanted to upgrade the 53's. It's much easier fitting the parts to the 53 chassis, then it is fitting the 53 body onto the newer chassis.

 

This subject has been covered a gazillion times ad nauseam. If you searched the archives and didn't find anything, you didn't look hard enough.

Long story short, anything is possible if enough time and money is thrown at something, by someone willing and able to see it through. The frames between the new and old trucks are so polar opposite as to size and shape, you have to hack the crap out of both the donor frame and body to make it work. Most people doing these things get half way into them and find themselves way in over their head and end up with a giant pile of scrap. If you've got a really fat wallet and want to drop two trucks off at one of your "local hot rod builders", have at it. But after you've dumped 20 grand into your project and you still have nothing to show for it (which is very common in deals like this) don't say we didn't warn you. Forums like this all over the internet are full of stories of people who have fallen into this trap.

If you want a nice truck, it's far easier to modify the suspension and install the drivetrain of your choice into the stock chassis. There's en entire industry built up around doing just this.

 

There is a guy ( I don't remember his user name) on her that used a 56 frame and cut the Lighting cross member out and welded it into the 56 frame, then put the engine, wiring in I think he used the rear end also.

 

yes that would be best . less headache .