Hello.
I am new to these forums but am having some problems. I am 16 and rebuilding my first old truck. I have a few questions that i hope can get answered. I have aquired a 1956 F250 with sound mechanics but a terrible body, i have also aquired a 1954 F100 that has an excellent body with bad mechanics. We plan on combining the two into making a classic truck. The first question i have is about the engine. The 1954 has a broken engine, it is overhead valve i am unsure as to the exact specs. The transmission is also out of it and we have warys about the rear drive system. Our goal is to swap the 272 V8 out of the 1956 and place it in the 1954, will this mount and transmission mount be compatible with the 1954 from the 56.
I am also planning a rear end swap, the lugs are missing from the rear drums and there are quite a few problems so we plan on replacing the drive shaft, rear punkin and the heavier 250 rear axles. How compatible is this with the existing leaf springs and the rear suspension, if this will not work can we pull the whole 250 suspension including springs and mount it to the 1954 frame. I would like the former but the latter will work, as it would be nice having the 16 inch 8 lug heavy axle, a nice raised rear well look. So my quandry is how compatible this will be. I am just starting this project so any other tips you may wish to add would be gladly accepted. I am a newbie to oldies, kinda have always dealt with the modern stuff so your help is appreciated.
I have read through the article that is the sticky on this but still have some confusion. Thank you

 

If the 54 has been beat that much it might make since to move the body pieces to the 56. I have two 1950 Ford trucks an F3 and an F-1

 

Okay that would sound fine, however how difficult is it to do this, i have visualized our setup and i am wondering, the F250 has 16in rims and tires and has small tire wells in the bed, the F100 has only 15in rims and tires and does not have this well. How can we swap beds from the F100 to the F250 if this is there.

 

Does the F-250 have an 8 foot bed? The F-100 most likely has a 6 1/2 foot bed. Fender openings might be larger on the F-250 though I think it might not change until the F-350.

Good luck!

Kevin Kessler
1953 Ford F-100

 

Yes the bed is longer on the 250 and also has an 8 inch larger bed width and wheelbase, however the tire wells on the F250 do extend into the box, so we have decided to stick with the box, this means we must switch the cabs, we have measured them and aside from a windshield and door differences, the cab is the same dimensions. How hard is this going to be to transfer cab from the 100 to the 250 once they are unbolted, we plan on using our restored 1941 John Deere Model B, forbid it gets used for work but we plan on using that to use with a pulley to move the truck under, raise the bad cab off, then raise the good cab up and pull it over lowering it into the other one, can this be done with the bed still in place, i know the fenders must be removed but the bed should be able to stay on in the cab transfer?
Much appreciated
Cole Hippen

 

What I have done for my 1954 ford f-100 was savage some parts of the local junkyard.. I know it does sound silly but you can find pieces as I did that would help you steer away from all the swapping.. Once you start swapping your making things more difficult. I know I may not be the most sagacious about re-building but those were the things that helped me in the pass...

Hopefully that helps

Ssgt. Corso