^^ So I was watching this video the other day.

It made me start thinking... what does it take to put one of these bodies on a new chassis? How close are they in size? I have my extra 1960 F250 sitting around and it would be cool to drop it on a new 4x4 chassis.

 

Im not sure, but hopefully someone can answer as Im planning on swapping a 1963 M-500 cab on a 2001 f-450 chassis this coming year

 

When it comes to frame swaps really anything is possible it really just depends on your fabricated skills. I swapped my 64 over to a 75 frame and the biggest challenge was getting the bed to sit flat, I had to raise the floor 2-3" to level it out. I have a 57 Mercury M250 I just picked up and am looking at putting it on a 98-2002 panther car frame(crown Vic). It's cost effective and a great fit, there will be fabricating involved but what the heck.

I do know that you can put the 61 and up on 97 frames if you wish, your reference point is your back cab mounts and you work out from there.

Anything is possible, you just have to watch for track width so it fits in the fenders.

D

 

Your total right. Just do a little bit of home work to get something close to the right size and then it's just blood sweat and tears.

Like you said wheel width is going to be one of the biggest deals.

 

Well I now know they fit on a 83 Chevy. How about any Ford chassis?

 

I went to the dark side - 87 S-10 4x4. Measure everything twice, especially track width! A big problem is most newer frames have curves instead of being flat. I lost 4 inches of bed depth to clear the frame.

Before I went with the Chevy I had my 57mocked up on a 74 F250 highboy frame. I think it would have been an easier build but the axles are really wide and it would have been really tall! I wanted something low to the ground but still 4x4.

If I ever build something like this again I will make sure I have an easier way to cut steel (plasma cutter or band saw), a torch to heat and bend metal, and a tig welder. You can get by with a mig but sometimes you want your welds to look really nice!

 

Some good info thanks D57

 

The easiest way to determine this is to google the wheel base of your model, say a 59 shortbed, which is 110", and then look up your potential doners. On the 57-60 models, the front wheel well as it is, up to an inch longer on the doner makes it look better, if even noticeable. Track width can usually be corrected by the offset of the rim and/or spacers. But if you aren't tucking wheels (lowering or bagging) this isn't as crucial. As stated above, the frame rails on new stuff are usually too wide to mount the body to, unless you do a big body lift or cut up the cab at the steps to allow the new frame to clear. I found the best way to get what your after is to get the wiring out of, and the body off of, the doner, and then make the frame the right width and length in the middle. Basically cutting out the middle part between the front and rear suspension and making a new one out of 3x6 .120 wall box steel, 4 feet wide I think it is. Then you'll need to replumb or reroute some wires and brake lines. For me the biggest pain was finding a good shop to shorten and balance the driveshaft. Closest place for me was over an hour away. Steel is 300 bucks or less and the shaft was 250. But you maintain the original condition of the body--which are becoming rare. I did this with a p-71 doner. No regrets. Took 6 months to get it functional working on it nights after work.

 

Truck looks good Lucky and thank for your input. I was wanting a quick way to turn my 2x4 F250 into a more modern 4x4. All the same principles should apply and or find a 4x4 drive line that fits and mount it into the frame kind of like I'm doing with my F100.

 

