frame swap?
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
All the trucks (at least the 1/2 tons) from '73-'79 are 4" wider at the rear of the frame vs. the front of the frame. Supercab, Std. cab Longbed, Std. Cab Shortbed, Crewcab, etc... That's why the rear axles are not directly swapable into our stuff, because the frame being 4" wider changes the spring pads on the housings 4" wider. The trasition happens just aft of the rear cab mounts. The rear cab mounts on a Super Cab are a bit different (location wise) from the std. cab. I believe this held true for the crew cab aswell.
If any frames at all, i'd look at 67-72s or 65-66 for the Twin I beam. Still is gonna be a ton of work setting up all the Cab mounts and gettin the front clip to sit down on that frame right. If you have the time, patients, and skill, I'm sure it could be done.
If it were me, i'd keep the stock frame. I don't know what you have against the Mustang II front end, but there is hardly anything stock about these frontends. They are very much modified from stock configurations and very stout and improved units. You can also use Volare and if you wanted a big brake option, the newer Crown Vic frontends from what i read are easily swapped in.
If any frames at all, i'd look at 67-72s or 65-66 for the Twin I beam. Still is gonna be a ton of work setting up all the Cab mounts and gettin the front clip to sit down on that frame right. If you have the time, patients, and skill, I'm sure it could be done.
If it were me, i'd keep the stock frame. I don't know what you have against the Mustang II front end, but there is hardly anything stock about these frontends. They are very much modified from stock configurations and very stout and improved units. You can also use Volare and if you wanted a big brake option, the newer Crown Vic frontends from what i read are easily swapped in.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,965
Likes: 261
From: East KY
What the f--- ? I don't know why you are directing this at me, I never said anything about the Mustang II front end and never said which way was the best way to go. I just suggested he go back and read it again to get the information that may help him. As far as knowing the difference in the frames i do know the difference as i have a 51 frame and two 79 S.C. frames behind my shop now. I never suggested that he try it ,I'v already checked it out and i would suggest he not try it. ----
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 935
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver, WA
@BigB9000- One more thing i do want to add, you mentioned swapping the frame after the fact and not telling CHP. Probably not a good idea. If for any reason you either need to sell the vehicle, it gets stolen, or you get pulled over and something warrants a VIN inspection- you may have just put yourself into a world of hurt. You can still 'legally' swap the frame, it would just take some paperwork and probably an inspection or two. I'd hate to see CHP impound your rig because numbers didn't match and they had suspecions of theft. Boyd Coddington go busted for floating bad paperwork (essentially re-titling kit-streetrods with old original titles and not properly going through the process) which in all honesty alot of us small-time backyard guys have done. What did him in, was his high profile. Somewhere along the line CHP started asking questions and he got caught. Just throwing that out there, something to consider.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 6,298
Likes: 47
From: South central, Minnesota
@BigB9000- One more thing i do want to add, you mentioned swapping the frame after the fact and not telling CHP. Probably not a good idea. If for any reason you either need to sell the vehicle, it gets stolen, or you get pulled over and something warrants a VIN inspection- you may have just put yourself into a world of hurt. You can still 'legally' swap the frame, it would just take some paperwork and probably an inspection or two. I'd hate to see CHP impound your rig because numbers didn't match and they had suspecions of theft. Boyd Coddington go busted for floating bad paperwork (essentially re-titling kit-streetrods with old original titles and not properly going through the process) which in all honesty alot of us small-time backyard guys have done. What did him in, was his high profile. Somewhere along the line CHP started asking questions and he got caught. Just throwing that out there, something to consider.
Take care of the stuff to make it legal up front and never have to worry about later.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
I just had three vehicles "VIN verified" here in California, 2 56 F-100s and a 50 Merc coupe...the verifier didn't even look at the frames. Once they found the numbers on the cab data plates that corresponded with the paperwork they were happy. A buddy (he's a now-retired county sheriff) told me to stamp the "VIN" number on the frame if it didn't have one. It has been my experience that the DMV has enough on their plates dealing with late model cars that they don't spend too much time worrying about antiques. I know that there are many out there who think that they are going to jail if they pull the tag off a pillow...but for me that's some hand-wringing that I am not going to do.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
I just had three vehicles "VIN verified" here in California, 2 56 F-100s and a 50 Merc coupe...the verifier didn't even look at the frames. Once they found the numbers on the cab data plates that corresponded with the paperwork they were happy. A buddy (he's a now-retired county sheriff) told me to stamp the "VIN" number on the frame if it didn't have one. It has been my experience that the DMV has enough on their plates dealing with late model cars that they don't spend too much time worrying about antiques. I know that there are many out there who think that they are going to jail if they pull the tag off a pillow...but for me that's some hand-wringing that I am not going to do.
I'm not condoning the re-stamping of the serial number on the current frame, but it wouldn't that hard to grind off the current stamped number and re-stamping/weathering the "correct"/matching serial number. However, if it were me, I wouldn't worry too much about the difference beween frame and title numbers.
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 935
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver, WA
Wow... i guess CA is alot more lax with the older stuff than they use to be. WA is realitively lax too, they don't require vin inspections anymore. They use to and they were very in-depth inspections, to the point they roll it onto a lift and kick you out and shut the door...as if there was some kinda secret vin location ore something...
Anyways, not anymore thankfully. Now its Oregon that has turned VIN inspections into a CIA matter...
