I just picked up a 1971 F100. The first thing I'm doing is replacing a rusted out driver's side spring tower. These are not easy to find. I found a '65 spring tower that looks like it would work, but I need to know if I can use it with little to no modification.

 

Geez living on the west coast ya never see stuff this bad. Hope your going to weld in the backing plate. May be pull the body off and repair what's needed as might be a lot of damage you can see that could make it unsafe to drive.
Orich

 

That's bad. I'd give a thorough survey and see where else is rotted. As it is there isn't a whole lot of meat there to bolt the new mount onto, and that rail has zero strength left.
To answer your question, I believe 65-72 was the same perch, then it changed in 73 to slightly taller with a longer spring. That may have been just the F100 4x4 that changed, though, some folks have said the 2wd perch stayed the same.

 

Orich and Ford_Six, thank you for your replies. This is good news that I can use the '65 spring tower. And I am definitely going to repair the frame before I bolt the "new" spring tower in.

 

If for some reason the 65 don't work out there's a lot of guys on here that have or doing the lower front swap that may have the parts just what you need.

And it could be you'll end up having to replacing both sides.
Orich

 

I can help you out with a tower but you might need more than a tower. if your frame is only rusted where the tower was rivited to the frame rail i have that part still rivited on the tower. but i agree that you need to look it over real well after finding that rust through, have you looked where the cab is mounted to the frame, just curious also the other side might be about in the same condition,

 

hay forgot to mention welcome to the FTE forum tripper_c

 

MRCMAN58,
Thanks for the welcome. This is my first classic vehicle, and I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge that FTE's users are open to share. The other side looks good, and this is the only place I can see on the frame that developed deep rust. I ordered the '65 spring tower, and hopefully it will do the trick, but if not, I will contact you.

I'll try and post progress pics.

 

i wasent sure if there were any changes made to the 1967-72 shock tower from the 65-66 models, if you need a piece of the frame for that area let me know,

 

Yes. 65/72 F100 4X2 are all the same part number.

 

Same: 1965/79 F100 2WD; 1975/79 F150 2WD, some F250 2WD's.