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It is rare to find anyone on any forum who recognizes the difference in chassis details to this level. FTE is quite lucky to have you around.
Some clarification might be in order on the forward front leaf spring hangars in the Super Duty chassis cabs.
1999 was the final year where I've seen the cast forward front spring hangars utilized.
For example, my model year 2000 F-550 4x4, built in November of 1999, utilized STAMPED forward front spring hangars, that did NOT incorporate any provision to mount a Blocker Beam (a.k.a. the anti Geo Metro climbing bar).
The 2003 F-550 4x2 (built in the last month of 7.3L production, but since has been sold earlier this year) that I ordered new to avert the 6.0L, which as you know has the same style of tubular monobeam front axle, also has a stamped front spring hangar, but yet of a different design than what is found on my 2000, as the 2003 F-550 did in fact have the Blocker Beam, as does the donor truck above in the OP's project.
The cast front spring hangar was very short lived. I've only seen it on new trucks during calendar years 1998 and 1999. There are a couple of different casting variations...
The stamped front leaf spring hangar in my November 1999 built F-550 has a factory reinforcement plate welded to the outboard side of the spring hanger, that engages with the web of the frame at two points, rather than just one, and the web attachment points are moved as far apart as possible, forming a triangle of support with the spring eyelet bolt.
Since my stamped front spring hanger shown above is covered by the additional side plates I added, below is what the stamped front spring hangar on my F-550 looked like without my additional side plates, that was designed without the Blocker Beam flange...
By contrast, below is a stamped front spring hanger that was designed WITH the provsion to install a Blocker Beam:
The OP's F-450 has a front spring hanger similar to that immediately above, with provision for a Blocker Beam, but even with these front spring hangars, there was a design revision.
If you have encountered any 2000 - 2004 F-450 or F-550 with cast front spring hangars, I'd be interested in seeing it, because I otherwise don't think that unicorn ever existed in production. Early and mid model year 1999 yes. 2000 and up, no.
There are not many, if any, who even pay attention to this type of detail, so it was interesting to see you bring it up.
There is also a difference between cast and stamped spring hangars in the rear, where the F-450 has stamped aft shackle brackets, while the F-550 has cast aft shacle brackets.
The mid 90's F-Super Duty (F-450 equivalent) like your roll off bed has castings in all spring support positions, as best as I recall.
There is no "wide adapter" versus "standard adapter".
There is either adapter, or no adapter.
The wider track F-450/550 axles (aka Fat Boy) of the 2005 plus coil front spring era do not derive their extra track width from a change in front dually adaptor width. Rather, the track width is due to an entire axle width change, including opening up the cast C's at the axle ends which hold the reshaped knuckles to accommodate a larger axle U joint between inner and outer axles that enables additional wheel cut angle without binding up the U joint. Other than changing from 8x225 to 10x225, the wheel end front dually adapters are more or less comparable in "width" (or depth) between 1999-2004 and 2005-2022.
I wouldn't say that I know it all (obviously I have a lot of errors in my post) but being dangerous is where I lie - just seen enough. Oh, and as far as the spacer width, that was a feeble attempt at trying to convey that there is no difference between the width of an 8x170 spacer for an F350 or an 8x225 F450/550 spacer. Right, the "Super 60" in the coil spring versions is completely different and the reason the 05-up look so much more proportionate in the front instead of narrow and not-tough looking like the earlier ones.
"Stinky", Rich's 2000 F250 had them (what's left of the front frame section anyway), the 2003 7.3 F450 front section I have that donated its engine to a project years ago has cast ones with the Yaris driver-saver. The late 2000 build (June) F550 I used to drive at my last job had them too. I'll get my friend to send me pictures of his 2004 6.0 F450 if I remember. I've been under it enough to recall seeing them.
You're the treasure. Where you come up with your technical drawings and being able to rattle off dates and times down to the millisecond is amazing.
Here’s a recent build thread swapping a 7.3 into something else. He shares his method of pairing down the 7.3 wiring to just what he needs for the project.
Rad and intercooler
OK now.
Remember that 'cool' pointed Hood? Yeah. There is NO way the stock radiator is going to fit/work with that. So this is what I did.
I made a new Radiator support that lowered it down so that the stock hood will work/close. (more on that later)
When I put the 1973 body on the 2002 frame, I had to cut the frame horns off flush with the spring hangers too. They just stick out too far to allow an old bumper or grille to fit. I also had to weld the lower radiator support of the SD to the 70's header panel (it has that big hoop that extends downward).
Many of us would love to have the time, skill, tenacity or tools to accomplish a build like this. We are here as a community to help you in any way we are able to and live vicariously through you as the build progresses.
Many of us would love to have the time, skill, tenacity or tools to accomplish a build like this. We are here as a community to help you in any way we are able to and live vicariously through you as the build progresses.
Keep up the good work!
THANK YOU Master Sargent!
And all who have been curious and helpful here at FTE 7.3 and 6 speed exposed getting the fender placement I notched out the (already) ugly grille to sit down over the frame rails
More progress (these are older pics)
My shop is/was pretty full. This truck JUST FITS but allows no room to walk around. This is also lower on the $$value scale of my other toys that stay inside during the winter.
Buddy and I decided since I'm going to cut and stretch it anyways, cut it NOW, stretch it in the spring. we rolled the back half out into the cold...
May sound dumb, but worked great! I had plenty of room to walk around the cab and stub frame while I made a firewall and sorted out the wiring. (It was a LOT of work)
Last edited by 47jailbar; Dec 19, 2021 at 11:51 PM.
Reason: additional info
