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Hey all, new member here. I'm beginning a project I've wanted to do for a long time, restoring a 78-79 F250.
I'm going to look at a 4x4 frame next week. I have two main questions:
1) What are the good / bad / ugly things I should look for to know if I'm getting a good frame?
2) How will I know if I can put an extended cab on this frame?
I'm not too concerned about bed length but I for sure want to use an extended cab. If the frame originally had a regular cab, is it just a matter of moving cab mounts or is it more complicated than that?
If you want a super cab you need a super cab frame, and it needs to be for the right box length and 2wd or 4wd. don't even consider altering one it's not worth the effort just get what you need.
Where are you located? complete super cab pickups are cheap around here they're not very popular.
Thanks, when you say "box length" does that mean bed or something else?
The frame I'm looking at is 4wd so all I need to make sure is that it's a supercab frame? What measurement(s) am I looking for? This frame is like 10 hours drive so I can't just casually check it out. Owner says he doesn't know what was on it.
I'm not sure of the measurements but the wheelbase will tell you if it's a supercab. someone here will know or you can find it online. all 78-79 f250 super cabs were long boxes ( bed ) so that's not a problem.
You can tell it's a 4x4 by the front suspension. get him to send you a picture and the wheelbase measurement before you go that should tell you what you need to know.
So as long as I get a 4x4 supercab frame, I should be good...I think that putting a cab from a 2wd auto into my project would only mean changing out the steering column and cutting out the cab floor for the shifters, right? (for manual transmission and 4x4 shifter)
you could have the owner send you a picture of the frame vin if it's visible (RH frame rail, two stampings between the front and cab area).
I looked back at the conversation and in fact he did say it was a regular cab previously on it. It was the BED he didn't know the length of.
So, this is not the frame for me and I'll keep on looking. Kinda sucks because it included a transmission for a good price. Oh well.
Well not totally the end of the world, I have seen a picture of a Super Cab put on a reg cab frame and then it had a home made shorty flat bed. But yes if you have a Super Cab 2wd and you want a 4wd, then you really need a Super Cab 4wd frame. Remember the title goes to the FRAME, NOT the body.
A super cab 4x4 frame might be fairly tough to find, even here in the NW there weren't a ton of them sold but you do see some for sale.
It wouldn't be impossible to convert a 2wd frame, but it would take some serious work. I assume you're not in the PNW, I have a perfect 2wd super cab frame I'd give you.
I dont know about the <79 trucks but the 80> the frame turns up after the rear of the cab.
So if you have a regular cab frame and try and put a super cab on it the rear of the cab will hit the frame before the rear mounts hit.
I would think the cab mounts would be different between the 2 cab types with the super being longer between front and rear mounting points?
Dave ----
If you aren't worried about being all original, I'd look into finding a rolling 2005-2015ish f250/350 4x4 super cab frame in whatever bed length you want and building off that. The long beds are 155" wheelbase also. The CCSB frames are also close at 156" but need frame towers fabbed up to support the front of an 8FT bed because the frame kicks down to go under the cab there. Either one of those frame will require fabbing custom body, engine and trans mounts, but you're gonna have WAY better brakes, axles and suspension. Sometime around 2015-2018? they stretched the wheel bases a few more inches, i know the SCLB went up to 158", which is still workable, and would actually work out better if you plan on any type of lift.
Also..you may want to look into the laws in your state regarding frame swaps. Like was previously mentioned, the only legal VIN on these trucks is stamped into the frame. I know in my state to do a 100% legal frame swap, i need to have proof the frame i want to put under was legally acquired. Then after I'm done I need to apply for either a rebuilt or homemade/kit car title and it needs to be inspected by the state DOT police who will either place VIN plates on the replacement frame with the original VIN, or issue a new VIN before the title is issued. It depends if they want to classify it as a rebuild or homemade/kit car and that depends on the amount of overall modification.
Well not totally the end of the world, I have seen a picture of a Super Cab put on a reg cab frame and then it had a home made shorty flat bed. But yes if you have a Super Cab 2wd and you want a 4wd, then you really need a Super Cab 4wd frame. Remember the title goes to the FRAME, NOT the body.
Is there a graphic like this of a 4x4 supercab frame somewhere?
You could stretch a standard frame if you wanted to. just take a section of frame from a donor and weld it in. people say you can't weld on frames but if done right that's BS. real tucks have had frames lengthened and shortened for years I've done it myself.
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