Body swap
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Middleton, ID
Body swap
I've got an 86' F-250 Diesel, it's a regular cab long box, I don't particularly like the early 80's truck bodies; so I was wondering what kind of challenge it'd be to swap the body from a 78'-79' F Series onto this trucks frame.Don't give me the "It can't be done" spiel, anything can be done with the tools and know how. I've got the will to take this type of challenge by the horns, so at least give me a small bit of encouragement even if you think the idea is obsurd.
I've always wanted an older ford truck with a diesel and I've the chance.
What about the wheel base of a regular cab, long bed, to a x-cab short bed??
Just another one of my hair-brain ideas.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Cab of a truck
It cant be done.
No im kidding. Ive seen this asked on here before, have you tried doing a search ? I think it would be cool to have a 73-79 with the 6.9 diesel in it. Im wondering if the wheels would line up with the wheel wells alright.
No im kidding. Ive seen this asked on here before, have you tried doing a search ? I think it would be cool to have a 73-79 with the 6.9 diesel in it. Im wondering if the wheels would line up with the wheel wells alright.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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If I can suggest that you should be in the other group of trucks ,80-86 forum,
The main theme to this thread is re-tooling that year of truck with the cab & box from something older.
Would you like someone to move this thread there ?
The main theme to this thread is re-tooling that year of truck with the cab & box from something older.
Would you like someone to move this thread there ?
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,322
Likes: 20
From: Rhode Island
Yes It can be done...
I had a 1975 high boy chassis , with an 86 body on it... yours is reverse of that so it is possible to do the swap...
The wheel bases from 78 or so through the upper 90's are or should be just about the same.. so you would need to get some wheel base #'s and go from their...
I had a 1975 high boy chassis , with an 86 body on it... yours is reverse of that so it is possible to do the swap...
The wheel bases from 78 or so through the upper 90's are or should be just about the same.. so you would need to get some wheel base #'s and go from their...
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Middleton, ID
The truck I've got is a 4x4, is there a different steering shaft between these two trucks???
Do all the mounts line up??? I remembered my grandfather mentioning something about the older trucks were three inches narrower than the newer (late 70s or 80's), I just don't know if it was just with the 72' and older rigs.
The reason I asked about wheel base is because I was thinking about a 79' X-cab short bed in place of the reg cab long bed.
Do all the mounts line up??? I remembered my grandfather mentioning something about the older trucks were three inches narrower than the newer (late 70s or 80's), I just don't know if it was just with the 72' and older rigs.
The reason I asked about wheel base is because I was thinking about a 79' X-cab short bed in place of the reg cab long bed.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: SW Missouri
that would be a different story. the wheelbases are different on that, plus the supercab has a different frame.
I'm thinking about putting a 76 F-150 on a 71 F-100 frame (no smog)
I'm thinking about putting a 76 F-150 on a 71 F-100 frame (no smog)
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Middleton, ID
Different how, Me, I'm only 18 so I've got alot of learning, that's the main reason I posted this topic to begin with, are the mounts different?? Different holes in different places???
Hey, here's an idea take a crew cab from a mid to late 70s f-series, and a bronco body, chop the bronco clean from top of windshield down, cut the back of the crew cab off, graft the two together, fabricating filler pannels as needed. Place the new body on a chassis of correct dimensions and presto, a 1970s Excursion.(sorry just a kid with wild dreams)
Hey, here's an idea take a crew cab from a mid to late 70s f-series, and a bronco body, chop the bronco clean from top of windshield down, cut the back of the crew cab off, graft the two together, fabricating filler pannels as needed. Place the new body on a chassis of correct dimensions and presto, a 1970s Excursion.(sorry just a kid with wild dreams)
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: SW Missouri
that has been done too, centurion made them iuntil 96 or so.
a supercab cab, with shortbed is differnt wheelbase than a regular cab longbed, you would either have to stretch the frame, or cut the bed down.
a supercab cab, with shortbed is differnt wheelbase than a regular cab longbed, you would either have to stretch the frame, or cut the bed down.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Middleton, ID
What about moveing the spring mounts, I read an article about it.....
so it's best to stick with the reg cab long box from what has been said.
Yea, I know that theres a 4 door bronco but what about in the 70s??? were they making them in the 70s???
so it's best to stick with the reg cab long box from what has been said.
Yea, I know that theres a 4 door bronco but what about in the 70s??? were they making them in the 70s???