When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey, I've been a long time lurker on this website and have gained a lot of useful knowledge from reading others issues/mistakes/successes. I now have a chance to post my own build thread, although I will assuredly need some help along the way still!
I bought my third 70's ford pickup earlier this year with plans to use it to haul my 1981 Mastercraft to and from the lake. The truck is a 1979 F150 400 T18 4x4 ranger that was originally jade green. She runs nearly perfect but is really tough to look at.
So I looked and looked for a bed to replace but with no luck. So i figured that purchasing a complete truck will probably be my best option. After some searching I found a 1975 F100 302 2wd auto about 3 hr from me with the body in much better condition (not perfect, but hey i'm in VA...we live with rust).
SO, I now have to swap the body and the bed in time to make it to the lake in a few weeks. As of right now front clip is off, bed is loose and cab will be loose tomorrow on donor truck. Am I crazy for trying this? What should I look out for as I am cutting a hole for the clutch/ trans tunnel etc? I heard that there is not as much clearance in an auto tunnel.
75 and 79 I believe some wiring differences? You are swapping the complete body and frame harnesses.
Careful how you lift the cabs off, you do not want to damage the doors or drip rail if using a tractor/skid steer, straps. 6 man lift for the cab, if you have all ate your Wheaties.
After you get the better body on the 4wd chassis, and hit the lake for a bit. Then put the primer body on the doner frame and flip sale it.
You know you might need to talk to you DMV about what to do about the titles...Vi# goes to the frame.
2wd cab trans hump not removable, 4wd trans hump is removable. Maybe use a body saw and cut the 2wd cab hump out and graft the 4wd in place?
My wife and I pulled the body off one truck and swapped in onto another the next weekend. Honestly I think it can be done in two days. The wiring harness from the 79' will have to be transfered to the new body, the 75' harness if different.
I worked on the trucks all day Saturday and have everything unhooked and ready to swap. The bed on the 79 was rusted through and through and every bolt spun. That was a chore to take off. Thanks for the tip on the wiring harnesses, I plan on stealing a couple more parts to finish it all off.
I have a large front loader john deere tractor with either a pallet fork or a bale spear to use to hook up to the cab and bed. does anyone have any experience with this? should i just strap though the doors? isnt the cab pretty front heavy?
Not through the doors. Take them off. Lift with a 4x4 length of wood under the top of door openings and strap or chain around the wood at both ends. Never strap under drip rails or doors themselves. Two men can lift and carry a bare cab.
What he said^^^^^^ I have done several the same way and have left the doors on. Just open the doors and cut your 4x4 to an appropriate length......Pad between the 4x4 and where it will contact the cab with some old rugs, carpet, or towels.......make sure that your sling will not contact the drip rails when you pick up the weight and place the 4x4 towards the front of the door opening (IIRC there is a seam just behind where the front of the door comes up that is a good starting point to get the cab balanced with the doors on........good luck!!!!
