Modern dually frame swap
 

Hi, I just bought a 54 F100 and would like to convert to a dually. The idea is to put 54 sheet metal on a modern F350 dually diesel drivetrain.
Anyone do this before? Any suggestions are more than welcome. Pics?
This is a link with the idea. (Paint, no photoshop)

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/d...ps56a29c37.jpg

It can be done but it's a lot more work then fitting the newer drive train parts to the 54 frame.

The biggest issue is the newer chassis have the engine set back much farther then the 54 does. This either requires a huge firewall recess and floor mods. Or you can move the engine and transmission forward. But depending on the frame and engine then you are getting into frame/ mount modifications.

There are also a bunch of other issues to work around. frame width, shape, rear kick up, wheel base differences, track width, just to name a few.

Check out this post. It was updated at post 19:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ford-f2-2.html

I've not been around a long time, but from all that i have seen frame swaps are not a popular thing.

Have you considered boxing the frame, swap under a Dana 70 or Sterling 10.25 rear (cab and chassis style for width), upgrade to a large disc brake front (Ford F2 & F3 or F-2/F-3 Front Disc Brake Conversion ) and dropping in a diesel. I've seen mentions of a 5 cyl Mercedes swap and there is also the 4 or 6BT Cummins.

Is this the look your wanting ? https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...read-abby.html

I don't mean to pop your bubble, just looking to be informative and helpful.

Oh, the axles that will fit are listed below (credit to 51dueller)

For the axle that fit the best are:
1969-1984 F-350 Chassis Cab Dana 70
1985-1996 F-350 Chassis Cab Sterling 10.25

It has to be from a chassis cab and not a pickup as the spring perches and axle is much wider.

Thanks all for ur replies. I really want to use a modern drive train. The truck will be my daily driver and want to able to tow a trailer with no worries and that the reason why I want a diesel dually. I love how the truck looks on the ground but definitely I want a big truck even if it is the same...
Samsn4, that truck looks really good but I would like to stretch the bed to 8'.
What about an E350 cab chassis frame? Looks like the engine is more forward than in the F350.
Thanks again!

Be prepared to spend a bunch of money before you get so frustrated that you scrap the project
I've seen about a hundred people want to do the same thing as you and maybe three who finished the project

There was a member who mounted his '51-52 F-8 sheet metal on an E-350 ambulance dually chassis:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...oid=85226&.jpg

1951 Ford F350 4x2 - AmeriKen's Toys

He got the truck done and drove it around. He hasn't been on the board 5-6 years, his board name is Ameriken. He has a lot of posts with questions and answers about his build. Do a search to find them all.

Thanks for ur advice. Just a question, the guys who finished the project are in this forum?
My budget is 15k and already have the f100, hope to be enough.

There are a lot of posts by people going into a frame swap but very few with completed projects. Do a search for "frame swap" and you'll find the "I'm thinking about doing a frame swap" posts way out number the "I'm finished and enjoying my frame swap" posts.

Since you only have 5 posts you can't search thru FTE

Here is a link to a google search of this forum

- Google Search

IMHO if that photochopped truck wasn't 1/2 as ugly it would still be FUGLY! Proportions are way out of whack, destroying everything that makes the mid fifty trucks so appealing. looks like a fugitive from a truck pull competition. Would be very expensive to accomplish, and did I mention it would be UGLY? The frame and rear suspension would be so far into the bed it would be ~ 12" deep, about as useful as a flatbed for hauling. If you want something that big, why not sell the F100 and buy a F600-900 to start with instead.

Thanks AXracer, but for me the truck doesn't look ugly at all. And yes, maybe you are right but they are harder to find that the f100.

Really? usually the big jobs are much easier to find, a lot less expensive and typically in better shape. Gotta look in large truck wrecking yards, in the back of older trucking company parking lots in the overgrown areas, behind the barns or in the back lot on large truck farming operations, in the back alleys in commercial and industrial areas. Trucking companies seldom advertise them for sale since the resale value and demand isn't worth their time, and the mechanicals are often worn out. Guys on here that like the big jobs and keep their eyes open are hauling them home all the time for little or no money.

Doesn't look ugly to me either, but would like the others suggest starting with a bigger model and using the stock frame. Stu

The 1967-1979 F100/150/250 have the right frame rail width for a frame swap. The f350 might be the same, not sure. But you can always swap in a dually axle. If you go with a flatbed and a 4wd you eliminate some of the extra work/problems in this swap.... http://www.fatfenderedtrucks.com/frameswap01.html