So my truck is an F150 2wd with a great rust free body and the truck has some sentimental meaning to me. I had an idea about swapping the body onto a 4x4 f250 frame, I would rather have it become a heavier duty 4x4 truck and this seems like a fairly easy way to do it. The body would be a direct bolt on correct? Would I be able to bolt the body on to any frame from 1980 to 1997? Just an idea I've thought of, thanks for your input

 

Yes, as long as it's the same wheelbase, it will bolt up. But, you may have gas tank problems. Since you have a 86 body, you need to stick with the older sending units since the guages are different around 88 and later, so those later tanks won't work with your older fuel gauge. Your truck is also fuel injected most likely, so if you put a carbed engine/frame under your body, you may need completely new tanks or sending units, since your sending units/tanks have fuel pumps inside them.

Your 86 front bumper may or may not bolt up to a 87 and later frame. I was recently told it would, but double check to make sure.

And of course your GVWR on your door tag won't be correct for a f250. Not a problem unless something legal happens and they find you where grossly overloaded according to your GVWR tag.

 

Thanks for the info, the gas tank situation doesn't seem too major of an issue, I could just keep my old tanks. Yes my truck is fuel injected so I would definitely stick with that. I had an idea of getting a frame with a 7.3 on it, but these are just ideas at this point.

 

I swapped the body from an '81 F150 2wd onto an '86 F250 4x4 frame. Everything was 100% bolt on and can be completed in a weekend if your mechanically competent.

 

I haven't had firsthand experience with this, but I'm looking into a cab swap so I've done a little research. From what I can tell, you'll need to keep in mind that you'll have to make a hole for the transfer case shift lever if your current truck is automatic and the new truck is a 4x4. The cover on a stock 4x4 is pretty big, but you could probably get away with cutting a much smaller hole and the shift boot will cover it. Best of luck.

Also your location says Mechanicsburg. Are you in PA?

 

Alright thanks for the info about the transfer case
And no i'm from Mechanicsburg, Ohio I gotta fix that on my profile, ha

 

7.3 was found in mostly the later trucks after 86 or 87. So that's where the head scratching with the fuel tanks starts. You could use the 7.3 diesel tanks, but if they are from a later model your fuel guage won't read correctly. You could possibly use your fuel injected tanks, but you will need to take the sending units out and somehow get rid of/bypass the electric fuel pumps inside on the sending units.

It can be done, you will just have to come up with a plan.

 

Yeah the fuel tanks will be an issue, would it be easier to just use some older diesel tanks out of a 6.9 truck?

 

Yes. But I will warn you, the sending units in all these trucks are famous for wearing out, and the diesel units are hard to find and very expensive if you do. They are different because the have a return line fitting, but no electric pump in the tank.