i have a 1953 f-350 flatbed and i am wondering if it is possible to put the cab and body parts on the frame of my 79' f-350. the 79 has a 351m and is also a flatbed, i measured the cab and from fire wall to back and they are both about the same. would it be a huge job to make it fit or would it be pretty simple???? would i be able to keep the 351 in it and just drop the cab right on or am i just askin fer trouble... what would i do about the title and vin# right now i do not have a title for the 53 and have not gotten to find the vin yet, could i just use the vin and title from the 79 if this were doable??? would cut out a lot of work and ride like gold if i could do it just a thought i havn't started anything yet would love to just be able to drop it on the 79 frame and not have to do all the grunt work on the old 53 (engine brakes, rear, and the like)my 79 is solid but would make a great 53

 

Somewhere in my collection of pictures, I have a picture of a 48 on a later model tonner chassis. It is a great looking truck.

The title thing will depend on the state you are located in. You might be able to title it as a 53 F350, but I doubt as a 79 with a the 53 cab etc.

In Kansas you can get a new title issued for a vehicle that has been built as a "street rod" etc, but I don't know what the proceedure would be. You would need to check with your state motor vehicles department.

 

IMHO... it's keeping blue with blue so, it's not a crime against nature. But, it's also not gonna be a plug and play. You should be able to keep your 79 title since that's the true running gear you are going to be using. All you are changing is sheet metal.

I'd say go for it if you have the time... $$$... and resources available.

 

tn.jed

anything is doable with time and money... you can burn a rock if you pile enough money around it...

see the current post "55 cab on a newer frame" for a few more comments...

if you're a fabricating fool with time to kill and B. Gates money... get ya some !

john

 

i just climbed under both trucks and took a bunch of measurements and it looks like i could do it pretty easy. looks like the worst bit will be drilling out the mounts on both trucks and putting the ones from the 53 frame on the 79 as for the engine fitting i haven't figured that out yet but i think it would be doable. im ggonna have to read that thread that was suggested and see how that turned out. i would be happy to do it. the 79 has good brakes, one piece rims, radial tires a good rear,trans, power steering and engine the 53 has 6 lug split rims, bias tires, bad breaks, old rear, needs brake lines fuel lines, and on and on. the old straight 6 runs good though just needs everything else, might be funner to drive on the 79 frame with the power steering a lot less work. i plan to pull the cab off the 53 either way so might not be too big of a headacheas long as I keep the 351 from catching on fire.

 

One major consideration is the side to side width. The '79's wheels will stick out beyond the fenders of the '53. Ford widened the axles in '73.

As John said, if you're a fabricating fool go for it but it's not going to be as easy as you think, it's not a simple bolt up.

 

its a great idea!!! i put my 49 on an s10 chassis...its a great way to update with out lots of expence...just time spent in the shop!!

 

I say go for it. There are a couple of chassis swaps done around here and they work great in the end.

The '79 is a great donor too, the late 70's seems to be ideal as far as parts went for a lot of projects like this. I'm actually looking to swap the axles on my truck and the '79 F350 is looking like a good choice. Course my truck is also wider, not sure if the F350s where wider than the F100s, but mine is about 5" or so, makes a difference on some things.

 

When you make the swap TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES! (and post them here)

 

I guess it all depends on what state you live in. in louisiana a crime against nature does not include mixng truck parts of diffrent years or even believe it or not different makes. So you would be ok at least down here lol

 

i would ask around in your general area about the title issue. look online for a local kit car club and ask them how the process works. here in illinois, my father had a hell of a time with an inspector giving him an ammended title for a motorcycle he built when i was younger. in all honesty i would just bypass it all and title it as what the body is as long as that's where the vin tag is at. if you title it as a 78 you will get pulled over every time a police officer runs your plates, because it will come back 78 f350 and he's gonna see something different

 

If you go through with this you have to see 51dueller's project. He's done one of the best frame swap I've seen. He has a gallery set up but doesn't have the detailed pictures of his frame modifications. You don't have enough posts to contact him via FTE so I'll see if he'll stop by.

 

thanks for all the responses. i will look into the width, i think it will work out pretty good as long as the width isn't a problem all other measurements are close enuff to work with,there is a lot to think about but changing over and making work but all considered i think takeing it one thing at a time would get it done will see when i get the cab off the 53 and can see what all needs to be done( steering column ,break and clutch hookups, frame to cab mounts widths and clearance will be easier to get at it all and envision once the cabs off since its coming off anyway.

 

i had a 55 on a 74 frame i cut tweaked and shortened ... but alas it got destroyed / bent by an overzealous spouse anxious to have it towed to my unk's to have a garage sale so i never finished , or repaired the damage . i'll see if i can find the pics , and grover seen it before i had the frame completely finished so he can verify it and tell ya i'm not full of it .................... also for inspiration look at the 56 on an explorer frame thread i dug up and bumped up for all you frame swap junkies !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Since Bob asked nicely , I threw a couple pictures of my frame swap in my gallery. It was a 1978 F-250 frame that I narrowed and shortened for my 1951 Mercury M-3. Pretty much the only problem I really into was the steering as it very close to the cab. I'm going to have to run a heavily modified steering column.