F-100 Upgrade
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F-100 Upgrade
I have a question concerning the feasibility of upgrading my '74 Ford F-100 2WD pick up to a heavier hauling/towing capacity 2WD pickup. I have already taken care of the front end (power train) with a swap out of the 302 V8/FMX combination with a 400 V8/C6 replacement package.
Is the complete rear end assembly (axle, differential, leaf springs, shocks, drums, etc.) from an F-150 and/or an F-250 interchangeable with the F-100 and if so, what span of model years are interchangeable with the '74 model year, i.e., '74 - '79? Would a rear end swap of this nature be all I need to do to convert a 1/2 ton F-100 to a 3/4 ton pickup?
Thanks!
Is the complete rear end assembly (axle, differential, leaf springs, shocks, drums, etc.) from an F-150 and/or an F-250 interchangeable with the F-100 and if so, what span of model years are interchangeable with the '74 model year, i.e., '74 - '79? Would a rear end swap of this nature be all I need to do to convert a 1/2 ton F-100 to a 3/4 ton pickup?
Thanks!
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,838
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From: SD
Welcome to FTE...
How much of a load are you carrying and how often? If you want to carry the weight of a F250, you should really get a F250 because the entire frame and suspension is heavier, thus safer and stronger for loads.
The F100 and F150 use the same suspension parts (aside from springs), so they will interchange. But since they are the same, you wouldn't gain any extra load capacity. Many F150's had overload springs in the rear - small leaf above springs that contacts frame mounted perches only when a load is on the pickup. I plan on adding these to my '73 F100 just too keep it level when the trailer is on. I plan to get factory ones from a salvage yard, but there are many aftermarket ones available.
There is a tech article about brake upgrades that would be a good idea (link at top right of page), it's for '78-'79 bronco but is the same for your F100.
Marty
How much of a load are you carrying and how often? If you want to carry the weight of a F250, you should really get a F250 because the entire frame and suspension is heavier, thus safer and stronger for loads.
The F100 and F150 use the same suspension parts (aside from springs), so they will interchange. But since they are the same, you wouldn't gain any extra load capacity. Many F150's had overload springs in the rear - small leaf above springs that contacts frame mounted perches only when a load is on the pickup. I plan on adding these to my '73 F100 just too keep it level when the trailer is on. I plan to get factory ones from a salvage yard, but there are many aftermarket ones available.
There is a tech article about brake upgrades that would be a good idea (link at top right of page), it's for '78-'79 bronco but is the same for your F100.
Marty
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'74 F-100 Load
Thanks for your replay and information. I probably won't be carrying big loads all that often. We just purchased a 21' lightweight travel trailer and I just wanted to beef up the suspension a bit. With a load leveling hitch, it probably won't be an issue.
I'm just thinking back on past times hauling old car parts when I had enough of an overload to cause poor handling due to a squatting back end. And I guess I did that a few too many times because I have a burnt up axle bearing that I need to replace to make it road worthy again.
Thanks for the brake upgrade article reference. I would definitely like to have disk brakes all the way around. The article mentioned having power brakes on his bronco but my '74 F-100 has manual brakes. I suppose I can find the power booster from an F-350 as mentioned in the article and upgrade to power as well.
Thanks again and God bless,
--Phil J.
I'm just thinking back on past times hauling old car parts when I had enough of an overload to cause poor handling due to a squatting back end. And I guess I did that a few too many times because I have a burnt up axle bearing that I need to replace to make it road worthy again.
Thanks for the brake upgrade article reference. I would definitely like to have disk brakes all the way around. The article mentioned having power brakes on his bronco but my '74 F-100 has manual brakes. I suppose I can find the power booster from an F-350 as mentioned in the article and upgrade to power as well.
Thanks again and God bless,
--Phil J.
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,613
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From: Gainesville, FL
Bird,
I have a 76 F100. It couldn't haul at all. The springs were shot. I went to a junkyard and snatched a set of springs off a M880 (Mopar 1 ton, military rig). I swapped the springs and can haul everything i could load in the truck, dirt, 12 ft. lumber, you name it. My ride really didn't change that much. It raises the rear end 2-1/2". It took the F100 rear end shimmy out. The 9" rearend has held in there for nearly 15 years now, no problem. I did loose the forward carrier in 1991. Swapped it out, and away I went.
Consider it,
KingFisher
I have a 76 F100. It couldn't haul at all. The springs were shot. I went to a junkyard and snatched a set of springs off a M880 (Mopar 1 ton, military rig). I swapped the springs and can haul everything i could load in the truck, dirt, 12 ft. lumber, you name it. My ride really didn't change that much. It raises the rear end 2-1/2". It took the F100 rear end shimmy out. The 9" rearend has held in there for nearly 15 years now, no problem. I did loose the forward carrier in 1991. Swapped it out, and away I went.
Consider it,
KingFisher
