7th gen spotter's thread
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Greater Seattle Area
Mine is a 4/81 and is cheese free. I'm curious about the change over date myself.
New User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I've got an 84 and it has the Swiss cheese frame, but the previous owner welded patches into the holes
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 5
From: Northeast Ohio USA
I'd be inclined to believe that your cab was transplanted onto the swiss cheese frame. It is well known and documented that by '84, the swiss cheese frame was long "done away with".
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,239
Likes: 5
From: Northeast Ohio USA
In late 1979, Ford introduced a redesigned F-Series pickup truck, with the objective of maintaining utility while increasing fuel economy over it's previous 6th generation. But... drastic measures were taken in the hopes of reducing weight. Among those hopes included, cutting large holes in the frame; this drastically weakened the frame rails on the 1980-1981 trucks, causing them to bend, buckle, and twist under load. This frame is known as the "Swiss cheese frame". This was remedied by Ford in 1982 by returning the chassis' rigidity to the same strength as the 6th generation F-Series. 1980 and 1981 were the "only" years for Swiss Cheese frames by production statistics. There was never an "option availability" offered by Ford, for a Swiss cheese frame in 1982 and going forward due to safety concerns. Why would FoMoCo offer an option for a frame that had been proven to be lacking by their own standards ?
New User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
In late 1979, Ford introduced a redesigned F-Series pickup truck, with the objective of maintaining utility while increasing fuel economy over it's previous 6th generation. But... drastic measures were taken in the hopes of reducing weight. Among those hopes included, cutting large holes in the frame; this drastically weakened the frame rails on the 1980-1981 trucks, causing them to bend, buckle, and twist under load. This frame is known as the "Swiss cheese frame". This was remedied by Ford in 1982 by returning the chassis' rigidity to the same strength as the 6th generation F-Series. 1980 and 1981 were the "only" years for Swiss Cheese frames by production statistics. There was never an "option availability" offered by Ford, for a Swiss cheese frame in 1982 and going forward due to safety concerns. Why would FoMoCo offer an option for a frame that had been proven to be lacking by their own standards ?
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
All this frame ruckus is way overreacted to, the Swiss cheese frames are no weaker than a regular later model frame, the only problem they may have is breaking from being in the rust belt for 35 years and not being washed regularly, from normal usage I dont believe that they are that much more structurally deficient. However, if they are overloaded, it may be a different story.
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
My 1985 Flareside 5.0 2bbl
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Thanks! I like it too, heavily considered just spraying it with clear coat and keeping it the way it is. The chunk out of the fender bothered me too much though and the lack of a whole fender with matching patina ultimately has me choosing to go with full body and paint. Still wrestling with what color(s) I'm going to go with.