Hi Y'all'

I'm FORDBOYpete. I'm new to your community here. I'm not new to FoMoCo Stuff though. Built my first "rod", a 37 Ford Tudor slant back sedan, Flattie powered, late 40's-early 50's when my uncle came back from SoCal where he was stationed during WW II. Been at it ever since.

Strayed in the mid 50's when Bowtie intro'd the SB. Exploded a flywheel, cut my nice 40 Ford coupe nearly in half. Went back to the Blue Ovals, lucky to still have feet!

Okay here's a bit of Info which will help about 1/2 of you out with your FAQ'a & problems relative to 61-66 FoMoCo F's.

Frame is same on all F Series, from 65 thru 79, Model &
W.Base for Model & W.Base Replacement chassis/frame, new, from "Henry" had C5TZ prefix which tells us it was 1st produced in 64 for 65 production run [Aug 64].

WHAT IT MEANS IS THINGS INTERCHANGE AMONG ALL MODELS IN THIS GROUP!

I bolted my 65 F100 body combo [nose + cab + bed] on to a 79 F150 Trailer Special Chassis assembly, right off it's stock 65 F100 chassis. I used was correct cab insulators for my 65 body. Bolt holes, brackets & everything else align perfectly. It is a direct fit.

So I can bolt a 79 SWB F100/150 on a 65 chassis or vice versa. I can also bolt a 79 integral P/S box on a 65 with a slave cyl P/S or 75-79 front PDBs, or radius arms, or axles or ????

79 F series 460 Engine brackets bolted to my 65 chassis 1st time I put 385 series engine in. When I Upgraded to 79, F150 I used a los of parts from my 65, like the forged radius arms which are way kewler that the latter, stamped steel arms are.

If you want to know more, ask I'll share with y'all. or e-Mail me & ask. FBp

 

Well maybe you can answer this question for me than. I have a 66 F260 2wd, I want change it over to ps, pdb the whole nine. I also want to raise it and make it level. Have run into a lot of problems trying to find lift kits, a shop that will make front springs high enough. Just want to clear 33's, since I have a set of rims and tires laying around, and make the truck level. Whats the difference, and is it possible/probable to make a 2wd a 4wd. Were those the same chassis? Just swap mounting brackets, running gear, and transfer case? Seems like that would almost be a easier way to raise my truck, plus than it would be raised for a reason. Would 65-79 work for that also.
Thanks, T.J.

 

Happydrunk,

No! It's model for model across the years. IOW 4x4 is not same model as 4x2. Chassis is different between the 2 models but not necessarily between different years.

4X4 steering box type & location is different, one is front steer other is rear steer, [position of center link/ tie rod relative to axle. A 4x4 is front steer so there's room for front drive shaft. A 4x2 is rear steer 'cause there's no front drive shaft. But good news is any FoMoCo F series, 2wd, Integral style, Saginaw P/S Box will work since they're same within those years. OR if you have a 4x4 any 4wd P/S box will work for the same reason. . . .

Just be sure to match P/S pump with type of box you're using. IOW don't use P/S pump from slave cylinder power assist system with an integral P/S box. The pressure is all wrong. It will waste P/S box, blow the seals out of it & make it leak. If I want/ need to go to 4x4 I swap my body onto a 4wd chassis B4 I 'd try to make a 2wd into a 4wd. It could be "converted" BUT WHY?

Any F250 8 bolt front disc from73 to 79 will work, but you'll need single wheel, safety rim style rotors. Rotors for Budd wheels won't work right. I'd look for a set of F250 Trailer Special spindles, calipers, brackets, and rotors. A power brake booster, 2chamber M/cyl & a proportioning valve. Also make sure you got a residual valve for your rear drum brakes. Light duty F 350's will also work as long as they are single wheel type rotors.

As far as lengthening your front springs to gain "lift" forget it. It's the spring length which determines camber on 2wd split I beams. Lengthening/ shortening them to modify ride hieght is not a thing to do. It can really screw up your steering and handling. It's why you can't find anybody to do it for you. If they did do it they are probably afraid of getting sued over it.

