So, first of all glad to be a new member.

My question may not be easily answered if at all. But here goes! I've stumbled on a 2006 Ford F150 FX4 Regular Cab. It's obviously 4x4 and has the 5.4l v 8 and auto transmission. I would really like to strip the body, keep the guts, frame, motor, trans, steering and suspension. Then drop a 53 or 55 F100 body on it .

I know I'll be neck deep in customizations but has anyone seen something similar done?

Any problems you can foresee instantly?

The idea is to have a dependable driver with classic look.

Thanks,
James

 

Your problem will be tread width. The newer F150 tread width will not fit inside the older F100 fenders. You can get wider rear F100 fenders, but there is not a source for wider F100 front fenders.

 

Thanks for your input, can you take a look at the following:

2006 Dimensional Specifications: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...64542518,d.b2I

1953 Dimensional Specifications: http://restoreyourford.com/images/19...3tdims0004.jpg

I am thinking I can work with it because the width to me appears to be pretty close in size, just an inch or two difference in size.

The biggest differences I see are for example the overall lengths and the center line of each wheel which to me is probably the most significant. However, stretching or shrinking the frame I would think would be a fairly easy task.

Any thoughts or feedback are welcomed and again, thank you a TON!

James

 

You have a great attitude towards this project, which would scare off some others. Go for it!

 

"Just trim a little here, stretch a little there, should be easy..." Famous last words of many who have started such a conversion and were immediately in over their heads. Frame swaps are one of the most discussed topics on here, suggest you do a search, you should find plenty of reading material running ~ 90 to 10 against it (for practical not aesthetic reasons) and of the 10 that say go for it 9 have never actually completed a successful one themselves, the one that did will likely say they'd never do it again.
If a simple answer to your question will do: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will match up or fit no matter how close it looks on paper. This is a real vehicle that needs to function correctly and safely, not a drawing on paper or plastic model that can be fudged.The sheer number of details that would need to be addressed, re-engineered and/or modified is staggering..

 

Welcome to the FTE!
One thing I learned many years ago is that "decisions are made with the heart and later justified with the brain". I guess what I am saying is that while the exercise of collecting the data for a "rationale" decision is commendable, it usually has no bearing on the decison that is ultimately made. This data most often comes back in the form of a mental "I told you so" after you are knee-deep in parts that don't seem to fit together quite the way you had rationalized them to at the start of the project.
That said, you will probably be most satisfied with going through with the chassis/body swap and learning first hand why you probably shouldn't have done it. I speak with some amount of authority since I have attempted more than one swap like this in the last 40+ years...and I am an engineer!
There is one word that I fall back upon most..."why". Once answered, you can move forward with a clear purpose. Good luck...

 

Welcome James. Front tires on my 54 are about 71 inches outside to outside. The front fenders are about 75 inches out to out. I'm pretty sure you'll have to include a hefty body lift in your plan. Not many (if any) members here have that kind of build. Even the big trucks, although taller, keep their wheels inside their fenders. Still, we'd love to see how you pull it off. This is maybe the most recent frame swap, but with an explorer. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...4-55-56-a.html

 

sage advice from a builder/fabricator friend of mine and it's proved true every time

"EVERYTHING YOU CHANGE...CHANGES THREE MORE THINGS BY ITSELF"

Just something to consider..

later
John

an after thought.... it's hard enough to build one of these things on it's own frame !!!

 

hey john....that idiom about once changed and it will bite you back 3 times is its self one off.... I've always said its 4-1. what ever it is, you can't lose your sense of humor. everyone likes to use their skills and make something nice, doesn't always happen.

how's the song go...."everybody wants to take a little chance and have it come out right!" that's Kenny login's old song and the next line is "gonna be a heart ache tonite" there sure will be

good luck, I'm glad you're not afraid. you must be much younger than me but I DO want you to succeed. keep us posted and we will help when you need.

qman

 

I would spend a lot of time measuring before I decided to do that. there might be better frame choices. If that's within you abilities the go for it and enjoy. As with everytime this comes up, those that can't, tell you how impossible it is and those that can simply do it.
Good luck what every you decide and welcome.
Larry

 

Sorry, but I can and that's the reason I know just how difficult it will be. Of all the frame swaps possible this would be one of the most difficult, unless your goal is to build some sort of jacked up off road/monster truck type abomination. If so, this is the wrong forum for assistance with that type build, there is no love here for that type vehicle.

 

One can have an old truck as a dependable driver without making all the crazy mods. Remember, once upon a time, these trucks were someone's very dependable daily driver. Guys got up in the morning, went out, turned the key and drove to work. An empire was built with these trucks by what is now considered the "greatest generation." There's no reason that can't be duplicated, even if you did some upgrades to the drivetrain and/or suspension, or added some creature comforts like power steering or air conditioning. But you don't have to throw away 2/3's of the truck to accomplish it. And you can save a ton of money in the process. My 2c.

 

A buddy of mine has a 2006 Ford F350. Last year he was hit in the right front corner by a car that failed to yield and turned into him. The damage did not look to be severe but the Ford dealership determined that there was some tweeking to the frame. Here is the interesting part...they replaced the frame on his truck. No salvaging, no straightening, just lifted all the body/bed/suspension components off and built the truck back up from a new frame.

Here's my point...the technology today is geared towards safety. What in the past was made to be rock-solid is today made to be collapsible. Given the amount of modification that would need to be made to a 2006 chassis to make it accomodate a 60 year old body I would take this into consideration. I have worked on some Corvette frames and some other "hydroformed" structures and it's a completely new ballgame. Good luck with your project...