body swap
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Eric, The cab & front clip is a direct bolt up. In 73 Ford added 4" to the rear of the cab (behind the cab mounts) and to the chassis rails. Any fit issues will be in the bed area.
John
John
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: CHATSWORTH
I swapped one over to a 74' 4x4 , from the cab forward everything was direct bolt in, Ihad to use a small shim under each of the rear cab mounts to make the body lines match. The bed was a little trickier, I had to notch the very end of the frame rails in to the rear most crossmember, and down into the frame about half way, and make custom bed mounts because the 74' frame was wider behind the cab. I wouldn't advise pulling any bumper pull trailers doing it this way, not without some frame reinforcement.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,568
Likes: 1
From: Middleton, ID
Just thinking of other options here;
What about cutting and welding the cab-forward part of the 4x4 to the front of my 2x4 (cutting the I-beams out and all)?
Anyway if I were to do all the custom work and swap to the 4x4 frame I'd purchace fiberglass bedsides, I've got a 68' F-250 Ranger XLT for all my hauling purpaces, I just love my 4x4s & my 67'-72' Ford Trucks.
What about cutting and welding the cab-forward part of the 4x4 to the front of my 2x4 (cutting the I-beams out and all)?
Anyway if I were to do all the custom work and swap to the 4x4 frame I'd purchace fiberglass bedsides, I've got a 68' F-250 Ranger XLT for all my hauling purpaces, I just love my 4x4s & my 67'-72' Ford Trucks.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
When you start cutting & welding you are you are playing with the integerty of the system that makes the world turn. Wheel base & total chassis rail length at the rear of the truck are the only concerns with the bolt on exchange.
You should be able to bob off the 4" on the chassis rails & re drill them for bumper mounts. I have not done it but slipping the rear axle forward a couple in should work enough to get by on the fender opening appearance.
John
You should be able to bob off the 4" on the chassis rails & re drill them for bumper mounts. I have not done it but slipping the rear axle forward a couple in should work enough to get by on the fender opening appearance.
John
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 2
From: Rockport, WA
This could get confusing, since VIN plates are riveted to the bodies.
Oh well, what Big Brother doesn't know won't hurt you, right?
Of course we've all read this thread, right?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=392414
Oh well, what Big Brother doesn't know won't hurt you, right?
Of course we've all read this thread, right?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=392414
Last edited by Lane Dexter; Jul 15, 2005 at 12:10 PM.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
Likes: 35
From: Central Oregon
With my truck the DMV taged the new body with the VIN# off the frame, I used a 65 body on a 66 frame, so it was titled as a 66.
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2003
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Likes: 1
From: Middleton, ID
They're both Idaho trucks, there's no plans to sell the 70', first truck and all.
I've also started to think about filing for a lost title, that way I dont' beat my 70' up.
all that is wrong is that the front axle has a busted knuckle on one of the axle shafts, and if its free, then it might be worth it to fix it.
=Eric
I've also started to think about filing for a lost title, that way I dont' beat my 70' up.
all that is wrong is that the front axle has a busted knuckle on one of the axle shafts, and if its free, then it might be worth it to fix it.
=Eric
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Lane Dexter
This could get confusing, since VIN plates are riveted to the bodies.
Oh well, what Big Brother doesn't know won't hurt you, right?
Of course we've all read this thread, right?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=392414
Oh well, what Big Brother doesn't know won't hurt you, right?
Of course we've all read this thread, right?
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=392414
John
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 2
From: Rockport, WA
Lane, While you are correct that the plate is rivited to the body, the frame VIN is stamped in, and is the go to should something come up, and are located in multiple places.
John
Yeah, I know. A guy just can't get by with anything these days... Once, back in the day when I collected junkers for VFD rescue practice, I got one with no plates, registration or VIN plate (60's GM, I think). The WSP told me places to look, but eventually even they gave up (after I had half the body jacked off the frame, looking for numbers). All I wanted was a Certification of Junk Vehicle, so they finally made up some numbers for the form and told me to get rid of the car. 
John
Yeah, I know. A guy just can't get by with anything these days...
Once, back in the day when I collected junkers for VFD rescue practice, I got one with no plates, registration or VIN plate (60's GM, I think). The WSP told me places to look, but eventually even they gave up (after I had half the body jacked off the frame, looking for numbers). All I wanted was a Certification of Junk Vehicle, so they finally made up some numbers for the form and told me to get rid of the car.