A lift kit is the way to do what I think you want. FBp

 

I noticed that your years didn't include 1962, Will any of the later year trucks that have 4x4 and power steering and power brakes fit onto my 1962 f350 4x4?

 

Name a later F series truck that has a solid front axle? You wont find it. How ever you can look at using a bronco front axle to do the swap. You will end up having to cut and weld new spring perches on it. I was thinking about doing the swap myself just for the fun of it. But then I realized that all the 4x4 F series didn't have a solid front axle. So came the delama for figuring that one out.

 

I thought the one tons (4x4's) still had a solid axle??

Phil

 

walkhaulsey,

No, nothing will fit, not as a bolt on anyway.

BUT. . .your 62 body & bed will fit on a later F350 rolling chassis.

If it's alot later like 76-79 it will, or could have everything like PDB-P/S and so forth. Just remember, if you have a LWB Single wheel now you need to find a LWB Single wheel between 65 & 79. If you have a dually, look for a dually with your WB model for model. Again, later it is greater chances are it will have what you are looking for already on it.

If you get an early one, say a 65 or 68, you most likely will have to go find whichever power units you want [P/S- PDB etc.] and install them. That's a lot of work, effort & probably money too.

You'll have a good reason to put a 460 in it. If I recall right 63 & earlier are not side mounted engines. Aren't they are front & bellhousing mounted ? And didn't that change in 64? Seems I did a 62 for a guy & I had to make side mounts to put a later engine in it.

later FBp

 

You're right CustomCab except ALL 4X4s thru 79 anyway have a one piece front drive axle housing under them. It's not limited to F 350s, F100s- 150s-250s are all "live" too.

AirHarley,

As far as 2Wd F's go, you're right. 63 was last I beam front axle.

1964 is STAND ALONE chassis, with the first twin I beams under it but the chassis is different from the rest because of the 64 only twin I beams & the motor mount problems I mantiones above.

But 65 thru 79 are "typical" or "the same" on a model + wheel base for model + wheel base basis.

Earlier bodies [61-64] can be bolted on later [65 -79] chassis by using body mounting insulators for whatever year body is. So an early body from a single I-Beam, no bells & whistles F truck with early suspension etc can be dropped onto a later year, same model & wheel base F truck chassis.

A later chassis with power everything, and with all the creature comfort anybody could want, like getting your fuel tank out of the cabin so you got a good place to install your tunes & storage compt. Or running a 460 to you can dominate, and all sorts of upgrades & trix. . . .

One thing I have not mentioned is getting the booster & M-cyl from the F Truck you got your chassis from is a good idea!

I also try to get steering column so I can give clients a smaller wheel. BUT there is some adapting necessary to bolt it up & make the turn signals work right. Use a 79 F series column with tilt & you can run a 1990s -2003 small, sport, steering wheel too. How kewl is that? Ever see a 65 F with a small sport tilt wheel? that's how it's done!

Last issue, 4X4 is a front steer linkage because of the drive shaft to the front differential. A 4x4 steering set up & box is not the same as a 2Wd steering set up or box. Changing steering around is a major pain. adding a 4Wd where a 2Wd was, or vice a versa is not worth doing, to me. Besides no provision for any parallel front spring perches/ mounts, there's no provision for mounting a 4X4 steering box or linkage either. . . .

 

64 was the last year for the straight axle, NOT 63. (I have a 64, with a straight axle) The 64 body WILL NOT bolt to a post-65 chassis without substantial cab mount fabrication either. I just got thru doing that swap. At the very least the front frame / cab brackets must be modified and moved. I only point this out because I'd hate to see some guy with a pre-65 go out and buy a 73-79 4x4 chassis thinking he can just "set his body down on it". That just aint so. Don't forget too that if it's a LWB, you will HAVE to deal with the wheelbase difference. There's no way around it.

Thanx, I knew this already-
>>"You're right CustomCab except ALL 4X4s thru 79 anyway have a one piece front drive axle housing under them".>>


Later, Phil

Look here to see what I mean.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...d=1725&width=1
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>>1964 is STAND ALONE chassis, with the first twin I beams under it
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>>Earlier bodies [61-64] can be bolted on later [65 -79] chassis by using body mounting insulators for whatever year body is.
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