73-79 Crewcab
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 521
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From: Alexandria, Ohio
It does not appear to be to bad. Mounting the leaf springs and the steering box will be the hardest part, it looks to me. The rest, cross members for the trans etc, and clutch linkage if changing from an auto, floor pan, already has the holes in the frame. I'll almost bet the holes for leaf springs are there also. Hopefully I find out soon.
More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 534
Likes: 1
From: manson
I flew from Iowa to LA California to buy my 77 F250 Camperspecial ext cab...cut the check and drove it home. Talk about a riot of a trip! I also did this with my 69 F100 which was in Apache Junction, AZ. Long trips driving old trucks, but I got lucky and found two SOLID ( NO RUST ) very good running trucks. Both need considerable work but you can't beat a rust free frame and body as a starting point. There is nothing like getting under these two trucks and seeing factory paint under the cab and box...and being able to remove any nut, bolt or screw with no hassles. Heck I even replaced the kingpins on the 69 myself with little trouble. The fact that the 390 engines have the "automatic chassis lubrication" feature is certainly helpful too.
Don't be afraid to look across the country. You may find a jewel and the $200 for air tickets and $300 for gas back home may be well worth finding something in good condition. Just have a couple credit cards with you, incase you have to buy tires or a new motor or tranny on the way home!
Don't be afraid to look across the country. You may find a jewel and the $200 for air tickets and $300 for gas back home may be well worth finding something in good condition. Just have a couple credit cards with you, incase you have to buy tires or a new motor or tranny on the way home!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,483
Likes: 273
From: Tulare U.S.A.
Originally Posted by sfourdoor
How much trouble is it to convert a 2wd to 4wd? I already have a 77 F250 4x4 now that I could use for parts to convert a 2wd if it isn't a nightmare to do.
I will tell you you will have to change the front (welded in) cross member. I know Im in the process of doing it my self. It would be best to find a donor 4X4 truck. You need to mesure the distance between the frame rails in the rear of your truck. If its 28in than you need to find a 76-early 77 high boy F-250 (they had disc brakes) for a donor. If its 32In you need to find a late 77-79 F-250 for a donor.
You have to cut the front crossmember out of the 4X4 donor and your truck and weld the 4X4 crossmember in your truck.
Leadmic
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
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If you have to cut and weld the crossmember, I might as well lower the crossmember a couple of inches and according to fordcummins.com, that will give you enough room to do a cummins diesel transplant. I've looked into that a little. Be nice to get 18-20 mpg. Don't know if it would be worth the extra work though.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 131
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Hello..I'm a crew cab owner. Grab one if you find one. Rare trucks. I have a picture of mine in my gallery. Someday it will get a good retoration. I live 11 miles from Wheeling WVA. What part of WVA is the junk yard that has the crew cab??? If it close I could check it out..take pics. for you. JOHN
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 530
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From: in country near Boone, IA
78crewcabjohn, i have a 78 crew also. Does yours have 2 fuel tanks? I see that yours only has one fuel filler location. Mine has two tanks. Anybody ever seen a short box with 2 fuel filler doors?
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 131
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Mine has one tank. I'm not the original owner, but it does't look like it was stock. I always thought they were in the back of the cab, but I don't see any repair patches in mine. JOHN
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: in country near Boone, IA
Mine has two tanks under the truck. I had to get a different box for mine and was looking for a short box with the 2 fuel filler doors and the guy that I bought the box from (who buys boxes from Texas to resell in Iowa) told me that set-up is rarer than dinasaur teeth. So I have bought a short box with one door, and will have to have a body shop add the second door. Just thought I'd check to see how yours was setup. I know for a fact mine is in stock form.
New User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 21
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Originally Posted by 78crewcabjohn
Hello..I'm a crew cab owner. Grab one if you find one. Rare trucks. I have a picture of mine in my gallery. Someday it will get a good retoration. I live 11 miles from Wheeling WVA. What part of WVA is the junk yard that has the crew cab??? If it close I could check it out..take pics. for you. JOHN
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: West Monroe, La
I agree that finding Crew Cabs in rust free condition is tough. I found mine on EBay, for sale in Oregon. Bought it and had it shipped back to Louisiana. This one has a 4wd front axle and suspension from an E-350 van..It still uses the original front spring buckets. Right now it is down for a re-build. I put the rebuilt 390 back in about a month ago. Will post more pictures in my gallery soon. Todd
Cross-Country
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: lodi WI
Hey I currently have 8 73-79 crewcabs and I'm trying to sell a couple of them if your interested. Give me a shout. They did make shortboxes with the dual fuel doors, I've got a few. I'm putting one on my 76 project.
Last edited by blueknightcrew; Dec 19, 2005 at 08:41 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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sfourdoor here, I'd be interested to see what you have, I'm in ohio where are you? I wouldn't be interested in anything rusty. Would prefer 8 ft bed 4x4 but a good cab is most important. I have a 4x4 already I could use for parts. email me at suresigns@earthlink.net