and step side 
Idea for a project
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Idea for a project
Hi everyone- new to the forum and have a question about a project I have in mind. Over the years I have collected pieces and parts of 60's ford trucks. I also have a 4x4 running gear from a '77 high boy. The project I'm thinking about trying is making a crew cab out of a couple of '66 cabs I have and mounting it on the '77 high boy frame. Will a '66 f100 cab fit on a '77 high boy frame. If not, what mods will I have to make? Thanks
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I see pics of things like that all the time. Plain and simple, you need to train yourself (help would be nice) to be a good body man. All in all its do-able. As for the switch in frames, I don't get into mods. Good luck and don't give up, all things are possible with a lot of work of course.
Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Hi everyone- new to the forum and have a question about a project I have in mind. Over the years I have collected pieces and parts of 60's ford trucks. I also have a 4x4 running gear from a '77 high boy. The project I'm thinking about trying is making a crew cab out of a couple of '66 cabs I have and mounting it on the '77 high boy frame. Will a '66 f100 cab fit on a '77 high boy frame. If not, what mods will I have to make? Thanks
1973/79 F250 Regular Cab 2WD/4WD has a 133" wheelbase.
1973/79 F250 2WD/4WD Crew Cab has a 159" wheelbase.
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Was out of town at a reunion over the weekend, so no computer time. Thanks for the info on the wheel bases. I have a fleet side and step side bed for this project. Step side is from a '63. Fleet side is from the '66. Looks like the '77 high boy frame will have to be lengthened to accommodate a crew cab and a bed. What about frame width? Will the '66 cab and one of the beds I have fit on this '77 high boy frame or will the width have to be changed?
Ford Parts Specialist
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Styleside = Ford; Fleetside = Chevrolet/GMC 
// Flareside = Ford; Stepside = Chevrolet/GMC
Post Fiend
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i was going to correct you, but i KNEW that ND would do it, and he gets so much pleasure out of it when he does. I couldn't take it from him.
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Ok, did some more poking around here and found out the '61 through '66 cab will be a direct bolt on to my '77 high boy frame. What a break!! However I'm still looking at having to lengthen the frame so a crew cab and bed will fit. Can anyone tell me how long the frame is on say a '65/'66 crew cab flare side? Next question: are there any "how to's" on lengthening a truck frame on this site. Never had a need to do it before, but I can weld. Thanks!!
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'65 and '66 2WD cabs use same cab mounts as well as '66 F100 4WD - The '61 through '64 - All and '65 and '66 4WD except '66 F100 4WD used different cab mounts and frame brackets that make that swap a pita.
You have '66 2WD I assume - if so, that works!
.
You have '66 2WD I assume - if so, that works!
.
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All my 60's trucks are 2 WD except the '63. It's a 4x4. So if I'm understanding you correctly, that cab would not be a direct fit. That doesn't matter, that particular truck came from KS and has a lot of rust out on the floor. Matter of fact, the drivers' side cab mount is nearly rotted off. But, could I use that '63 cab to fab the back half of the crew cab?
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1965/66 F100/250 2WD & 1966 F100 4WD (coil spring front suspension) use the same cab, Flareside & Styleside beds. These trucks do not have a cab step.
Cab step, visible when the doors are opened: 1961/64 F100/1100; 1965 F100/250 4WD; 1965/66 F350/1100; 1966 F250 4WD
1961/66 F100/350's with "wrong" 1957/60 Styleside beds, so called because the bed lines don't match the cab lines:
1961/64 F100/250 4WD - 1961/66 F350 - 1962/63 F100/250 2WD (these are not Uni's!) - 1965 F100/250 4WD - 1966 F250 4WD
Cab step, visible when the doors are opened: 1961/64 F100/1100; 1965 F100/250 4WD; 1965/66 F350/1100; 1966 F250 4WD
1961/66 F100/350's with "wrong" 1957/60 Styleside beds, so called because the bed lines don't match the cab lines:
1961/64 F100/250 4WD - 1961/66 F350 - 1962/63 F100/250 2WD (these are not Uni's!) - 1965 F100/250 4WD - 1966 F250 4WD
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All my 60's trucks are 2 WD except the '63. It's a 4x4. So if I'm understanding you correctly, that cab would not be a direct fit. That doesn't matter, that particular truck came from KS and has a lot of rust out on the floor. Matter of fact, the drivers' side cab mount is nearly rotted off. But, could I use that '63 cab to fab the back half of the crew cab?
1964, 1965 and 1966 roofline is a little taller and that is where the indent on top of the roof comes in. Pre 1964 trucks had a lower roof line with no indent on top. But, anything can be done....
.
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I sure am learning a lot. Thanks for all the great info. With what's been said, in the cab style I want to use looks like if I stick with the '65-'66 2WD model that will work the best for this project. Guess I will keep my '63 4x4 in tack....maybe use the flare side bed. Been looking at photos of '65 and '66 crew cabs. I guess by '65, Ford was making the crews in house by special order. I'm thinking it would be pretty challenging to put two '65-'66 single cabs together to make a crew. When it was done, it wouldn't look factory. I've noticed from photos the rear doors are smaller and shaped different than the front doors on the '65-'66 models. If I stick two cabs together, rear doors will be same size as front ones.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
I sure am learning a lot. Thanks for all the great info. With what's been said, in the cab style I want to use looks like if I stick with the '65-'66 2WD model that will work the best for this project. Guess I will keep my '63 4x4 in tack....maybe use the flare side bed. Been looking at photos of '65 and '66 crew cabs. I guess by '65, Ford was making the crews in house by special order. I'm thinking it would be pretty challenging to put two '65-'66 single cabs together to make a crew. When it was done, it wouldn't look factory. I've noticed from photos the rear doors are smaller and shaped different than the front doors on the '65-'66 models. If I stick two cabs together, rear doors will be same size as front ones.
But early 1965 Crew Cabs and 1961/64's, were also modified from Regular Cabs, usually by aftermarket body maker Crown Coach.
These Crews have exposed rear door hinges, the shape of the rear door window frames are different than on the Ford 'factory' Crews.
But, there are no specific Crew Cab parts listed in the 1957/63 or 1964/72 truck catalogs, no pics either. It's like they never existed.
In fact, I had never seen or heard of 1961/66 Crew Cabs...until in 1988, when I spotted a 1965 Crew Cab parked alongside the Needles Highway while driving to Mount Rushmore.
I was shocked! Pulled over, stopped and got out, looked it over (it was white), took several pics. I looked at the pics again after I joined FTE, it's a Ford conversion.
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After studying more pics off the web, I am seeing the rear doors on those early crews have same general shape as front doors minus the vent window. The door length has been shortened. It almost looks like the coach company drew a line from the top of door down past the rear side of the vent all the way to bottom of door then cut the door. My next question is do those rear door windows roll down? Thanks for all the help and input everyone.
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