Hey Guys,
I'm in the planning stages of building a crew cab F250 or 350, and would like to build it on a 4x4 superduty frame or old body style 250/350 80s to 97 frame. I did a search but only found 1 thread with a question but no answers! Which frame would be the best choice fit wise with the cab and bed. Its to the point that superduty frames can be had pretty reasonable, and I like the 4 wheel discs. I've also owned (and currently own) superduty trucks so I'm familiar with the running gear. However if an OBS frame would be a closer match, I can go that route too. Just trying to use the newest (and least rusty) starting point for the build as possible. I know the later 70s frames are a match but everything around me is just so damn rusty most of those parts trucks have frames that are pretty much trashed. I'm also planning on a diesel engine so I was expecting the newer frames that had the option of a diesel engine would be more up to the task strength and thickness wise.

Thanks for any imput,
Jason

 

Educate us... what's an "OBS"?.. "old(er( body style"? If so, older than what?

 

OBS trucks are generally the 92-97 (pre-super duty) trucks.

 

I'm with HIO, what the hello is OBS??



John

 

The diesel guys refer to 1997 and earlier ford f250 and 350's as OBS (Old Body Style) trucks.

 

To answer your question there is no good chassis to use besides the 67-79 to start a build off of. After 79 the frame/body design was changed a lot so no newer frames are a bolt up. You will have to get creative on your cab mounts also I think the frames started to get raised behind the cab so you will need to do some measuring and aligning work for the cab/bed lines. Also you might need to cut down or lengthen the frame. To match your body. Will be a lot of work involved for what benefit? Disc brake axles that could of been put under your 60-70's frame in the matter of a weekend. Box your stock frame some around the engine if your worried about strength with a diesel in it. Plenty of people used the stock frame and ran diesels in these trucks for years now and I have yet to hear of any frame issues. Starting with a non rusty frame is a good thing but I think I rather spend a day on the weekend cleaning and painting my stock frame. And knowing it will bolt right up. Compared to messing with getting a newer frame to fit for how long?

 

Thanks for the imput, this is my first venture into building a 67-72 truck so much of the year to year compatibility is new to me. Is there a difference between the 3/4 and 1 ton frames in those years? I'm going to have to run a Dana 60 front axle for sure to hold the weight. Is there a year spread I should look for that will bolt up to the front of it? As for the rear end, what are the disc brake options there?

Thanks for the help,
Jason

 

The 3/4 and 1 ton frames aren't much different if you have them side by side only thing is the frame thickness possibly. And length depending what cab/ chassis option truck you have. Don't expect to find any f350 4x4 chassis until 79 though as that's first year ford made a factory 4x4 f350. Use a f250 chassis you'll be fine. Brake options You could do a disc brake swap on your factory Dana axle or swap to a disc axle setup. Everybody thinks they need a Dana 60 front but every build I seen with them on here only like half of them actually need one. The other half just wasted money. Find a Dana 44 or Dana 60 from 79 or later and it will bolt up to your frame if you go with a frame from 79 or older to.

 

All the F250s are going to have a TTB front end though right? Will a ball joint dana 60 bolt up? The king pin dana 60s go for alot more money around here because all the off road guys want them. I'm planning on doing a Detroit diesel engine with an Allison 6 speed. The engine is 1400lbs, no way I'm dropping that on top of a 44! If I get all the suspension with the 60, are the mounting points there or will I need to be drilling/welding to get it set up?

Thanks again!
Jason

 

Ball joint 60's are years ahead so no it won't bolt up. The 80-up kingpin axles won't bolt up. Leaves you with 76-79 style Dana 60's both styles are hard to come by 78-79 you'll be paying out the a** for one. Then it'd need rebuilt on top of that probably. How good are you with fabricating and doing this type of work? Your in for some punishment for sure on this build haha. Any pics of what you have to start with truck or parts wise? Can't come to this forum and mention crew cab and not have any pics to show we love seeing the crews.

 

The expense of a usable Dana 60 gets me back to just using a different frame all together. I'm not sure I've even seen a 70s Dana 60 for sale around me, however the typical king pin 60 from an 80s truck will bring an easy grand and it will need to be rebuilt. I can buy an entire 80s to 90s f250 crew around here for 2500 or less, sell the engine, trans, and part the cab/bed out and have less in it I'm thinking. I run an automotive restoration and performance shop, and am a machinist as well. Fab work like mounts or some messaging of the body doesn't bother me. Don't have any pics yet, as I'm still shipping for a truck to build, and was wanting to get some input on a donor truck for the chassis if I were to go that route. The nicest truck I've found so far is a 72 2wd crew that has a worn out 390 but a solid body which is the most attractive to me, and its for sale for 2500 bucks.

Jason

 

Just to be clear, do the 76-79 f250s have the Dana 60 front?

Found a beat down 78 f250 4x4 for 750 bucks on Craigslist. I could see staying with the stock frame if I don't have to spend 2k+ on just the front axle!

Jason

 

No not every f250 came with a d60 they left the factory with a d44 but were a heavy duty option and came in the sno fighter package trucks. So that's why they are rare and expensive. Why not build it right from the 72 crew cab 2wd frame? It's a no brainer choice of frame if it were me...

Need ideas?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...n-71-f250.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...d-cummins.html

 

I have no problem using the 72 frame if I can find a donor truck to steal the front end and associated stuff out of. I feel like if I have to go buy the front end by itself it's going to cost me big dollars plus the rebuild.

Jason

 

No real cheap way around it. Got to pay to play. Whether you buy a newer frame and axles ect or build a kingpin axle your still looking at bookoo bucks. But atleast with the 72 frame everything is the right lengths and the body is already bolted up to a frame. Which saves a lot of time and materials trying to reinvent the wheel.