Hey people, Its been a while since I been here last. As some of you may know, my '85 F150's frame got a crack in the engine cradle, nearly going all the way around, forcing my truck into the shop. After pulling the engine front of the truck, we relized how screwed I was, the cradle was not only riveted like i thought but factory welded too. Making me buy a new truck, or frame alone. Since the junk yards don't have a truck long enough, I need to find a donor truck.
Today I found one in a field I was hauling dirt to, asked the farmer what his plans were for it, he said I could get it from him. So other than inspecting the frame, what else should I pay attension to? The truck has not been driven in ten years, so the engine will probably be no good, but is there a way to see if the trans and T-case are any good before I buy it?
Incase your wondering, its a 1980-1981 Ranger F250 4x4, auto. Engine Unknown. But will a 302 bolt to the trans? or does it vary year to year?
Thanks

 

I'm sorry to hear about the engine cross member cracking like that. It seems to be a real problem with the lifted trucks.

As for your question, whether or not the trans will bolt up to your motor depends on the engine size. If it has a 351m or 400, then no, your 302 will not work with the F250 transmission. However, if it has a small block, then yes it will fit. But if I were you, I would just swap your running gear into the new frame if it's not rusted beyond repair. If the engine is junk, chances are the transmission isn't far behind, if it's not already there.

 

You can pull the dipstick on the tranny, and look at the color of the fluid. If it's very dark, almost brown, expect the worst for it. You can check the transfer case and see if it has any oil in it. If you can open the upper plug and feel with your pinky and get to the oil level, then it's probably ok. If it has very little oil in it(it's common for them to develop leaks and people ignore them) you can expect the worst for it also.

I would write everything off on it, and anything good would be a bonus. More than likely it was never taken care of, and when it finally quit, they parked it. That's been my experience with vehicles sitting in a field or someone's backyard.

Is this truck the same wheelbase as yours? If not, if you know someone skilled at welding, they could cut and piece the two frames together to make the correct frame length. I know it sounds scary, but it can be done.

 

yeah, its the same wheel base, cab and bed. All i need to do is swap bodies and what else I need to make it legal again, and hopefully back to the road of restoration. Thanks for the advise everyone.

 

The f250 frame will do you no good. The way the TTB bolts in a f150 is different than the way it bolts into a F250.

Just weld you crossmember. I did that on my 80 F350 pulling truck 15 years ago and it has held up fine. Was my daily driver now turned dedicated pulling truck. If you cant weld, find someone who can

 

TTB? "Twin Traction Beam?" meaning front axle? The donor truck has 4x4 and I plan on using the rolling frame from my donor truck. Unless i'm on the wrong page on TTB?

My concept is to pull the bodies, including the cab, and putting my original equipment on the F250 frame. May have to install a new engine or something if its a big block drivetrain, but the idea is to keep the frame and everything not body related alone (other than paint).

 

I didn't catch the f150/f250 thing. But yes, you will be ok if you keep the axles that come with the f250 frame and use them. If you have fancy wheels on your f150, you won't be able to re-use them, but you could possibly re-use the tires. I have seen a few aftermarket rims that are 8 lug, but are 15 inch. There won't be much selection, but that's your only choice or sell your complete wheel/tire combo and buy another 16 inch 8 lug setup.

You should have enough of everything else to get you going though. Your engine/tranny should drop right into the f250 frame.

 

There is no way to check the trans of t-case unless you can get the engine started and drive the truck

 

What I'm wondering is WHY it wasn't driven for ten years. The answer to that question would probably answer a lot of questions.

 

If you switch bodies, and keep the f250 frame, you can easily do a Dana 60 swap later down the road.

If it was me, I would swap the bodies, put the gut for my F150 in the F250 frame, then my next step would be 6" lift and a Dana 60 swap, but thats just me.

If you want to see if the motors anygood, just bring a battery hook it up and hit the key, see what happens. If the motor spins over then there is a good possibility it will still run. However there is no way to test the trans, however it more than likely haas a C6 trans, which is very common is junk yards, and you can always rebuild it.

 

Yeah, thats my exact plan, maybe without a lift being thats why I'm hunting down a new frame. The donor truck is for the frame because my current one cracked under the engine. I asked why it was parked for so long and he said he just didn't have time to waste on it. Being I know the man from my church all my life, I beleive him cause he's loaded with money and I think got a 2000-newer truck to replace it. So I will take a battery with me and see what happens after I pull it from the weeds.

 

What I would do is remove the spark plugs and squirt some ATF into each cylinder, then dump a bunch down the carb. If it's been sitting in a field for 10 years, the insides of the engine are gonna need some oiling.

 

make sure the 1980-1981 F-250 isn't a swiss cheese type frame.

some F-250's had these as well.

 

There is NOTHING wrong with the "Swiss cheese" frame

 

....until you get in an accident.