Ok,, I am picking up a 79 F250 4x4,,, has a 300/NP435/NP205,,,, body is not so hot,,, AND I have my 1963 F250 4x4 with factory flatbed,,,

Ok,, so the questions I am looking for input on,,,
#1 Should I put the 63 on the 79 frame?
#2 I have a 460/C6 combo,,, should I put that in the original 63 frame and stay with the stock axles (spicer 60 w/4.56 rear,, 44 front,, 4.56) and fix what breaks as I go...
#3 Dump some money into the 292 and the T98 and run it stock

I know the value of the 63 is speculative,,, mostly in my mind, BUT... I am looking for your thoughts on this also,,,pics are in my album/gallery
I have the heads off the 292, had a couple bent pushrods,,, valve seals were shot,, needed freshening,,,
The 460 would get a mild rebuild and C6 rebuilt before install
The 300 would also get a rebuild
This isn't going to be a show truck,,,, just a fun, reliable cruise arounder,,, I would like to paint it to match my Smoker/BBQ I have and pull it with it,,,

Please give me your honest thought and opinions please!
Thanks
Joe

 

What a dilemma, would not be excited swapping out the 63 4X4 'factory flatbed' OH YEA, for a later model I don't think I could do it; if it were a 4X2 then it would not be as difficult. I would likely research and see what's involve in swapping the drive trane from the 79 to the 63, if upgrading is the issue. Further, another issue for me is what Ca. DMV has to say about the swap. If the truck would have to be registering under the later model title then I would probably avoid it. IMO, the Ca. smog requirements are going to get increasingly more restrictive, especially with regards to these classic treasures, and I prefer that Ca. DMV stay out of under my hood and have no knowledge of what's under it. Obviously it requires the truck/engine be tuned and maintained. Anyhow, don't think of much help but had the urge to an my for what it's worth.

 

If your not going to wheel it sell the 205, those are highly desirable in the offroad market. if the frame on the 66 is ok then I would just swap the 460 in and the trans is up to you.

 

If a cruiser is the concept your looking for I would go with best fuel ecomony combo.
Never done a Straight axle Slick swap to a later model chasiss. Its dueable; I would try to determine if oem (63) frame mounting later model axles & place newer drive train in between the rails be easier than frame swap.
Again not a good answer but more of a though. I would keep it title 63, in my case.
sorry no really good help on my behalf as well.

 

I don't know much about frames so I'll stick to the engines. Normally, I'd suggest keeping the Y but I also believe that if you're going to swap an engine, do it with something worthwhile and in my opinion, a 460 is just that.
Swapping to something of similar displacement is simply a waste of time and money. Stock for stock, in most cases any increase in power will be negligible if it's there at all when staying close to the same displacement. So far every "modern" 302 equipped slick I've heard the actual fuel mileage for is worse than my stroked and ported 292 so it seems to be a step back there, too. If you're going to swap, go big.
If you're looking for fun and economical, I suggest sticking with the Y. If you're looking for some serious torque, do the 460.

 

Thanks so far gents,,,,
More thoughts on this, after having my first 66 F100 and doing the disc brake conversion, power steering,, and misc,,, (way before this thing called the internet!!) I ended up selling it and buying another 66 F250 and just redid it all,,, left the ol Strong-arm steering, and drum brakes and just made it new,, I loved that one,,, it was how they made it and it worked.
So that is my dilema on the 63.... Factory 4x4... manual steering, manual brakes,,, just put all new in,,, Or the thought of having a Ford 4x4 frame w/PS/PB and just newer components.... but does it detract from the 63 as a whole if I left it all original...
believe me, this is not a big worry of mine,, just was thinking and it has been ticklin my brain for awhile. Not until I have the 63 and 79 side by side will I really be able to see what will work the best.
My original thoughts were to just swap the whole body from the 63 4x4 ONTO the 79 4x4frame,,,, more modern, yet still a Ford and still older,,,
And YES I would keep it titled as a 63,, screw CA and their friggin stupid A$$ smog rules and all the BS with that,,, WHAT A CROC.

 

My two cents worth is to keep it as stock as possible. Kind of a rare rig. And probably getting rarer by the day. I am restoring a 63 F250 styleside and am going to keep it as stock as I can with some up grades. Going to a big block and upgrade the breaks then leave it pretty much as it came.

 

Yep,,, that is my concern/thought,,, how do these frames,, 63,,, hold up to the extra weight of the 460?

When I bought Mater,, my 63, , Numbers gave me the #'s (funny!) on it....
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Ford Parts Guru
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4,273 1963 Ford F250's were made in cab and chassis form. Only 348 were 4X4's.

If this truck came from the factory with the flatbed...795 total were made..of those ONLY 89 were 4X4's.

THe VIN plate should tell you what the original configuration was. Post it here, I can decipher it for you.
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I believe that the 65 and 66 F250 4x4 were on the same frame as the 63 in the F250 model. This is what I can see from looking at a few of them. They had the big block for in the 352 in them. My guess is with that being the case they should hold up fine as long as the frame is still in somewhat of a good condition with no cracks or broken welds. Mine looks like it had a pto winch on the front so the frame has been notched in front should be an easy weld fix. This is on the front and back of the front cross member. Im not to worried way more metal there than anything in the eights with big block.

 

they will hold the weight just fine. if the sorings are weak you may have to rearch them. it should not be hard to correct.

 

Yup I agree with BigDaddy Im going to have the springs at all 4 corners rearched at the local spring shop. That should help with the big block support.

 

I am going to be taking a 1963 F250 2wd with a 223 i-6 and a 1978 F-150 4x4 with a 351M/C6 and make one truck. My plan was to take the entire drive train from the 78 and mount it into the 63 frame. Reason is the wheelbase is shorter on the 63 so I would need to shorten the frame of the 78 in order to make it work. Not impossible, but I always will be looking for stress cracks in the frame. I was going to use the power steering and power brakes from the 78 but it might be difficult. I look forward to seeing how you make yours work.

Mark

 

Well Mark Im kind of lucky in that years ago when I got the truck I was already looking ahead at uprading to what the 65 and 66 had on board for motivation. I got a bell pack from the wrecking yard and a timing chain cover for the big block in the 65 and 66. Next I went to the local Ford parts dealer Wendel Ford. Yes I put their name here because I have always had good luck getting good service and parts from them. Anyway I got the front motor mount bracket from them. When I get some time soon Ill lay those out on the floor of the garage and take some pics to post. I doubt you can go and get that bracket and timing chain now. But maybe?????

 

My 63 4x4 frame has the front motor mount,,, no side ones like on the 79,,, I think I am just going to put the 460/C6 in the 63 and do something,,,,, not sure yet with the 79,,,
I am thinking about an early 7.3 into the 79, so I wouldnt need to smog it,,, but they don't make an adapter for 7.3 to NP435 and I am not really a fan of autos,,, a friend does have a 90 F250 4x4 7.3/AOD combo,,, AOD needs rebuilt,,,, so many options!!! so little time!

 

I would love to know what it would take to put a 7.3 into a late 70's 4x4. If you find any info please post. How much research have you done about getting a 435 hooked up to a 7.3? That was my original plan.

If you cant get a 435 to it you can always use a ZF 5. AOD's are light duty i believe, even though they are not electronic garbage like the E40D, I dont think they can take it. M50D's are pretty weak from what i hear too.