<table width="800" bordercolor="#808080" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr><td width="25%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************][/COLOR]</td><td width="50%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************]Ford Trucks[/COLOR]</td><td width="25%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************]Wheelbase (+/- 0.5")[/COLOR]</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1959-1960</td><td width="50%"> F-series long bed</td><td width="25%"> 120"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1961-1963</td><td width="50%"> F-series long bed</td><td width="25%"> 120"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1964</td><td width="50%">F-series long bed</td><td width="25%">128"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1965-1966</td><td width="50%">F-series long bed</td><td width="25%">129"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1966</td><td width="50%"> F-series short bed</td><td width="25%"> 115"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1967-1972</td><td width="50%"> F-series long bed</td><td width="25%"> 131"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1967-1972 </td><td width="50%"> F-series short bed</td><td width="25%"> 115"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1969-1972</td><td width="50%"> F-series short bed crew cab</td><td width="25%"> 148.3"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1973-1979</td><td width="50%"> F-series short bed crew cab</td><td width="25%"> 150.3"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1973-1997</td><td width="50%"> F-series long bed regular cab</td><td width="25%"> 133"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1973-1996</td><td width="50%"> F-series short bed regular cab</td><td width="25%"> 117"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1978-1997</td><td width="50%"> F-series long bed super cab</td><td width="25%"> 155"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1978-1997</td><td width="50%"> F series long bed crew cab</td><td width="25%"> 168.4"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1997-2002</td><td width="50%"> F-150 long bed regular cab</td><td width="25%"> 138.8"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1997-2002</td><td width="50%"> F-150 long bed super cab</td><td width="25%"> 157.4"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1997-2002</td><td width="50%"> F-150 short bed regular cab</td><td width="25%"> 120.2"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1997-2000</td><td width="50%"> F-150 short bed super cab</td><td width="25%"> 138.8"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 short bed regular cab</td><td width="25%">125.8"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 long bed regular cab</td><td width="25%">144.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-2008</td><td width="50%">F-150 super cab 5.6' bed</td><td width="25%">132.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 super cab 6.6' bed</td><td width="25%">144.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 super cab 8.1' bed</td><td width="25%">163.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2004-08</td><td width="50%">F-150 super crew 5.6' bed</td><td width="25%">138.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2006-2008</td><td width="50%">F-150 super crew 6.6' bed</td><td width="25%">150.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2009-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 super crew 5.6' bed</td><td width="25%">144.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2009-2012</td><td width="50%">F-150 super crew 6.6' bed</td><td width="25%">156.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1999-2010</td><td width="50%">F-250/350 Super Duty regular cab 8.2' bed</td><td width="25%">137.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1999-2010</td><td width="50%">F-250/350 Super Duty super cab 6.9' bed</td><td width="25%">141.8"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1999-2010</td><td width="50%">F-250/350 Super Duty super cab 8.2' bed</td><td width="25%">158.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1999-2010</td><td width="50%">F-250/350 Super Duty crew cab 6.9' bed</td><td width="25%">156.4"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1999-2010</td><td width="50%">F-250/350 Super duty crew cab 8.2' bed</td><td width="25%">172.4"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1983-1997</td><td width="50%"> Ranger short bed</td><td width="25%"> 107.9"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1983-1997</td><td width="50%"> Ranger long bed</td><td width="25%"> 113.9"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1986-1997</td><td width="50%"> Ranger super cab short bed</td><td width="25%"> 125.4"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1998-2011</td><td width="50%">Ranger short bed</td><td width="25%">111.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1998-2011</td><td width="50%">Ranger long bed</td><td width="25%">117.6"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1998-2011</td><td width="50%">Ranger super cab short bed</td><td width="25%">125.9"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************]Year[/COLOR]</td><td width="50%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************]Ford SUV's[/COLOR]</td><td width="25%" bgcolor="#000000">[***************]Wheelbase (+/- 0.5")[/COLOR]</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1966-1977</td><td width="50%"> Bronco</td><td width="25%"> 92.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1978-1996</td><td width="50%"> Bronco (Full size)</td><td width="25%"> 104.7"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1984-1990</td><td width="50%"> Bronco II</td><td width="25%"> 94.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2001-2012</td><td width="50%">Escape</td><td width="25%">103.1"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2000-2005</td><td width="50%">Excursion</td><td width="25%">137.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1997-2012</td><td width="50%">Expedition</td><td width="25%">119.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2007-2013</td><td width="50%">Expedition EL</td><td width="25%">131.0"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1991-2003</td><td width="50%"> Explorer two door sport</td><td width="25%"> 101.7"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">1991-2001</td><td width="50%"> Explorer four door</td><td width="25%"> 111.5"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2002-2010</td><td width="50%">Explorer 4-door</td><td width="25%">113.7"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2011-2012</td><td width="50%">Explorer 4-door</td><td width="25%">112.6"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2001-2005</td><td width="50%">Explorer Sport Trac</td><td width="25%">125.9"</td></tr><tr><td width="25%">2007-2010</td><td width="50%">Explorer Sport Trac</td><td width="25%">130.5"</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Thanks for the compliment! This list above is far from complete and I'd cross reference it for accuracy, but its a start. When I was researching mine, considering the pros and cons of 2 vs 4wheel and where I go, Broncos and explorers ended up as my best options for 4 wheel. Both had advantages and disadvantages. Both were readily available as cost effective doners. But I had it in my head I was going to make my own frame for a number of reasons and use the suspension and drivetrain from the doner.


Do you know your wheelbase? This chart says 120" but I thought they were 118". If I'm right, and yours is 118" not 120", these 2 are almost a perfect fit--either could be made to look right without cutting the frames. I'd measure the width of the frame if you can find one of them, along with the actual wheelbase and track width with the current rim/tires on it. Neither was available to me at the time I was looking. FYI: Actual wheelbase of a similar model can be off up to .5 one to the next.


<table width="800" bordercolor="#808080" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">1997-2012</td><td width="50%">Expedition</td><td width="25%">119.0"</td></tr></tbody></table><table width="800" bordercolor="#808080" bgcolor="#ffffff" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3"><tbody><tr><td width="25%">1998-2011</td><td width="50%">Ranger long bed</td><td width="25%">117.6"</td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Dude this is some amazing info bud. I might just have to start measuring a few of these to see if I can't find something.

I'd love to have a little low SWB with a matching 4x4.

 

That's my plan too. I'm going to make a mini-monster 4x4. I really want to double door (king cab) it and use a longbed. Looking for the right 2 bodies to sacrifice and right doner for several months now. No luck yet
Just for the record, what is the correct measurement for a long-bed wheelbase? Did you measure yours yet?

 

I have not measured anything yet. I'll try to get to that soon and let you know what I come up with.