How much of these years trucks are interchangeably? Can you put a 58 front fascia on a 60? Do the hoods swap around?

 

Are you referring to the front "valance" or "gravel shield"? If so, the '57-58 version had a provision to mount the parking lights. Half of the parking light housing is in each fender and the other half is in the corresponding portion of the front valance. As you know, the turn signals are in the grill on the '59-60 models.

As for the hoods, I think they all will swap. The only issue might be grill clearance. I am sure somebody has tried this swap and can provide more information.

 

Havva look at my "albums" pages
you will see i used a 57 grille with a snipped off lower section from a 60 as well as a lower "valance" section from the 60 and the 60 type sig lites with newer orange lenses.
and of coarse a 57-8 hood.

Mikie
near ottawa canada
58 m-100 panel & 64 econoline p/u

 

I guess what I'm asking is can most of the front pieces be swapped around? Like if I want a 58 grill and a 57 hood on my 60 truck.

 

The fenders and front valance are unique to '57s and '58s, because of the park lamp issue as oldbleu mentioned. However, I think the holes for the grills may be the same on all years. I think the '58 grill will mount on your '60, and I know the '57 hood (same as '58) will bolt up.

 

Short answer, yes. The fenders and front valence are different (57-58 vs. 59-60) because of the parking lights but the parts will bolt up. At the moment, I have a 59 grille on my '58. I think 57 & 58 hoods were the same. The only thing that might not work would be a 1960 grille on a 57-58 car as the 1960 grille surrounds the rectangular parking lights which would be round (and in a different location) on a 57-58.

Lou Manglass

 

P.S. The heavier trucks used different fenders and fascia so what I've described only applies to light duty trucks.

Lou Manglass

 

Thanks for the info guys that's what I wanted to know.

 

What do you consider heavier? Anything above 350?

 

I don't remember exactly. I know for a fact that F-750 and heavier are different. However, the differences are obvious. The fenders are bulged to accomodate 20" and larger wheel sizes. The front valence is much deeper to better hide the frame and line up with the larger bulged fenders.

 

With the exception of the front fenders I am finding that all sheet metal from F100 - F600 is interchangeable from 57 - 60.

 

That sounds correct. The fenders are different on 59, 60 to accommodate the rectangular parking lights/turn signals as is the front valence.

As an example, here's the mashup that makes up the front clip of my 1958 F-100: (Please note, this is from memory over 30 years ago and there were virtually no reproduction parts available at the time)

Inner Fenders - Original 1958 F-100 with patches in the corners.

Radiator Support - Original center radiator mount with side panels from a 1957 F-750 welded in. (the section that holds the radiator was different but the side panels were exactly the same so I cut the radiator support apart and welded the new panels in place)

Front Fenders - 1960 F-250 with patch panels in the usual spot and metal from the same 1957 F-750 grafted into the front of the fenders to allow for the correct parking lights.

Front Valence - N.O.S. part that was correct for a 1958 F-100.

Grille - 1959 F-100. IIRC it required a slight modification to accept the 1958 headlight "buckets." I have an N.O.S. original 1958 chrome grille that has yet to be installed.

Hood - original.

Hope that's helpful information.
Lou Manglass

P.S. Drivers door is off the same F-750 as rust free doors were non-existent back then. The F-750 was a find as it was almost perfect so I used whatever I could and whatever I could get. It was in a commercial junkyard so it disappeared pretty quickly. In total, I used 4 parts trucks in the restoration of mine.
1957 F-750 in the junkyard
1960 F-250 I actually bolted "leftovers" on this truck and used it again!
1957 Panel truck. It was already cut up beyond repair before I got it.
...and another 1958 F-100 which (for some strange reason) had an, almost, perfect bed. I gave that truck and the original bed to the guy who painted mine. Thanks Dave Vargas, wherever you are.