Recommended crewcab 4x4 conversion
#1
Recommended crewcab 4x4 conversion
I haven't been on this site for 10 years but it feels good to be back with a project in mind. I got lost in the crew cab only thread, and ran out of time to read all 180 pages.....
I hauled home a 73 2wd F350 crew the other day. At some point it gained a 4bbl 390 and lost most of the factory AC components. It sports the usual cab roof and front cab mount/floor rust. Not much of the box will remain when we get done.
I have a few conversion questions. I hope to make this 4x4, and someday will have a 5.4 or 6.8 under the hood. The plan was to remove the components from a 78 F250 4x4 and bolt them under the 73. I am looking for advice on things to avoid or to consider before diving in head first with this idea. I have been in love with this body style since high school when my grandpa gave me his 79 F100. That truck is gone now, but the infatuation remains. I have not done any major modifying to these trucks before, and have only recently become aware of differences like the frame widths and such.
In looking at my box a bit more, and considering the availability of solid replacements in North Dakota, are there any flaws in the plan of just ordering the whole page for a long box out of LMC truck?
These are a few beginning thoughts, I am sure I will come up with more questions that have been answered many times on here. I plan to continue exploring the site, and yet hopefully get some info specifically relating to my project from some of you with a lot more experience.
I hauled home a 73 2wd F350 crew the other day. At some point it gained a 4bbl 390 and lost most of the factory AC components. It sports the usual cab roof and front cab mount/floor rust. Not much of the box will remain when we get done.
I have a few conversion questions. I hope to make this 4x4, and someday will have a 5.4 or 6.8 under the hood. The plan was to remove the components from a 78 F250 4x4 and bolt them under the 73. I am looking for advice on things to avoid or to consider before diving in head first with this idea. I have been in love with this body style since high school when my grandpa gave me his 79 F100. That truck is gone now, but the infatuation remains. I have not done any major modifying to these trucks before, and have only recently become aware of differences like the frame widths and such.
In looking at my box a bit more, and considering the availability of solid replacements in North Dakota, are there any flaws in the plan of just ordering the whole page for a long box out of LMC truck?
These are a few beginning thoughts, I am sure I will come up with more questions that have been answered many times on here. I plan to continue exploring the site, and yet hopefully get some info specifically relating to my project from some of you with a lot more experience.
#3
#5
Thanks for the response. Are there any threads relating to using the 05+ axle? That seems like a good thing to look at a bit more or find a wrecked v10 truck and buy the whole thing. I don't mind pioneering such a conversion, but if someone else has done it already would help me avoid some mistakes. As luck would have it, a coworker heard about the truck purchase and came over later to visit. His grandpa has a 79 2wd 150 with some very nice doors and what appears to be a nice solid box. My brother in law is a bodyman, so he is going to check it out tomorrow. Some dents and dings, but the trim is near perfect on it. My concern is that it is the wider frame width. Is it a big deal to make my own holes, or can a bracket be fabbed on the narrow frame and use the original box holes? I'll try to get some pics up, I know that is what people like. Even pics of someone's junk is better than all this text.
#7
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#8
For inspiration, here are some pics from last weekend's West Coast Nationals. Specs are 521BBF/FAST EFI/C6/NP205/Dana 60s with 5.14s(?). Re-ached leaf springs, 40-inch tires. 38-gallon rear tank and a honkin' mid-ship tank. Well appointed IMO.:
My favorite detail... under-dash trim to cover the firewall junk.
My favorite detail... under-dash trim to cover the firewall junk.
#9
#10
Hello all, I am about to undertake this same adventure, trying to put my 1974 F30 SuperCrew on a newer truck chassis with a 7.3 diesel powerplant. It seems many have done this but not many I can talk to. Would appreciate any advise based on lessons learned on recommended frame and chassis etc.
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