Take it easy on me, I am new...

I picked up a 54 F100 on a deal that I could not refuse. Now that I have lurked around here enough, I now know that the bed is not original. I already knew of all the other stuff, but now need help on the taboo frame swap.

Before everyone freaks out(yeah, I have looked around on the forum) and tells me the original is a great frame and not to mess with it I need to tell everyone that a frame swap has already been started on this truck and I am not happy with the results. I do not have the original frame/engine/trans, etc. I have the original cab, title, and custom bed.

What I have Currently:
1954 Cab and custom bed/box sitting on a late 60 to early 70's F100 frame.
Power plant is a 300 inline mated to the 4x4 setup from the same year as the frame.

The Custom bed measures 6'9."
From what I have read, the f100 swb is 110" with a 6' bed. The f100 lwb has a 8' bed.

I dont know who made the bed or started the swap...or why they chose this, but I havent found another box, and am on a budget...

SO, here is the question I am leading up to:

What are good donor vehicles that would have a good wheelbase for what I have.

FYI, I dont have a welder....yet. So, I want a frame that measures close as possible.

I was looking at longbed Rangers and s10's...any other ideas?!? I am kind of lost. I am not brand loyal, rat-rod seems to fit my budget...

Any and all reasonable advice accepted.

 

I would say a 1954 to 1956 frame would be the most economical and best fit. Really, you say you don't have a welder which tells me you don't have a lot of fabrication experience, I could be wrong. Saying that, trying to find a frame that is going to be an easy, economical choice is going to be hard. I'd bet you could find a '54-56 frame with a like more looking than a newer frame. This is a great place to start. Put your location in the upper right hand corner, you do it by going through the control panel you used to sign up. There might be a board member who lives close who has a parts truck sitting in his back yard. In my experience the frames of parts trucks are the least used part and usually sit around until the time comes to take it to the scrap yard. Also, the frames on these old trucks last longer than the bodies so if you can find a parts truck the body, which it seems you have a good one, will most likely be rotted away while the frame is still useable.

 

crs22, where are you located? I have a nice 53-55 F100 frame for cheap

 

Melbourne FL.

I am not opposed to an original frame and I have looked for one...

However, I need a ton of stuff, that a ranger or s10 could save me some time and cash on...

If I just get a frame, then I still need a gas tank, disc brake setup, battery, seat, steering column etc.

Not to mention I would still need a known good engine and trans since I dont know the condition of whats in there.

My cab and bed are pretty bare bones...

I have been holding off for a little while, waiting to start working on the truck because of title work.

Now I have the green light, and am willing to learn some fabrication... I am not afraid of the work. If a good frame presents itself I am not opposed to that... at the same time I need to keep my options open...

Another reason a ranger frame would be cool, is I came across an older ranger diesel engine with harness and trans(perkins/mazda I believe) and that would be a pretty wicked awesome little setup.

 

Honestly, your best bet may be to sell what you've got and buy a different truck, one that is all there already. You'll be time and money ahead.

 

I was really hoping for some different advice than sell the truck and start over... that is an option though.

 

This a pretty good board, not only for Ford truck knowledge but also just common sense. We aren't a but of hot heads that shoot from the hip with whatever comes to mind at the time. Most guys here have been here a good long time and started here as people with very little knowledge about their trucks. So you'll get, IMO, the most honest experienced common sense answers.

 

I do appreciate the honesty. If I were to play hypothetical, and say original frame and selling were not an option, I believe what I would need to determine frame size/wheelbase are runningboard dimensions. That would help me place the rear fenders on the custom bed exactly. I dont have runningboards... Google/searching hasnt come up with good results yet...Anyone have an idea of the length of runningboards?

 

C = F100 / D = F250 / Y = F350.

 

There is a big red flag! Does this mean that you DO have a title? You do understand that the title goes with the FRAME and not the body, right? Unless you have a 'rebuilt' or "modified'/'Altered' title it won't fly past a state inspection. Otherwise, if you don't know what your FRAME is from, it's not possible to have a good title.

 

I do have the title. It matches the plate in the glove box, and the old Missouri title it came with matched as well before DMV took it. There are no state inspections in Florida that I am aware of. At least not yearly ones.

 

Thanks for the info on the running boards... I will look into that a little later, just wanted to say thanks before I forget....

 

So you have a Florida title for this truck in your name? Most states want the vin/serial number from the frame verified before they will issue title on an out of state vehicle, as the plate in your glove box is NOT considered a legal vin/serial number plate. That verification, depending on the state has to be done by a Police Officer or a state inspector. The other problem of course, is even if you do manage to obtain a title, any police officer can seize the vehicle if they find the number stamped in the frame does not match the paperwork. I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but as a retired police officer I believe that you should be aware of the pitfalls before you start sinking money into the truck.

 

Yes, I have the Florida Title in my name. I had to have an officer verify vin, and the plate in the glove box was the only one he looked at. I showed him the older Missouri Title that matched it as well and explained the situation, with my bill of sale, and he didnt see any issue with it. Maybe he did me a favor?!?

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but the running board length should determine the route that I would go with frame... If I get the standard swb running boards then I would need a frame with a wheelbase of 110", respectively, if I found the "express" running boards then I would need a frame with a wheelbase close to 118". Regardless of if I use the original frames or not, these would be the wheelbase lengths I would need, correct?!?

My logic behind this is that the runningboards(Again, I dont have any yet) determine the placement of the rear fenders on the bed, which will determine the wheelbase...

Any thoughts?