body swap
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
body swap
So.... I've got a few questions here...
My truck is a 79 f150 4wd, manual transmission, with rather severe body damage ( drifted the passenger door into a stump at about 35 mph)
The donor truck is a 78 f150 2wd, auto Trans, and also has ac.
Other than cutting out the transmission hump, are there any major things i should look out for? I know the brake linkage is different, and the ac compressor is missing, but I'd like to retain the 79-style brakes, if possible... Not sure how easy it'll be to make the clutch linkage work either... Maybe do some fab work, keep the part of the old firewall that the pedals attach to? Gonna need to figure out what bits i need for the ac too...
Noticed that prothane sells 2 sets of body bushings, 1 for 4wd, 1 for 2...
*Edit* also the ac is the one with a rather large box under the hood, attached to the firewall, i think its dealer, but not sure....
My truck is a 79 f150 4wd, manual transmission, with rather severe body damage ( drifted the passenger door into a stump at about 35 mph)
The donor truck is a 78 f150 2wd, auto Trans, and also has ac.
Other than cutting out the transmission hump, are there any major things i should look out for? I know the brake linkage is different, and the ac compressor is missing, but I'd like to retain the 79-style brakes, if possible... Not sure how easy it'll be to make the clutch linkage work either... Maybe do some fab work, keep the part of the old firewall that the pedals attach to? Gonna need to figure out what bits i need for the ac too...
Noticed that prothane sells 2 sets of body bushings, 1 for 4wd, 1 for 2...
*Edit* also the ac is the one with a rather large box under the hood, attached to the firewall, i think its dealer, but not sure....
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 222
Likes: 1
From: western ks
like he said its not hard to switch the brake /clutch bracket. Just 6 bolts I think. you will also want to keep the original brake booster and master cyl. You will have to unbolt it anyway to change pedals. Just let the brake cyl and booster lay on the motor and then bolt it to the new cab. That way you dont open your brake lines and have to bleed it. You will also want to use the steering column from the 4x4 in the new cab. The rest should be mostly plug and play.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
if you take off the AC box on the pass. firewall there is a massive hole in the firewall, so you may want to cut the firewall out of the good truck and cut yourself a patch to weld in in place of that hole, that will let you keep your existing heater motor and etc and get rid of that box, if you aren't going to use it. as the above guys said, the whole pedal assembly is bolt in so that shouldn't be a problem. Not sure why they would list separate bushings for 2wd vs 4wd, they look to be the same to me. I got my bushings from energy, they only list one part number for both.
the brakes should be the same 78 to 79, I've had one of each and they looked identical (and I actually swapped boosters and they interchanged). If what you have is working just take it off and swap it over.
the brakes should be the same 78 to 79, I've had one of each and they looked identical (and I actually swapped boosters and they interchanged). If what you have is working just take it off and swap it over.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Was hoping to get the ac working actually... Looks like the only thing missing is the compressor...
And i had heard there was a difference in the pedal-booster linkage on the 78... Don't know if this is correct...
And i had heard there was a difference in the pedal-booster linkage on the 78... Don't know if this is correct...
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
From: Palmyra
I used a 78 automatic cab & wiring on my 75 with a 4speed just swapped out the pedal assemblies & didn't have any problems at all
Trending Topics
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 790
From: Simi Valley, CA
1) Factory installed integral A/C is combined with the heater. The A/C controls are located in the same panel as the heater controls. Info in post 5 related to factory A/C only.
2) Deluxe dealer installed A/C is combined with the heater. The 2 A/C switches are located in the HUGE dash bezel that sweeps across the entire right side of the dash, covering up the glove box.
There's a separate "Hang-On" glove box, bolts to the bottom of the dash.
3) Economy dealer installed A/C is not combined with the heater. The 2 A/C switches are located in panel that also contains 2 A/C registers. Panel fits into the dash to the left of the glove box.
People assume they have factory A/C when in many cases it's not. Economy dealer A/C is far more common than Factory A/C or Deluxe dealer A/C.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Fords to Drive Before You Die
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / Worst Features Of The 2025+ Ford Expedition
Brett Foote
10 Ways Ford is LOSING to the Competition
Joe Kucinski
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,250
Likes: 11
From: West Virginia
I've heard that said, but around here I've seen a fair amount of factory AC trucks, maybe a dozen, and I've only seen one economy dealer AC truck, at a junkyard. So it may depend on where you live. Maybe being in the southwest a lot of trucks had AC, and since not a lot had factory AC they all have dealer AC? Here in the northeast the trucks that have AC seem to mostly have factory AC.
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Controls on mine seem to be integrated, looks like maybe I've got factory...
I'm running a 300ci inline six, don't have a bracket to hang the compressor on as far as I know... gonna have to see how hard it is to locate one...
I'm running a 300ci inline six, don't have a bracket to hang the compressor on as far as I know... gonna have to see how hard it is to locate one...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
winginit
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
4
Jul 30, 2016 01:37 PM
Drac
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
May 16, 2013 09:03 AM