body swap
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 196
Likes: 5
From: damascus
body swap
Sadly today was the end for my clean and no body damage 85 flare side I wrecked it this morning pretty bad the frame on the driver side will never be straight. so I was wandering what truck frames will work to put my body and some drive train on to. I have a couple leads on some frames one being a bare 92-96 frame and the other is a 73 rolling chassis then a few running driving trucks for $500 on craigslist just want to know what frame would work the best for dropping my body on?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,844
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From: Atlantic Canada
Sadly today was the end for my clean and no body damage 85 flare side I wrecked it this morning pretty bad the frame on the driver side will never be straight. so I was wandering what truck frames will work to put my body and some drive train on to. I have a couple leads on some frames one being a bare 92-96 frame and the other is a 73 rolling chassis then a few running driving trucks for $500 on craigslist just want to know what frame would work the best for dropping my body on?
I've seen a few 1980-1986 truck bodies installed on the later 1987-1996 frames. I'm no expert on the topic, but as far as I know, your 85 body will directly bolt on to any of the F150 frames up to 1996. What will not swap directly is your front bumper. I believe you'll have to cut the front horns of the later frame and fab brackets for the Bullnose bumper to line up properly with the body. I saw a truck for sale here recently...I believe it was a 1981 sitting on a 1992 frame, and the front bumper was sticking out from the body a few inches (because they didn't do any mods to make it fit).
Depending on what engine and transmission are in your wrecked 85, you may have to swap some of the mounts around from your old frame to a new one. If switching from a 300/6 to a small block for example, and the transmission mount as well. All easy stuff.
There are guys on here that will know far more on this topic than I do, so just hang on a bit and somebody will be along with more details
. Good luck.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
No, the 87-up front frame horns are different. Not sure if you can rig a 80-86 bumper to a 87-up frame or not, I have never done it. I am not sure, but I think the very late models, basically the last few years had a different frame also, with crumple zones up front. Not sure on that one though.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
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From: Virginia
Also don't know if you are looking for a 4x4 frame or a 2x4 frame. They are basically the same frame, but the rear springs are 3 inches wide on a 4x4, 2.5 inches wide on a 2x4. This is not a big deal, you can use the 2.5 inch wide springs on a 4x4, or you can buy or swap the spring brackets and springs around and make a 2.5 inch wide rear spring frame have 3 inch wide rear springs.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2018
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From: damascus
92 was the first year for the crumple zone, I’m alright with metal work, and my truck is 2wd. And I just bought a 90 4wd frame and everything I need for $500 so I’m will to give it a try if it doesn’t work I’ll cut the frame horns off each of the trucks and swap them over.
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