Hey everyone i am from nj land of rust this weekend i drove down to NC to pick up a clean 1970 f100 short bed. The truck has a 460 big block in it. I plan on cleaning up the motor and body.My question is about the suspension and axles. I see alot of guys doing a crown vic from end swap. I am going to look more into that but what about the rear?
This truck has a open rear and every time you hit the gas that one wheels spins like hell. Also is there any good websites to get parts from trim interior parts. Thanks everyone

 

Parts vendors and tech info linked in the Tech Info Compilation sticky... it is preceded with "Read First" atop the forum.

Welcome to Bump Nation.

 

From HIO Silver'sTech Section above, page 2.

FTE Thread: davewild's '78 F150
FTE Thread: elgemcdlf's '70 F100 CV IFS & MN-12 IRS
Fordification Thread: Crown Vic in a '71 F100
Fordification Thread: JG_F100's '72 LWB to SWB Conversion & CV Retrofit
FTE Thread: CarCrafter's 67 F100
FTE Thread: RockntheHawk's 77 F100

As to the rear:

There are a few basic routes you can take to get a rear end with a 5 x 4.5" lug pattern to match the lug pattern of the CV front suspension.

1. One is to get a '95-'01 Ford Explorer 8.8" rear end. It will come with 31-spline axles and factory disc brakes (Explorers prior to '95 had drums on the rear). There were various ratios available in them but, common ratios in them were 3.55, 3.73 and 4.10:1. Fairly often you'll find a Traction-Lok differential in them. This rear end would require wheel spacers to move the rear wheels back out since this rear end is narrower than the stock Bumpside rear end.

2. 8.8" rear end from an '03-2011 CV. It'll be the same width as the CV front suspension. This rear end will have disc brakes but will only have 28-spline axles. Various ratios were available but we're generally 3.08 or 3.27:1. Traction-Lok was optional. Cop cars from 2005-2011 came with 3.55 gears and a Traction-Lok differential as standard equipment.

3. '89-later Thunderbird Super Coupe/Cougar XR-7 and '93 - later Lincoln Mk VIII IRS disc brake rear suspension. 3.27 and Traction-Lok were pretty common. Rotors and hubs will have to be re-drilled from a 5 x 4.250" lug pattern to a 5 x 4.500" pattern or, install '94-'04 Cobra Mustang rear 5 x 4.5" hubs, rotors and calipers.

4. 1980-1983 Ford F100 9-inch rear end with the factory 5 x 4.5" lug pattern (some '80-'83 F100s also had the more common 5 x 5.5"" lug pattern that you currently have). You would need to move the spring perches and lower shock mounts inward by 2" on each side. This rear end will have drum brakes and 31-spline axles. Ratios vary and it could have an optional Traction-Lok differential. Its width will also match that of the CV front suspension. If you located one, this rear end would probably be the simplest of all the other choices to install under your truck.

 

If you're industrious you can beef up your existing 9" rear end for about $1000. First off get a 35 spline locker carrier ($350), then order up a set of 35 spline axles ($350). Get the gearset you want to have, about $150. Go to the junkyard, pull a complete set of Crown Vic rear discs and adapt them to your axle. You'll have to get the rotors redrilled which will consume your remaining budget give or take. I've built two of them, awesome axles that will probably never break.

The picture in my avatar is a Dana 60 out of a mid-70s F250 that I did this to, narrowed to fit my 18" wide tires.

 

Kmw3ut Welcome to and the Bumpside Forum.

I say just drive it and enjoy it. Rear wheels are doing what they were designed to do. Put that built 460 up front and ya got a real hotrod.

What do you intend to use the truck for?



John

 

Welcome to the FTE Bumpside Kingdom.
With a 460 under that handsome hood I wouldn't to the C/V front. Consider the DJM beams and shackles.

 

Thank you everybody for all the input and help. I am going to get a couple estimates on the paint today. I'm having a little trouble finding some parts for the body I need. I ordered a front fender and a inner fender for the passenger side. It had minimal rust but they're so cheap I might as well replace it. I'm trying to find the front valence that piece behind the front bumper. I'm second-guessing the Crown Vic front end I might just upgrade to disc brakes.

 

Disc breaks would be nice. How do you plan on using the truck?

 

I plan on the truck being a weekend Cruiser. That can drag anything's *** at a red light. I'm pushing to get the truck done by September

 

Defiantly upgrade the brakes if your planning on a play truck. You've got to be able to stop good. What is the current braking system? manual or power?

 

I ordered all the body parts front fender,inner fender and battery tray. I got a quote to have the motor rebuilt $1500 just the long block. Trans will be going out this weekend aswell. Still not sure what to do with the suspension. The only issue i have with the rear is that its open. Should i just get a locker or swap it out with a 8.8 or a 9inch locked? The front i might just add disk brakes not sure about the cr swap. I was also kicking the idea of lowering the truck a little.

 

Mine has a mild 460 with a 4:10 Trac Loc , I can't ever get the rubber to stay attached to the pavement. If you want it to hook up I think it would require tubs in the rear to fit some much larger tires. Otherwise just have fun spinning the tires any time you want.

Nice looking truck!

 

Thanks! I have no problem spinning the tires all day i just want both to spin all day lol we have a one wheel wonder now

 

My advise, and I am looking on the inexpensive side, is to check the junkyards for just about any year of Ford 9" pumpkin with an LSD, the gear ratio that you can live with, and, most likely, 28 spline pinions.
The '69 that I had with a 429 had an open diff with 3.5x and I swapped in a LSD 3.90 out of a Torino that I was scrapping.
Get the pumpkin, support your truck. remove the wheels, remove the bolts for the axle bearing retainer, pull the axles out 6", remove the pumpkin bolts, remove the pumpkin, clean the mating surfaces, install new gasket, bolt new pumpkin in, push axles in, position new gaskets, bolt down the bearing retainer, assemble the rest.
At most this is a couple of hundred bucks.
Now both tires have traction. This cuts down the spinning while increasing the acceleration.
A win-win scenario.

 

Welcome to the forum! Nice looking truck. I think that swapping out the entire rear end with a limited slip donor would be a quick and easy fix.