So, I have the main ingredients (even including a little bit of time) to create a legendary 4wd crew cab. But have a twisted question...

In my state (and most states) you have to obtain the frame vins for it to be a legit conversion. That said, has anybody cut the frame off in the front and scalloped the passenger side in such a way as to keep the frame vins but end out with a 4wd front end?

I have been collecting for years. I have a 78/79 F250 front frame section to use and I have a highboy front frame section to use. And I have a complete crew cab 2wd. And I have both a highboy and a 79 F250 complete as well to take measurements.

On top of things it will receive a 6bt/12v cummins all said and done. I have a complete truck with that as well. But that will come after I get the bulk in place.

I've done quite a bit of fabbing in my time but it never hurts to look at some pics of other's work before getting started. And I guess measurements will be my next step.

I've searched and I haven't found anything quite like what I want to accomplish. I've seen the All Mighty conversions with nothing but time on your hands to completely fabricate a 2wd into a 4wd, and I've seen the front end frame swaps using oval patches but not retaining the frame vins. I'm hoping to lean more towards the later but not as simple as cutting straight and swapping.

I'm hoping to be able to scallop in a way only on the passenger side and then scallop one of my 4wd frame sections to fit into place. The frames are the same for the rear vin under the cab so that will not be the issue. The issue is the front vin.

A last option would be to just cut out a section of the 4wd frame and scallop the original 2wd vin on the front frame horn into place.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

Why not just register it with the VIN in the cab and be done with it?

 

Good point.

I guess the only reason I can come up with is re-sale value and out of state sales if I ever depart with it. The only saving grace is that the crew is registered in my state. I have no title to either of the 4x frames.

The more I think about it I may have answered my own question with the idea of just swapping frame fronts and piece milling the front vin when I get around to it. And that will accomplish everything I want to do. Plain and simple. done and out.

Meanwhile...

 

If you have a clean title that matches the cab I would just use it and not worry about the frame. I doubt anyone buying a truck that's been sliced and diced would care much anyway. I've had several vin verifications done due to movining or buying vehicles out of state in 3 different states I've lived in and no one has ever looked beyond the VIN tag.

 

There's no "VIN tag" on trucks, Bronco's or Econolines until 1980. It's located on the left corner of the dash, visible thru the windshield.

Warranty Plate riveted to the left door face below the latch. The "VIN" is known as the Warranty Number and FoMoCo says it's not for title or registration purposes.

The reason is, it's too easy to change. People replaced damaged left doors with used doors. 99.9% of the time, they failed to install the original Warranty Plates on the replaced doors.

Trucks were registered by their specific hidden frame VIN, not by the Warranty Number.

 

It can be a real big mess. I've swapped complete bodies from one truck to another and used the information from one truck that I had a tag on. Recently I purchased a 1973 from California and GA made me get it inspected and they did check the VIN on the frame on the passenger side under the cab with a mirror.

 

That's not the one I was referring to. The left door on my 75 is from a 79 and still has the 79 warranty tag on it. I was talking about the adhesive label on the door jamb. That's the only thing the comufornia DMV looked at when issuing me a new title after resurrection from a total. Really the point is that if thr OP has a clear title that matches that one he won't need to have it verified anyway. Just renew the registration.

 

in my state you just need a title to register this year of truck, since these trucks did not have a vin attached to the cab ( metal tag on drivers door ) . i purchased a rust free cab and front clip from out of state with no title to use for my cab swap rebuild. i just plan on using my original title that i have for the old cab that i no longer have.