another frame question
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Senior User
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another frame question
another frame question, so are 78 79 f250 and f350 frames all the same? i found a rolling chassis for 500 and its from a 79 f350. the quy told me it has about 3 inches cut off the rear of the frame because it had a wrecker body on it. my plans are using it for a pickup frame, so what am i looking at for issues with 3 inches cut off the rear? can pieces be welded up easily? the only thing i havent got is the cab after this point and i would be doing regular cab 8 ft bed. let me know what you think is it gonna work worth the hassle really any input from anyone would be much appreciated. thanks
-steve
-steve
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,436
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From: Regina, Saskatchewan
another frame question, so are 78 79 f250 and f350 frames all the same? i found a rolling chassis for 500 and its from a 79 f350. the quy told me it has about 3 inches cut off the rear of the frame because it had a wrecker body on it. my plans are using it for a pickup frame, so what am i looking at for issues with 3 inches cut off the rear? can pieces be welded up easily? the only thing i havent got is the cab after this point and i would be doing regular cab 8 ft bed. let me know what you think is it gonna work worth the hassle really any input from anyone would be much appreciated. thanks
-steve
-steve
Take a look at this link:
Chassis Comparison - '67-'72 vs. '73-'79 - FORDification.com
Fordificiation has a LARGE library of great articles that even us dentsides can use (the site is meant for bumpsides).
And after you figure out if it's a 4x4 chassis or not, I wouldn't touch it anyways... The frame has been cut and won't EVER be the same. I would find one that hasn't been cut if you can. When you go to get the truck safetied, it might be a very BIG issue if you had to weld the last 3" on your truck...
Check with your local auto-safety shop to see if you can even touch the frame and what their restrictions are. It's better to check these things out now before you put 25000 into a truck and find out it's not road legal...
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Senior User
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its a 4x4 chassis. dana 60 w king pins front axle dually somethin rear. do you really think theres going to be that much stress and wieght on the last 3 inches of the frame? the only think i could even think of would be a couple bed mounting spots even the bumper is mounted further up than that. and possibly a trailer hitch which i would be doing occasional very light towing.
thanks looking forward to more input,
steve
thanks looking forward to more input,
steve
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
IIRC, 79 was the first (and therefore only) year the 70's F350 was available with 4wd. dually 4x4's weren't made, as far as I know.
If the 3" was cut off the end of the frame then I don't even think the cut would be behind the rear crossmember so it wouldn't be that big of a deal... if it was cut out in the middle of the frame and the frame welded back up, well, thats probably a big deal. frames can be cut but it has to be done by someone that knows what they are doing, cuts them square, welds them back up and plates them. at minimum.
As for frames it depends, if its actually a factory dually then its going to have narrow rear crossmembers like the highboys and a dana 70, and it came from the factory 2wd.. If it came from the factory 4x4, then it wasn't a chassis cab and wasn't a dually, and it will have the wide rear frame and a dana 60.
And the frame on the chassis cabs will only match up another chassis cabs, but a frame on an F350 4x4 is probably the same frame as a 78/79 F250 4x4. I've never seen a F350 4x4 to tell you for sure.
so you need to figure out what you have got there.
If the 3" was cut off the end of the frame then I don't even think the cut would be behind the rear crossmember so it wouldn't be that big of a deal... if it was cut out in the middle of the frame and the frame welded back up, well, thats probably a big deal. frames can be cut but it has to be done by someone that knows what they are doing, cuts them square, welds them back up and plates them. at minimum.
As for frames it depends, if its actually a factory dually then its going to have narrow rear crossmembers like the highboys and a dana 70, and it came from the factory 2wd.. If it came from the factory 4x4, then it wasn't a chassis cab and wasn't a dually, and it will have the wide rear frame and a dana 60.
And the frame on the chassis cabs will only match up another chassis cabs, but a frame on an F350 4x4 is probably the same frame as a 78/79 F250 4x4. I've never seen a F350 4x4 to tell you for sure.
so you need to figure out what you have got there.
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Fleet Mechanic
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From: Near St. Joseph,MO
The axles are prolly worth the 500 at least. Buy it, if you can't use it keep or sell the axles and scrap the rest.
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From: THIS IS SPARTA!, ...Mo.
3" off the back is no big deal. The bumper mounts are 5" in. To stub in 3" is painfully easy. The only thing you would have on the rear 3" of the frame is the last two bed bolts and half the bumper mounts. No suspension or crossmembers are that far back, so you don't even have to get it that straight. (but you should make the effort to make it perfect) Plate it on the inside so it doesn't get in the way of the bumper brackets.
$500 is a good price for a matched set of diffs. Buy it, if you can't use it, sell the axles and get your money back.
$500 is a good price for a matched set of diffs. Buy it, if you can't use it, sell the axles and get your money back.
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Senior User
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The guy is on vacation until next week. I have a picture of the chassis I don't know how to upload it. I'm going to give him another call tomorrow because I can't see the rear crossmember I'm the pic. Thanks for all the help everyone, I'll keep you posted
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
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From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Define "good"...
The frame you have is fine just as long as it's cut in the rear parts and that the vehicle you build out of it won't require a safety when you're finished... otherwise the truck probably won't pass inspections due to a big sliced chunck out of your truck
The frame you have is fine just as long as it's cut in the rear parts and that the vehicle you build out of it won't require a safety when you're finished... otherwise the truck probably won't pass inspections due to a big sliced chunck out of your truck
Logistics Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,436
Likes: 19
From: Regina, Saskatchewan
Those axles are worth a lot of money and you're basically saving yourself a LOT of money if they come with the frame... even if it is cut 3" somewhere...
You can always sell the D60 and make your money back on the frame.