Ok, I'm looking at a 1953 F250 at a local auction place in my town. It doesn't run, interior is shot, but the body seems to be in fair enough shape for a body swap for a rat rod project. I have a 1979 F150, the cab and box are shot. So I'm wandering how much of a pain or if it's even possible to put the 1953 body on the 1979 frame. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

I'm mounting a 54 F100 body on a 1978 F150 4x4 chassis.

There are a whole list of issues doing this.

1. The 79 has the wrong wheelbase.
2. The 79 chassis has the engine set back quite a bit. This requires cutting a huge chunk out of the firewall and building a huge firewall recess.
3. The 79 frame has a dip in the center of the frame which requires approximately 4" higher cab mount frame brackets. You can not just mount the cab to the frame without the raised mount brackets. If you do you will run into major front clip/dog house issues.
4. There will be a slight kick up on the rear frame section. Most of this is fixed with the mods listed in # 3.
5. If your 53 has the small wheel well openings in the front fenders then the front track width on the 79 will be too wide. If it has the large wheel well openings then the track width won't be a problem.
6. You may run into legal issues in your area with doing the frame swap. I'm in Minnesota and I have to file an "affidavit of Reconstruction". This requires a clear title or bill of sale for every major component on the vehicle.


These are just some of the problems. And for every major problem there will also be ten or more small issues to deal with.

Can it be done? Sure! Is it worth it? That's up to you to decide. Most people would just suggest keeping the stock frame and swap in a newer engine and transmission, rear diff and suspension & brakes. But some of us like to do things the easy, hard way!

 

This is the clearest, most complete summary of the frame swap challenges I've seen. Well done Ted!

 

It rarely turns out looking "right", even after all the extra work to try and make it fit. You can usually spot them a mile away...and that isn't usually a good thing.

Before you launch into a frame swap, think about this: if chassis/frame swaps were a better/faster/cheaper way to build a good driving vintage truck, more guys would be doing it. The fact is that the vast majority of people don't even consider it. Most upgrade their stock frame (or use a custom built frame) with modern suspension and drive train. It's the more popular way of doing things for a reason. It's easier and usually gets better results.

 

When you are checking out the ads on Ebay and craigslist for old trucks sometime, pay attention to the number of 'unfinished projects' and compare the normal unfinished with the frame swap unfinished.

 

Thanks for the advice and knowledge guys. Took a look at the truck in person and it's not worth it. Looks like when they ratchet strapped the doors shut they hemanned it, the roof is shot. Completely dented in about 6" and is ripping away at the body seam.

 

I don't really buy the argument that there are more unfinished frame swap projects for sale then unfinished stock frame projects. I see just as many if not more unfinished projects with stock frames. No matter what frame they are using most people just underestimate the amount of time, money and effort it takes to build a truck. People just start tearing down a vehicle get in over their head or life just gets in the way of the build and the decide to sell them off. Either way unfinished projects just mean a good deal for the next guy or gal!


Well if you want to build a 50's Ford truck just keep looking. They made a whole lot of them and they are still out there. It just takes some time to find the right one.

 

If you want there pictures on otownauctions.com
Under current auctions and auction number 173
Maybe you guys will see something I'm missing on it

 

I didn't say there were more, just that they are out there and obvious. On the other hand, sometimes those unfinished projects are are a good deal and sometimes they are the butchered junk that somebody created.

 

They have it listed as a 53 but it's actually a 54.

Are you in the Owatonna, MN area? If you are you are only about 40 miles south of me.







Hey I was able to pick up a second cab from someone else' unfinished frame swap project for my unfinished "butchered junk" frame swap extended cab project.

 

Yeah I'm out in the country near owatonna. How can you tell the difference between a 53 and a 54?

 

The grille is a '54, and the 5th digit in the serial number is a "4"

Edit: Added pictures for when the link goes dead:

 

Here's the front of my 54.




Here's a 53.




You can see the difference in the grille. The 54 has what I like to call "fangs".




Here's a cool picture that helps ID the different year classic Ford trucks.

 

Cool, good to know. How much would you pay for the 54? I can't remember the name of the yard, but it's down by the Iowa border and is filled with 30's-early 60's cars and trucks. So I could find a roof there for it.

 

I don't really know how much it's worth. You are talking no title, rusted box, damaged front fenders and a cab that is toast.

Personally I wouldn't mess with trying to repair that cab. It looks like a fairly heavy tree branch fell on the roof. There's enough damage there I would write off that cab and just find a replacement cab.





To me this is more of a parts truck then a project truck. But I also don't like buying project trucks with out a clear title.