I am considering swapping the axles, engine, trans, electrics, accessories from a 1999 F250 dually to the 1954 F500 crew cab pictured below.

Any experience, opinions, advice would be appreciated.

 

That's gonna be a sweet looking ride.

Instead of swapping everything over, wouldn't it be easier just to swap that cab on the newer chassis and powertrain?

 

I was initially inclined to the cab swap but many members dissuaded it.
They felt it was easier to move everything to the old frame.

I am looking for such opinions, discussion and experience.

Both options still open.
Do you have experience in either?

 

Sorry, not so much experience. Looking at 1970 f250 crew myself, if the price comes down I want to put that body on a newer, rolled f250. I've read quite a few threads on swapping the cab over, figured that would be easier.

 

Brett:
I agree.

Seems that many people just start cutting and wrenching on the cab swap intending to make it all work out in the end.

I understand it will take a good deal of time to measure and plan (pedal and steering placement, etc.) but a lot of planning can be done in place of the time required to, for instance, completely disassemble, modify and reinstall a brake system.

Going to start the prep and planning on a cab swap and see where it leads before turning any wrenches.

 

Do you have the rolled F250 or the crew cab already?

 

I don't have either yet, lol. The 1970 f250 I'm looking at, the guy wants 2800, yikes and that's with out the front clip. I helped my dad completely rebuild his f150 custom a few years back, only thing we didn't touch was the transmission I think, lol. Would love to build my own truck with that body style now.

Was thinking electronics wise, just swapping the cab over would save a ton of time as well

 

But I should have kept my mouth shut with offering you advice for your project, lol

Good luck, hope you post your progress on here, that's gonna be a awesome looking truck.

 

If I can get my 97 7.3 running I'll be putting it in a 49 3/4 ton chev panel. Look into "SPEEDWAY" hotrod parts, they sell a mustang front cross member for just about anything out there. If they have one for a 49 chev I'm sure they have one for you, then you can buy used must/cobra parts to do the rest, but take care about the amount of weight your putting on the chassis. DO IT. divers street rods put a dual turbo Detroit Allison in 1 of 7 54 stainless topped cadilacs. just look up 'DIVERS STREET RODS'

 

An F600 chassis should be able to handle the weight better than an F100 or 250 of the era, it'll probably handle it better than my F250 does now. A cab swap may or not be easier, those older trucks used a different mount setup with a narrow frame so it'll take a fair bit of custom work and probably new crossmembers on the cab floor to make it work. Also the step inside the doors may make the floor too narrow to fit over a modern frame, requiring either more mods or perch it a bit higher to clear the frame.
I would seriously consider modern axles with a ratio to get you in the 2200-2500 range at 60, that truck probably has 4.56 or 5.13 gears now that will hit the 7.3's governor at about 55-60.

 

but with the larger tires the F5 came with the gears in it should be equal to a newer axle with small tires Jared.

 

Hi Fellas:
Thanks for the great input.

As to the rear axle, if I do a cab swap, the truck will have the "new" axle, ratio, etc.

As Jared stated, the frame is wider on the new trucks; especially where the door joins the frame. I am thinking through this issue before wrenching anything. Want it to look right or not at all.

Fortunately, I do not have to worry about the length between the axles as there is no original bed to swap over. It will be a flat bed with fifth wheel and gooseneck hardware for pulling horse and camper trailers.

A drivetrain swap may be easier but I would like to retain the convenience of the heat, A/C, etc. Swapping those systems gives me more pause than the drivetrain.

 

Howdy,

You'll need to change the steering box, and front axle too probably. The 7.3 manifolds will interfere with the stock steering box and under floor pedals/brake master cyl etc.

I considered using a 6.9/7.3 in my 55 F-600 too. but unless you change the rear axle, you'll never have a high enough ratio to to go more than 50 mph at governed speed!
( you said you'd swap the entire drive-train?)

Mine has a 6.80:1 single speed!! I'm going to use a 5.83/8.10 : 1 2-speed instead with the E4OD automatic (0.71:1 OD)


You obviously will need to get rid of the "Widow-maker" wheels. They simply are not safe to use and you'll have a fairly hard time finding 5-lug BUDD wheels in any size.

If you're going to do different front and rear axles, you'll have that covered along with the correct ratios.

Another member put a Cummins 12-valve in his 56 F-600 and used a fairly "tall" ratio Dana 80 rear axle. I don't know what he did with the front, but in 56, they went to 6-lug BUDD wheels which are easier to find nowadays.

If I remember correctly, the frame rails are 34" on all the older trucks and that makes it very hard to get everything to fit with newer "stuff".........manifolds, spring/suspension mounts don't match, steering box in the way and other stuff.....PLUS the smaller wheels and tires will look ridiculously small in those (big) front fender cut-outs. (I have 9.00-20 wheels and tires on my 55 F-600)

You likely cannot use them since they're 7.50-20 or 8.25-20 wheels and tires. But you could definitely use 19.5" wheels and tires! but that will require much newer axles and hubs. And if you're going to do that you'll want disc brakes all the way around.

Plan on paying around $350-400+ for each tire! (I was going to put 19.5 wheels and tires on my F350SD until I found out what they cost!)


Swapping the cab to the other frame has been done successfully. (and maybe that might be a whole lot easier) But you have to consider where the other wheels "sit" in the front fender cutouts.

But you'll start with an engine that already fits, engine mounts that already exist, steering box and front axle steering geometry that is already done (and works) existing brake lines etc etc etc........

I might choose swapping the cab!


Cheers,


Rick

 

Robb, ya know there is no such thing as a F250 dually? I'm assuming typo.

I'm inclined to recommend using the entire frame and drivetrain from a later crew cab truck of your choosing and putting that body on it. The main reason for going that direction is the condition of the '54. I'm considering it a very safe bet that the '54 needs a fair amount of floor work. During this floor work install the structural and functional portions of the cab floor that donated the frame and drivetrain. Done right this will make that cab bolt on to the new frame, allow the use of stock later seats, fit the transmission, etc.

I'd go further and recommend going all the way so to speak and installing a good portion of both the floor and firewall of the donor truck in that body. This will allow for easy use of all the stock parts(from the later truck) that matter, pedals, wiring, heat/AC, column, etc. etc.)

The goal I assume is all the functionality of the later truck, with the style of the '54. That would be the best way to get that. This plan puts the only real challenge in the body work that must be done anyway, after which the rest is for the most part stock.

Edit, just saw the pictures in your other thread, yup, needs floor work. The other issue is donor truck, I'm assuming because you specifically said 1999 that you already own the truck you intend to use as a donor? If not, or if up for shopping for the donor, while I have other preferences that likely aren't yours(prefer IDIs and OBS) as such I don't know the details of the SD differences but I think it likely that they have the same pickup vs. C&C frame differences. Cause you said you'd use a flat bed and will be towing I suggest a C&C frame with the "standard" 34" frame width to allow for more common flat beds and hitches.

 

I am looking to do the same thing. I have an 01 F550 chassis with a 7.3 std. I want to put an older 60's or 50's body onto it. I can fab. all the mech. stuff with no problem. I am concerned with the electrical swap.
Does this swap need all the Super Duty wiring and computer to swap into the older cab to make it run? Has anyone done this kind of swap before?