Has anyone done a front clip conversion? What I am looking for is how to mount the bumper and any problems that I might run into.

 

It all depends on what year and model...

 

We need more info....

 

if its 87-91 converted to a 92-96 than u need to change the core support and all, and vice versa... we def need more info here bud

 

On the same topic, what all changed on the front clip between 91 and 92? Core support, hood, fenders, cowl, etc.? Or maybe the better question would be what remained the same.

-Rod

 

From 1980 to 1997 every thing infront of the windshield changed w/ each body change. (and there may be subtil diff w/in the body style itself). 1980 to 1986 are the same, 1987 to 1991 are the same, and 1992 to 1996 (and 1997 F-250HD & 1997 F-350 & Superduty) are the same. 1997 F-150 & F-250 (new body style) are different animal as is the 1999 & up Superduty. The frame mounts for the bumper will likely need to be changed when switching fronts as well. Lighting harness for ea front is diff too.

 

if you are swapping from the 87-91 to the 92-96 then you can do what I did for the bumper. I cut off the bumper mount from the 92 truck and tried to fit it to my 91.. problem is that the frame ends are totally different and you can not weld the 92 style bumper mount onto the older trucks the same way it was on the newer trucks.

What I ended up doing was using the mounts and flatening them out...and welding them directly to the front of the frame... that along with some 1/2'' (I think) spacers and it fit really well...

In hindsight I did not need to cut the 92 bumper mounts off as it probably would have been just as easy to fab some... you can see in the pict that they are really simple.

Also keep in mind that I have a 2'' body lift and I had to sit the mount a bit higher that you might if your truck sits on the stock body mounts.




Some people will tell you that you need the wiring harness for the lights... I found the older one works fine, but you have to add two extra marker lights...or signal lights I cant remember... was easy enough to splice in the two extra lights.

You might also find that two of the cowl mounting points are missing from the fire wall. There kind of inportant but you can easly mount it... I currently have two zap straps there but you can fit a couple of bolts and spacers... You'll see what I mean when you get into it.

good luck!

 

87-91 to 92 up OBS front clip swap, you will need the WHOLE clip including the core support and cowl (as goodBOY pointed out the outboard cowl screws need spaced to fit). Also on the wiring harness, in addition to adding the above mentioned marker light leads, you will also need to swap the pins around inside the headlight plug. As for the bumper, you will need to fab some new brackets but this is not to hard, especially if you have access to a torch and some steel.

 

Thanks for the help so far. The truck is an 89 f-150 and i plan on changing to the 92 and up body style.

 

That's a common swap some have done. There is just no love for the 87-91 Brick Nose Trucks...

In fact here's a link to a thread: 87-91 being back converted to a 80-86 style...
Not that it helps it just reinforces the fact people don't like the 87-91 years.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ml#post9063856

 

Thank you Mr Ward...forgot about the headlights

 

Don't get me wrong about the 87-91 trucks. They are very good looking trucks but I don't have the time to make some of the stuff that I want to do to it and it would be easier to buy the parts for it. I'm thinking of a bumper like this for it when I get the funds to do it.

 

There is no ready to bolt on bumper for using a 92+ clip on a 87-91 frame. The problem is in the frame horns where the bumper bolts on. The only one that I found that was a reasonable direct bolt on was the Warn winch bumper that I used on my 90 when I did the conversion on mine. Unfortunately is has been discontinued. IF you can find one in stock somewhere, it will bolt onto the 87-91 frame if you flip the brackets around.

 

Nothing a mig welder and a weekend couldn't fix!

 

Gotta love mig welders and torches!