Changing wheel base
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2021
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Changing wheel base
I have an 83 F350 6.9idi DRW 4 speed 161 wheel base. The truck has some issues with rust on the frame and I really like a shorter wheel base truck. So instead of repairing the rust on the frame (basically right in the middle of the leaf spring hangers) would another option of moving the leaf springs towards the cab to make it a 133 and cutting the frame down to remove the rust be doable? I’m guessing that I will need to move some brake lines, pop off the rivets holding the spring hangers on, drilling and installing new leaf spring hangers, possibly relocating the fuel tank, and shortening up the driveshaft. Has anyone done anything like this, am I over looking anything that will be an issue? The truck has the bed off now and I would really like to cut the frame down to build a small flat bed for my welding machine and equipment.
FTE Legend
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 30,935
Likes: 4,123
From: Angier, NC
From what you are saying the frame is bad above the axle where the bump stop is right?
If so look at the frame that rust is at the top of the curve where the axle moves up when you hit a bump and / or when loaded.
If you move the axle forward it is now going to be on a flat part that is lower than where it is at now.
This will cause 2 problems:
The axle will have no place to move up for travel.
The back will be raised also.
When someone shortens the wheel base they do it in the center, like under or just behind the cab, where the frame is flat & straight.
Now you could find another frame rear clip that is good and still shorten the WB on the flat / straight part.
Only thing is yours being a IDI the frame is heavier than normal frames so I would not go with anything less than a 250 and would try for a 350 frame for the grafting part.
Just my .02
Dave ----
If so look at the frame that rust is at the top of the curve where the axle moves up when you hit a bump and / or when loaded.
If you move the axle forward it is now going to be on a flat part that is lower than where it is at now.
This will cause 2 problems:
The axle will have no place to move up for travel.
The back will be raised also.
When someone shortens the wheel base they do it in the center, like under or just behind the cab, where the frame is flat & straight.
Now you could find another frame rear clip that is good and still shorten the WB on the flat / straight part.
Only thing is yours being a IDI the frame is heavier than normal frames so I would not go with anything less than a 250 and would try for a 350 frame for the grafting part.
Just my .02
Dave ----
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