This might not have much to do with diesels but I was wondering if anyone knew of any sites that sell cheap front body panels for my 89 f250. I dont care if its japanese, I just want it for 80.00 or less.

 

i dont know about you, but i always thought it would be cool to put the front fenders off a 93-97 on an 89. i drive an 89 and was looking at a newer one one day and i got out the trusty measuring tape and discovered that the front fenders and hood were the only difference to the outside of the truck. i don't know where you can find cheap body panels.

 

If it wasnt for a tight budget I would do this cool swap. My grille and side panels have to be replaced anyway and all I would need is a hood.
So you are saying the panels bolt in exactly the same spots and the hood mounts the same as the newer Fords?

 

well, dieseldan, im not 100 percent on that, i can get some more measurements and look a little harder "i have both new and old here at the house" and i will get back with you on that. the hood only bolts up to the fenders so if you could get the fenders lined up right, the hood would slap right on. i was thinking about changing the front end because there is no way to to gracefully put a full replacement bumper on the 87-92. and because i like the way the interior looks. i have seen many ugly full replacements, but none that were pretty. so dan, i can't answer if they will bolt right on. ill let you know in a day or two. i found one place auto-bodyparts.com fenders $74 each and grilles from $62-$87 i dont know what you want to do. i just did a quick search for you

 

Thanks Lowman
I look forward to those measurements!

 

ill do that for you, i need to get a pic of my rig on here, i got one with BLACK smoke rolling around the truck, my exhaust pipes fell off the truck today and bent all to hell, i think im going 6" dual. stacks. i need a turbo!!!! the truck alredy runs like a scald-*** ape, i just got through rebuildin the front end, had both front I-beams off and back on in one day. im also thinkin about puttin an 8-71 blower off a detroit on it. that 5-speed is a sweet ride isn't it?? i like it a lot better than the dodge trannies.

 

I had a freind he took a 84 bronco and made itlook like a 97 he also had a 84 4door diesel he put a 97 clip on look they both looked factory!

 

i looked at it all today and got my trusty measuring tape out and found that the fenders, grille, and hood will swap bolt for bolt, but the frame rails are actually about 3" longer than the older fords. a simple extension out in the very front will take care of this. i would not suggest trying to buy every piece new, i would try to find one wrecked in the rear end and getting a doner truck. because you would need inner fender wells also. im sure there are a few other things that i can't think of right now, but i don't think it would be too terribly hard to do if you had a donor truck with a good front end. the junk yard will probably rape you on stuff like this. but you may know someone or be lucky and find a good deal. remember you would have to paint it to match your truck, as far as i can tell, the electrical solenoid and stuff like that would bolt right on. i don't know about wiring for the lights and horn, but it couldn't be that hard. the cabs and bed are identicle on both older and newer. i hope this helps you out some, let me know how it goes. and while you are in the process of all this, put a turbo on that hoe and some dual stacks and dually it out, i always loved the look of a single cab dually. and put some 4.10 rear ends and turn the fuel up all the way and put a 4,000 rpm governor in that truck, it will be a real racehorse then!!

 

I am getting ideas for my stacks, you can read them on my thread right now: "7.3 exhaust stacks"


It would cost money to put on duals: fenders,wheels and tires, axle stuff

I plan on getting a pyro so I can turn up the fuel. I already have 4.10s in her.

When I get some cash I will put on a turbo.
To keep things simple and traditional I will probably stay with the square ugly front end.

 

i do like the way the front end looks on these old fords, flat and simple, but not to the extent of the old dodges, don't you think those things are fugly? but anyways, you do not need a pyro to turn the fuel up unless you get a turbo or do some crazy stuff with the timing. i havn't tried to move my timing yet, but plan to play with it a little, i have the screw turned up 1/2 a turn from factory on my truck and it blows so much black smoke. i can get 4 mg solid if a dont keep my heavy foot out of it. but if i drive it to just where it starts smoking and don't go any farther, it actually runs better and the gas milege goes to about 11 or 12. i have had a few tanks that were 4 mpg. another reason that i would want to put a 93 front end on my truck is because there is room to put an intercooler on these truck "if i had a turbo" where as there isn't much room in the older ones. i have a supercab and i thought it would make people think when they see the new front end and the double windows for the supercab part. if i floor it, it still has plenty of ower, but if i ease off it to where it starts smoking, you can feel it pick up a few extra ponies. and my truck has 330,000 miles on it without any kind of major overhaul. only had a valve job once because my grandpa said "it needed it" but it really didn't, you know how grandpa's are.

 

I have a 89 Dodge and they are pretty lame in the body design department. I could design a better body than that. The flat ford front is ok on a bigger truck like myne but it is just plain ugly on a 1/2 ton!
Do you have a pyro? Does it ever get hot? Id rather get good fuel mileage than dump black smoke even though it is extremely cool.$$$ Nothin like dumpin a black load in a riceburners window at a stop light!

 

You must not be too old if your grandpa is still around to tell you stuff like that
My grandpappy dont like to fix stuff that aint broke. He is in to ******riggin stuff. I hope that dont offend anyone.

 

Some Beach! they censored my "term" of a word

 

I think the easiest way to make the swap would be to pull the entire front end group off of the 92-97 trucks because the fenders, inner fenders, hood, and radiator support are different. I've considered making the same swap on a 81 truck. Hope i was at least a little helpful.

 

yes, im 18 years old and my grandpa gave me that old idi as my first truck. he also gave me a 89 ford 1/2 ton maroon with a silver-gray stripe. that truck is in immaculant condition, but it has a 351, and a 3-speed automatic, so it gets 7-9 mpg. that i guess is why it only has 60,000 miles on it and it is in such good shape because a 98 year old man bought it brand new in 88 and drove it to the store and back.i am snd owner it is a beautifull truck, i like the front end on that half ton. i also have a 1/2 ton 85' chevy with a 3-speed auto and a 454 that i put in there. real racehorse, but its nasty brown color and it gets 5-7 mpg. im thinking of trading everything in for a 97 powerjoke with a standard and 4.10's, wouldn't that be a beast!! and i LOVE!!! to blow black smoke in the windows of riceburners!!!! i angled my exh. pipes up a little JUST for this purpose!!! i can chirp the tires into 3rd gear!!!! on the old ford diesel, not many people can say they have ever done that! and find a 4000 rpm governor spring for your truck, mine makes hella power all the way up to about 35-3600. that rpm is never seen with a stock governor, i wouldn't reccomend any over 4000, you can also shim up your spring in to of the pump. this may be a real monotnous job though, taking it on and off to get the right rpms. or just take the spring out and ut a little piece of pipe in there and don't let anyone ever drive accept for you, it will blow up really easy.but then again, it may have a run-away as soon as you start it up. so i dont know if i would try this, you may be braver than me. i am working on building an intake manifold to fit a 8-71 suercharger right now!! i can't wait till i get that on there. no, i dont have a pyro on it. i bought one and its still sitting in the box in my closet along with the boost guage, but i will put it on there when i get my blower on it. the only time i have ever get it hotter than usual is when i go muddin, i got it up to the middle of the m one time. i was stuck and trying to get out. have you ever made that fan kick into high gear?? it sounds like you are about to take off!!! i am thinking about welding the fan clutch up or putting a bolt through it so it will be 100 % but i can't get the dern thing off!! oh well. if i ever have to put a new water pump, i'll get it off one way or another and make the mod then. i bet your ac would get hella cold if you did that!!