Has anyone seen a factory unibody 4x4?

Or is the existence of these 4x4 unibodies just a rumor?

 

Actually the existence of a 4X4 Integral Bed F Series would be called a "One Off " or "Phantom" because I believe it'd have been assembled by someone other than FoMoCo.
FBp

 

I'm no expert in these trucks, but post the VIN and it can be traced to see if this is a legit or not truck.

Barry

 

I have a 63 F100 Unibody 4x4 that I am told had a F250 4x4 drive train installed by the local ford dealer at the time of purchase. It has FoMoCo tags on the differentials dated 10-62. I have been told that Ford did not make factory Unibody 4x4s because of the body flexing problem with Unibodies. They can't take the off road terrain without springing the doors and tailgate. I don't have any proof to back up the story, but that's what I was told.

 

Brad 61:

Have you taken you unibody 4x4 offroad? And did the tailgate and/or doorframes suffer? Any stress cracks in the sheetmetal?

Sounds like you have an interesting truck there--is it in your galleries? Do you have any documentation of your truck--that would show that the dealer added the F250 running gear?Does the running gear manufacture dates match the manufacture dates for the body of the truck?

The reason that I originally posted this question was due to the fact that there is a picture of one of these unibody 4x4 trucks in Paul G Mclanghin's book "Ford 4x4s 1935-1990 Photo History" .The picture is on page 39. And the pictured truck looks like a 1963 F100.The author found the pictured truck at a truck show 8 years ago.

Brad61:

Could you post some pictures of your truck? What kind of equipment do you have on it? What kind of axles are on it?

I was 10 years old when the 61 unibodies came out--and I could swear that I remember seeing unibody 4x4s in the dealers lot.And on brochures--but it was 45 years ago!!

I just am wondering if anyone has seen a factory made unibody 4x4?

Clarence

 

For 1961, 4x4 production numbers for the Styleside are shown as 255 for the F100 and 149 for the F250. The 4x4 flareside was far more popular back then, 2,468 F100s and 1,671 F250s.
Paul McLaughlin in his book "Ford 4x4s 1935-1990 Photo History" (ISBN #1-58388-079-8), says Ford's 1961 4x4 production numbers do not show a styleside available in 4x4. He does note though, that the 57-60 styleside box was not available as an option until 1962. His book does show a photo of a 1961 4x4 unibody. McLaughlin states 1961 truck books show only the flareside available in 4x4 in an 8 foot bed.
I suppose its possible Ford tried the 4x4 in the small production numbers in both F100 and F250 unibodies in 1961, found it didn't work well and offered the 57-60 box in 1962. I would also guess a dealer would order a unibody in a 4x4 if a buyer wanted it.
I probably have confused the issue, but have often wondered if the unibody was ever available as a 4x4 and if so, if any still exist.

 

If a unibody 4x4 was found--how would one know if the 4x4 powertrain is factory installed or not? Were 2 wheel drive unibodies already equipped with a cut out in the floor for the transfercase level for instance? Compare build dates on the drive train with the build date of the body?

Sorry--I am sure that this is a basic question that most of you guys already know--but I have no idea.I would assume that the manufactures plate would show if the truck was an original 4x4 or not.

tomsrod:

You are correct--it was a 1961 and not a 1963 pictured in the book.

 

My 63 Unibody 4X4 is a long bed with a 292 and a T98 4 speed. It has a Spicer Model 24 transfer case, a Dana 60 rear differential with 4.56 gears and 16 spline axles, and a Dana 44 front differential with 19 spline axles. The VIN shows it to be an F100 with a 3 speed tranny.

The body is in rough shape, I bought it to put the drive train under a solid bodied 61 Unibody. I am just getting started on this project. Sorry, I don't have a way to download any pictures at the moment.

I hope I answered all your questions.

 

POst the serial number and it can be verified as legit or not.

Barry

 

I have seen one "Dealer" converted 63 F100 uni located in california. It was for sale on e Bay about 5 years ago and i had the owner send me the vin info. It was noted on the Warranty tag as a converted unit.

I have seen many cobbled together 4x4 unis claimed to be factory. However the VIN tells the story F10XXXXXXX or F25XXXXXX just dont cut it as being a four wheel drive unit. At the Supernationals there was a 62 long bed big window for sale on a trailer. axles and case matched the year but the vin did not tell it was a four wheel drive. The door warranty plate will not suffice either for info...Need to get the actual stamped VIN on the frame rail near the passenger shock tower. doors get changed all the time. the 61 and 62 units will have it in the glove box and potentially be more reliable. 63 has on door.

Trucks with a F100 nomenclature and F250 running gear are definatly out of the picture as this would allow violation of the warranty tag for GVRW. Read the owners manual about overloading and violation of warranty. No dealer would thake the risk of not being paid for conversion warranty work as it would not be reimbursed by FOMOCO.

Garbz

 

The information I've gathered pertaining to unibody 4X4s is Ford built a few for testing and decided not to produce them. Problems with doors popping open or jamming shut were the main cause for this decision. The test mules were built by Marmmon Harrington? on modified 59/60 chassis, military type drivetrains.

 

Those F100 Uni 4X4's were built by Marmon as military spec vehicles. I saw some info on them in a Military truck book. They didn't pass the application review process so they were never really built for military release. I just wonder how many made it out into the general population? I would suspect not more that the 5 they originally built. There was a picture of one in the lobby at the Marmon specialty vehicle assembly facility in Garland, Texas several years ago. What did the "Harrington" refer to?

 

Harrington referred to Arthur Harrington--a retired US Colonel that formed the company that converted trucks to all wheel or 4x4 configuration back in 1931. He was a partner with Walter Marmon.

Marmon-Harrington converted most of the Ford trucks converted to 4x4 until the first Ford Factory 4x4 in 1959 appeared as the 1959 F100.

 

It is Marmon-Herrington. My Bad!