How easy is it to replace the frame on a 1984 F150? How long does it usually take? I am not very experienced mechanic. I have never attempted to do a major project like this. Is there any tips that anyone could give me?

 

thats a fairly good sized project. usually best to buy another truck. mind if i ask why?

 

Why what?????????

 

If you got lots of time and patience along with an assortment of the right tools along with a rotisserie or lift of some kind(to lift the body) that would be pretty much just a remove and put back onto the other frame but you're look'n at one heck of alot of work. Time wise you might grow a few grey hairs and unless you got something really special or alot of sentimental value in the truck you'd be best served taking muscletruck7379's advice. Whichever way you choose to go I wish you luck.

 

just why your wanting to swap frames. you would have not only body to remove but engine, tranny, axle suspension. like auggie said if its for sentimental value i totally get it. its just that usually the frame isn't the only thing that needs replaced and it usually easier to use it as parts for another truck.

 

Well I am looking in acquiring a ruck that has alot of sentimental value.

 

I THINK HE WANTED TO KNOW WHATS WRONG WITH THE FRAME

 

Oh well as to why I would want to change hte frame: its an 84 that has spent its entire time in PA and was rusted 10 yrs ago so it is probably prettty bad now

 

It can be done without a doubt but its not something that anyone can do in a weekend. Its gonna take time and its gonna take alot of tools and some sort of lift device to pick up things such as the cab and bed. Like I said not excately easy.

 

If the frames rusted to the point it needs to be replaced The cab and bed are probably rusted out worse

 

Fellas - I have a question relative to this discussion:

Roughly how heavy is the cab & what is it like to remove/ replace on a truck?

I've swapped beds before and remember it being manageable with 2 people. I'm sure that a cab would require more people - but for those that have done it before - how much?

I have an '84 with a good drivetrain but terrible body, and an '88 with a cherry body but blown motor. I'm planning to put the '88 bed, cab & front end on my '84 frame. FYI - both trucks were purchased for pennies, which is why I can justify the labor involved.

Thanks.

 

I would look at the frame to see just how bad it is before attempting something like that. If its got a couple bad spots maybe they can be repaired. You say its "probably pretty bad now." I would spend some time under it to get a good idea of how bad it is. I understand sentimental value but this is a huge job that will require lots of know how, lots of time and lots of tools.

If you like the truck, find another just like it, put the one with sentimental value behind the garage under a tarp (or store it somewhere) and when you get some more experience then reassess. Going at this without the right knowledge, tools, space, time is going to end very badly.

 

From what I remember we used 4 guys to set the cab back on my 84 F150 frame, of course it was completely gutted other than the dash, steering column, pedal assembly etc. We handled it pretty easily. If you are dealing with a rust belt truck, I am going to tell you it's not gonna be fun and it won't be cheap either. Chances are you will need to replace most if not all of the body mount hardware. You will find the deeper you dig into these old trucks, the more stuff that needs to be replaced. I completely understand the whole sentimental thing, I am quite attached to my ol truck too. I have had my truck since I was 15, we have been through a whole lot together... best vehicle I have ever owned. I guess you could say that is my reasoning behind the complete frame-off rebuild I am doing on it right now.

 

Yeah but body rust can be somewhat fixed with bondo correct?

 

*facepalm*

DO NOT try to fix rust with bondo. That is the most half-assed way to go about it. It isn't durable, will probably just fall off eventually, plus bondo isn't for filling holes in the first place. And it doesn't address the issue at hand, which is that your body is rotted. You need to replace the metal with patch panels (please don't just rivet them, do it right and weld them in).