Whats a good frame
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Joined: Nov 2010
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Whats a good frame
Hi all nubbie here. Did a seach could not find much. I would like to know if there is a frame that will work well to place my 1952 Ford F-1 body on. The thing is I would like it to be four wheel drive. I dont want it to new that I would need a computer so I was thinking 70's or 80's Has any body here done this set-up b-4? By the way I can get a 79 f150 4x4 short bed cheap so I was wandering if anyone had an opion as far as using that frame. Thank in advance
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 16,902
Likes: 3,143
From: SE Wisc. (the Rust Belt)
Welcome to the board.
This subject is almost a monthly post and use to raise the ire of numerous members. Since you're new and don't have enough post to do a site search you'll have to Google search of FTE:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ternative.html
Use the term "frame swap" and you'll find a lot of posts. Most of the posts will give negative thoughts about the idea. The consensus is it's better to modify your stock frame.
One member did an excellent job in converting his truck on a budget:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...d-f-1-4x4.html
This subject is almost a monthly post and use to raise the ire of numerous members. Since you're new and don't have enough post to do a site search you'll have to Google search of FTE:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ternative.html
Use the term "frame swap" and you'll find a lot of posts. Most of the posts will give negative thoughts about the idea. The consensus is it's better to modify your stock frame.
One member did an excellent job in converting his truck on a budget:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...d-f-1-4x4.html
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 4,817
From: Burbank, WA
It would be easier to put the running gear under the stock frame, than hacking the body and making myriad modifications for the body to fit the later chassis. The shapes are completely different.
The next issue is the running gear from the '79 is much wider than your '52, so the tires will stick out of the fenders quite a ways, especially if you go with fatter than stock tires.
Welcome to the forum. ;-)
The next issue is the running gear from the '79 is much wider than your '52, so the tires will stick out of the fenders quite a ways, especially if you go with fatter than stock tires.
Welcome to the forum. ;-)
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
There's been a lot of post on frame swaps. Most think it's a better idea to swap the 4x4 drivetrain parts onto your stock frame. You may think it's less work to swap your body onto a newer chassis but in the long run it's simpler to swap the drivetrain parts onto the stock F1 chassis.
I'm doing things the hard way. I'm swapping my 54 F100 cab onto a 84 F250 4x4 chassis. But you'd find out that most newer chassis are too wide of a track width for the F1 body. But if you are dead set on a newer chassis I'd look into an Early Bronco chassis ( 66-77 ) .
Do some more searching on frame swaps. There have been a ton of post on the subject.
I'm doing things the hard way. I'm swapping my 54 F100 cab onto a 84 F250 4x4 chassis. But you'd find out that most newer chassis are too wide of a track width for the F1 body. But if you are dead set on a newer chassis I'd look into an Early Bronco chassis ( 66-77 ) .
Do some more searching on frame swaps. There have been a ton of post on the subject.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,101
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From: Bristol TN.
I watched this the other night and thought about it when I saw your question, you might be able to contact this guy and what he did to his truck:
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,117
Likes: 2,449
From: NY and VA
There is aVA State Trooper I met who put his 51 on top of a 86 -I think -frame. He used the 302 engine and EFI also.
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Phantom of the Phorum
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5,472
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From: Kentucky
He got a little close to a tree stump at the end, didn't he?
I watched this the other night and thought about it when I saw your question, you might be able to contact this guy and what he did to his truck:
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,202
Likes: 4,817
From: Burbank, WA
That thing looks like one soft rut away from being a roll-over. And that would be a shame. Pretty cool, though. It also demonstrated just how far outside the fenders the tires would be, especially the fronts, with the later suspension. Around these parts, the cops wouldn't like that very much at all.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
The 78 F150 axles would fit a F100 better. But he's also running a wide tire on that truck. The early Bronco axles are a better fit for the F1's. Another option is to make those fat fenders a little fatter.
That would cover the tires but it would also throw off the proportions of the truck.
That would cover the tires but it would also throw off the proportions of the truck.
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New User
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Thanks to all the replies I would like to keep the original frame and build from there. Theres alot of good ideas here I would like to check out like the links that Bobj49f2 gave me plus all the others. Thanks again Ill let you know which way I go with this. Im sure have have more q's.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
I watched this the other night and thought about it when I saw your question, you might be able to contact this guy and what he did to his truck:
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
YouTube - 1948 Ford F1 4x4 Playing in the Snow
YouTube - RamblinAround's Channel