Hello all, this is my first real post here.


I'm picking up a '76 M code to be the donor for my '66 F100 CC LB. I'm also upgrading to a custom rebuilt NV 4500 with mechanical speedo drive from the (NP?) 4 speed with a useless 1st gear.


My thought was to shorten the frame on the '76 and move the cab and bed over. It seems to me this would be easier than pulling everything off of two trucks and installing them back on one of them. Plus I'd get the wider rear frame, wider rear axle, heavier wall thickness, and taller box frame. As an alternative to cutting 4 inches out of the frame, I've thought about running exhaust stacks up between the bed and cab.


Has anyone done this type of conversion? Pros and cons?


I'd love to hear from anyone who has done the NV4500 conversion as well.


I've been reading several of the threads here. Lots of cool trucks!

 

I did the NV4500 conversion to my '66 LWB Styleside 2WD truck in 2013. Absolutely love it! It is a TRUCK transmission, but it shifts very nicely, unlike the agricultural NP435. It has the same granny 1st gear as your NP435, so 1st doesn't get used a lot, but if you use your truck to tow, as I do occasionally, it can be quite useful. 5th is 0.73 overdrive, which means that with 3.50 ring and pinion, 235/75R15 tires, 60 mph is 1800 rpms when it was 2500 rpms in 4th. This knocks down the noise, and should help fuel economy on the road. It hasn't improved my fuel economy in town. Parts to do the conversion are drying up, particularly the ones for the mechanical speedometer cable. You can see how we did my conversion by clicking on my user name (SuperSabre, above left) and then on the album section. There are captions to accompany the pictures. If you are planning to install headers with an "H" pipe, do the transmission conversion first. Since I didn't, you'll see the workaround we had to do to accomodate that. Hope you're successful and that you enjoy it.

 

66v8baby Welcome to and the Slicks Froum.

Would you be kind enough to share what a 76 M code is? Is that a Ford truck?

Since Ford F series are bolt hole exchange from the rear cab mounts to the front bumper from 65 to 79 a swap should work for the cab and front clip. I would suggest moving it as one piece to avoid re-alignment. Cut the chassis behind the cab to bring the bed forward and make the wheel opening look better.


John

 

John, I think he's talking about the engine code letter in the VIN of a '76 F100. M would be a 390/4 bbl, like K in early Mustangs is a Hi-Po 289. Hopefully, he'll tell us if I guessed right.

 

Yes that is correct, M code = factory 4 barrel 390. It's a low mileage 390 F100 that's destined for an Edelbrock intake and a 4100 carb. The cab and bed will go on my '76 F250, so nothing will go to waste.

I had the NV4500 custom rebuilt specifically (by Tier One Diesel) to have the mechanical speedo drive. He called today to say it's ready. I can't wait!

I live in Maryland where we have a one time state inspection that is brutal. It can't have any leaks anywhere, and they actually mic the rotors and drums. Up to now I've been driving around with historic tags, but starting Oct 1, I can no longer drive to work, so I have to get the state inspection and a regular tag.

 

OK, thanks for the guidance John, I'll do that.

 

If I move everything together, should I take the engine out first?

 

I was referring to body, cab, front fenders, rad. support and grill. Strap it at cab top and rad support and lift it. You can roll one chassis from under and the new one back. I think I would have the drive train complete before rolling it under just to have the extra room.

Good luck


John

 

SuperSabre, I checked out your album. Is that a standard bell housing with a home made adaptor plate? Or did you find a place to buy the adaptor plate? I've been thinking of going with a gear vendor to solve the one weakness of the NV4500 and NP435...that long gap between 3rd and 4th which is only an issue when towing heavy. Might consider a NV4500 if the conversion was real easy.


To the OP, If you tow/haul heavy, you'll appreciate the granny gear. Did I read correctly... you have a crew cab F100? If so, that'd be Sweet !

 

I don't think they made a crew cab in '66. It's a custom cab.


The NV4500 adapter is available from Bronco Graveyard for $267. I do plan to do some occasional towing, but if it's real heavy I'll use my F250 with a 460 and C6. However, it's not registered or inspected at all, so I can't drive it anywhere yet.


Also, need to make a correction: The donor is an F150 not F100, so hopefully that means a 31 spline rear.

 

When I click on your name I don't see an "album" section. Perhaps I need to pay to upgrade my membership, or maybe it's just because I'm a new member?

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-crew-cab.html

I don't know when the first crew cab was made but here's a '66.

How much moola do you have in the NV4500?

 

Ford did start making their own crew cabs in mid-year 1965. See this post.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ewcab-4x4.html

.

 

66v8baby - to see my album, click on my name, then click on "View Public Profile" then look over to the right and you'll see "Album" and "Garage". The album has the pictures of my NV4500 install.
'65Ford- the Advance Adaptor transmission to (stock Ford truck FE) bell housing I got straight from the vendor (Advance Adaptor, Paso Robles, Cal) for $250 in 2012. P/N is 712551. I also got from them the shifter rod, connector, and ****, Centerforce clutch, and Dodge slipyoke, as well as the rebuilt gearbox with 2WD tailshaft equipped for mechanical speedo. Since you saw the pictures, you can see that it wasn't too hard to install. Had to have a custom driveshaft (in my case it's a 2 piece with center connector bearing) made and balanced together, and a custom speedo cable made. Hope this helps.

 

A '66 crew cab would be very cool, but it sounds like a pretty rare find.


The rebuilt trans with mechanical speedo was $1850 without a core. If I'd had a core it would be $500 less. That doesn't include any of the peripherals either like the yoke, the shifter, the rubber mount, or the oil. And I still need to have the driveshaft shortened, so this is not for those on a tight budget.