I've swapped out a lot of stuff on these old trucks, but never a frame. I know the spring pockets are different, so, I have a '65 & a '68 frame & want to use the '68 frame & the '65 cab, is it worth doing & anyone done it???

 

Rick, Everything should be bolt up exchange except the bed holes, they never seem to match.

Suggestion, if you are at that stage why not go with a 73-79 chassis and get the power steering and disc brakes. You will have to deal with the longer wheel base but if you are willing to build from the ground up you should be able to deal with it. Of course buy a 73-79 and move everything to either the 65 or 68 chassis.

You have a big mountin in front of you either way but there is a lot of direct bolt up options available.

John

 

Fortunately the '68 already has PS & PDB, luckily. I'm only thinking about it since I can't seem to sell the 68. Thanks for your help.

 

I fully concur with John on using the later chassis.

There are very many good reasons to use the 73 to 79 style chassis and here are a few. Your 68 may have P/S & P/B but they are same technology as 65 is. When you get into later, Mid 70 thru 79 chassis, it's different technology. It will be Power Disc Brakes and FoMoCo Slipper style variable rate P/S instead of old Bendix System full pressure system. FoMoCo only used Bendix a couple of years then got rid of it. The reason Ford got rid of Bendix systems, after 68 is the faster you go squirrelier they get because they are not slipper pump technology.

And P/D/Bs off 75 & later F series use dual chamber M'Cyls with Split system lines and a proportioning valve for systems, plus motion activated Brake light switch instead of a pressure type switch earlier systems used. Motion activated switches make brake lites light when you touch pedal, not after you pressure system and began stopping. Think about that. . . .

Frame swapping is "Big". Many of us do it. I have done 15 or more, I did my own 66 3 times already, but mostly to upgrade a 66 truck with 21st century type technology
instead of replacing non power early & mid 20th century tech with Power mid 20th century technology. The later power systems and disc brakes over front drums are vast improvements over any mid 20th century stuff. . . .

Doing all that work for no real gain seems sort of not really worth it since you asked. I myself would not do that swap for a client, nor for my self either. Besides my 66 is already on a 79 F150 Trailer Special SWB chassis. The other thing is mid thru late 70s chassis move fuel tank to rear in the frame from inside the cab where people ride.

Just my $.02 on this topic. BTW there are plenty of threads here on these subjects in FTEs Archives.
FBp

 

ford boy pete, im considering a similar swap to a 77-79 4x4 swb chassis. How can I determine if its a Trailer Special, would the truck have specific badges on the fender or? I bet its rare to find a T/S in a swb also. Thanx

 

Tremec..

Trlr Spcls can be determined within VIN after 73 In the F-Series. I don't have them all but there are several numbers depending on years and specs etc. In a F150 trlr spcl is profoundly different. It's similar to an F250 with bigger rails & brakes and more anti sway bars and all than. An F250 is a bit more tough to spot, and am F350 it's almost impossible to see a difference. But if you run across a 75-79 T/S F150 you will know it's not a "normal F150". It looks like an F 250 but still has the 5 on 5.5inch lugs.

I don't believe Customs came with T/S Emblem, but everything else from Custom Cab (when it meant something) on through Ranger, XLT & Lariats did come with them. Some had cowl emblems inder the model emblem, some didn't. Tailgates always had an emblem after 75, as far as I know. It is in a shape of contenental USA which has a red field. A title bar runs across the middle that says "Trailer Special" on a white field, The Kansas people "Let Me C now" what's their name? Have replacement emblems, they're only $50 a piece or something. . . .

I have never seen a 4X4 trailer special in either long or short w/b.

Yes 4X2 Swb's a bit less common than lwb, but they're around if you keep an eye out for them you can find both swb & lwb. Most of the SWBs had either 302, 351W, 0r 351M/400 power, many of the Lwbs came with the 460 after 75. I've had 2 of them.

I also had a 77 F250 Trailer special that was a swb Supercab short box 460 powered truck. It was really a single wheel F350 set up, but the chassis is a stand alone. I still have the bare chassis because it is really uncommon. Too bad the cab & bed got killed in the road salt of PA, before I bought it. It could have been a neat ride.

Hope this is some help to ya.
FBp

 

Thanx for the info. I would like to do the 4x4 swap some day, but I really like driving it the way it is! Ill keep my eye out for the t/s models, i can not recall seeing one before.

 

Fordbypete, on your post about Bendix vs FoMoCo slipper style variable rate P/S box, what is the slipper? You stated Bendix was not slipper pump technolgy, is there a difference in Bendix pump vs the pump used in the FoMoCo steering system? The pumps in the Pick-N-Pull look the same from 68 thru 72. The inside of the pumps and the pressure release springs are the same and have the same spring tension. I just changed the Bendix box over to a FoMoCo box and used the original pump.Please clarify. Carl.....o&o>......