I have a 50 F1 I have been driving 36 years. I bought a 49 F1 around 12 or so years ago, with the intention of building a street rod. I keep thinking about doing a 4X4. I want to stay true to the blue oval. My wife's 05 Explorer measures out about 2 inches wider on the front track, and about 1 inch shorter on the wheelbase of my 50. Have any of you guys known of an Explorer body being removed, and a F1 installed on the Explorer chassis? I would use a version that had a 4.6, or even a 5.0, as I really do like V8s. I've been kicking this idea around for several years, and it's about time to see about making it happen. Any thoughts or comments, I would like to get some feedback. I have seen where you can get some type of kits to use S10 chassis and make this conversion, but I want to stay with the blue oval if I can.
Thanks Rockfarmer

 

Its s lot of work but by measuring and cutting as long as your a handy man it can be done, I have done s10 swaps,right now check my post under f3 Dakota frame swap ,the s10 swaps handle like crap, you have to swap out the gearbox with a fast ratio to make them manageable.

 

There is a set of videos at Nathan’s Garage that shows a 53 F250 named fat Betty being mounted on an Explorer chassis. He does a good job recording his progress along the way.
Good luck with your build.

 

Just a heads up, the front of the cab is really narrow on 48-52 trucks making it a real pain if your using the donor floor/firewall

 

Thanks for the comments. Sum Day, where is Nathan's Garage, sure would like to check out that video, and see what he has done, although a 250 would be a long bed, and my truck is a short bed. Also Pitshop not sure I follow your heads up about the narrow part, and using the donor floor/firewall, are you referring to the floor from the Explorer being the donor, if so I don't think I would be using that from the donor. I could see how my 49 cab is narrow, and how this could be a mismatch with Explorer frame, Might need to do more measuring in this area. Hey that's why I put this out, seeking thoughts other than mine, which can get one tracked at times. I am fairly handy. I have been described as a Jack of all trades, and a master of none. Usually the hardest part of doing anything, is "doing it".

 

Nathan’s garage videos are on u tube.
Pitshop’s work is topnotch and he will be a great resource for when you get started.
Good luck.

 

SumDay,
Thanks, I found another reference to Nathan's Garage on U tube, and have been watching his videos on Fat Betty for the last couple hours or so. Enjoyed the heck out of his videos. That was the inspiration I was looking for. Kind of a different approach to what I had been thinking. I was thinking taking the body off the Explorer, and making the F1 fit on the Explorer chassis. I know I would need radiator core support, cab support, and then bed support. I liked the way Nathan kept the Mountaineer running almost the whole project. If anyone knows of anymore related videos, I would like to check them out. Nathan seemed to be doing all his work by himself, amazing.


Thanks Terry