Ok guys we are wanting to build a 52 rat rod.I know most people are using the s-10 runing gear but I want to keep it all ford so will a ranger work and if so what year and a reg cab or extended cab? Thanks in advance

 

Nothing wrong with the original frame. Many attempt a frame swap, but very few, almost none, finish with success. My suggestion to you is to modify the suspension on the original frame. You can use either a Jag or Mustang II and accomplish your goal.

 

What is driving you to want the frame swap?

 

If it's a rat rod, you make it work.

 

I want to do the frame swap because I bought the truck without the runing gear..So I don't have the original frame and I was thinking about finding a ranger or something on baggs to put the 52 shell on..

 

Rat rodding our trucks is not very well received around here, so you won't get much help. 51 Panel man and 53 Fopar tells it like it is.

 

Well if love Ford like I do then you would like to know as much info as possible all the way from my 62 galaxie 500 xl show car down to my 52 rat rod but thanks for any help already given..

 

There's a user on FTE that has a Ford Ranger frame or suspension on his truck and is having issues. He's now searching for an original frame.

You can bag the original frame after you put in new suspension.

 

Did you get the cab, doghouse and bed and if so which model did you get F1,2,3,4,5,6? Also, what Body parts are you planning to use? If you are not using the bed wheelbase won't matter much, but you are limited on getting the right track to fit in the fenders. Of course if you are not using the doghouse or fenders that won't matter either.
BTW, what part of Tennessee are you in?

 

Yep got the doghouse,cab and bed..F2..would like to use it all..I am located on the north end of Chattanooga. I got a few buddy's that have used different runing gears. One used a 77 or 78 Lincoln platform and one used a newer Lincoln I think he said it was a 00 or 01 if Iam remembering right

 

Well then you need to check wheelbases and the track both. I don't think the lincoln's will work on a 52. I believe the 53 and later were wider than the 52.
The s10 that are a common use are for the F1 are about a 114" WB, whereas the F2 is 122" WB Those lincolns were 127.2" and 120.5", the 00-01 were 109" WB. Unless you plan to hack up the bed, they won't work.

 

In the true spirit of a "rat rod", buy some 2x5 0.125 wall rectangular tubing and build the frame from scratch. These trucks had very simple straight rail, ladder-style frames...much easier to build one than it would be to find a late model and try to make it fit.

 

Thanks for the info guys,just talked to my boy and he said he used a 05 crown vic..

 

The 05 Crown Vic has a 114.7" WB so you will need to chop about 7 1/4" off the front of the bed, unless you can find a NYC taxi CV that was made as a taxi with the 120.7" WB. Did your boy have an F1 that he did that with?

 

I think the CV track width is too wide to fit in the fenders of the F2 without some heavy offset wheels. May want to confirm before you but the CV.