(when dealing with out of state vehicles) Oregon is a PITA!!
I wouldn't publically suggest re-stamping..... Doesn't mean i (me personally) wouldn't do it, as i will be to change the title on my C-Cab. It's titled as 1983 Home-made...yeah not really liking that, so replacing that with a '24 T title. Just waiting on the title search to come back to make sure the title/VIN I'm using is clean and clear.
Anyways, not anymore thankfully. Now its Oregon that has turned VIN inspections into a CIA matter... (when dealing with out of state vehicles) Oregon is a PITA!!I wouldn't publically suggest re-stamping..... Doesn't mean i (me personally) wouldn't do it, as i will be to change the title on my C-Cab. It's titled as 1983 Home-made...yeah not really liking that, so replacing that with a '24 T title. Just waiting on the title search to come back to make sure the title/VIN I'm using is clean and clear.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,669
Likes: 13
From: San Jose, CA
The only thorough vin investigation that is done in CA is by the CHP or a local police jurisdiction. They look at the vehicle in depth. That's why it's usually best to take it to a local DMV and hope that the "inspector" doesn't know much about older vehicles. In my case, the "inspector" looked like he was recently liberated from a Middle Eastern country and needed my assistance to check off the box on his form.
The reason why OR is now that way with VIN inspections, especially on out of state cars, is because in the past OR allowed "title washing". That is when a vehicle is salvaged in another state, it could be re-registered in OR with a clean title and then taken to any state and registered again, but now with a clean title. There are a few more states that allowed this, but this practice is being slowly outlawed.
The reason why OR is now that way with VIN inspections, especially on out of state cars, is because in the past OR allowed "title washing". That is when a vehicle is salvaged in another state, it could be re-registered in OR with a clean title and then taken to any state and registered again, but now with a clean title. There are a few more states that allowed this, but this practice is being slowly outlawed.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
I had the DMV clerk tell me NOT to go to the CHP or local cops because "they always screw up the paperwork and we have to redo it" so I took a 56 Chevy 3100 truck to the DMV in person (truck was on a trailer since it did not have the engine/trans in it) and the inspector would not look at it because the engine was not installed. I said WTF and he said that that was their policy...that's when I called the private licensed VIN verifier (a retired 32 yr veteran of the CA DMV) and she did the verification on the spot. CA is getting so **** about older vehicles that are no longer on the smog certification requirement list getting non-year-specific engines in them that now they won't verify the VIN until they see the engine. Bunch of *****.
As for the frame that I stamped the numbers onto...the frame I had was missing any numbers at all so the ones I stamped were the only ones present. The PO may have grinded the originals off when he installed the Volare IFS.
As for the frame that I stamped the numbers onto...the frame I had was missing any numbers at all so the ones I stamped were the only ones present. The PO may have grinded the originals off when he installed the Volare IFS.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
You should all move to Texas. After you buy it you take the title to the DMV to transfer and pay, and they issue you a provisional title but no plates. Then when running you take it to any state inspection station (usually gas stations). They check the paper work, verify the VIN, do a safety inspection (lights, horn, brakes, and any safety equipment that you have in it) and then issue you an inspection sticker. You then take the paper work back to the DMV (including the paper work for the safety inspection) or mail it in and they issue you plates. I have never had one even look at the motor or the frame.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
Just came across this ad on CL this AM:
1946-52 F1 Ford Frame - $3500 (Vista/Phoenix )
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Date: 2012-02-23, 1:59AM PST
Reply to: d8vvg-2866213194@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ford
dodge dakota ifs cross member
3link suspension torq arm
Ford 9 inch housing
All powder coated silver vein
3500 Obo
If this interests you,
Contact Aaron at (580) 380-9886
I'm in phoenix just trying to branch out a bit! I have photos if needed!
Or call Cody 7607550301
Thanks for checking us out!
• Location: Vista/Phoenix
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 2866213194
1946-52 F1 Ford Frame - $3500 (Vista/Phoenix )
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2012-02-23, 1:59AM PST
Reply to: d8vvg-2866213194@sale.craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ford
dodge dakota ifs cross member
3link suspension torq arm
Ford 9 inch housing
All powder coated silver vein
3500 Obo
If this interests you,
Contact Aaron at (580) 380-9886
I'm in phoenix just trying to branch out a bit! I have photos if needed!
Or call Cody 7607550301
Thanks for checking us out!
• Location: Vista/Phoenix
•it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 2866213194
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,571
Likes: 22
From: Oxford, Indiana
Indiana doesn't get too worked up over this stuff either. Technically, you're supposed to have clean title to the body and chassis that you are combining to surrender to the BMV. They will then issue you a new VIN# and title. In practice, the experience tends to be more along the lines of what 51Panelman has found in Cali. The local cops come do a quick VIN inspection and sign off that the body tag matches and then you're good to go. The last time I had one done, the county deputy that I had come out was too worried about getting his uniform dusty to bother leaning over the fender and was more than happy to just take a glance at the glovebox tag. I could have had F1 sheetmetal stacked around a 2012 F-150 chassis and drivetrain and he wouldn't have paid any attention. If you know the loopholes and aren't afraid to exploit them, it's also fairly easy to convince them to "generate" a title for an antique vehicle whose original has been long lost a couple owners ago - not that I would know anything about that, mind you!
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topmoo
1948 - 1956 F1, F100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Apr 4, 2014 10:45 PM
