I have a 1979 F-350 4x4 truck with no a/c. I just purchased a 79 Ranger
F-250 2 wheel drive truck with a/c. I was planning on doing a body swap of the F-250 onto the F-350 frame. The 4x4 truck has a higher transmission hump in the cab than the 2 wheel F-250. Will this swap work? I also plan on putting a 460 in my F-350 and was wondering if the a/c box in the motor compartment will interfere.

Thanks!

Craig

 

Sure it will work. Just cut out the hump. Pull up the carpet and you will see where. The 4x4 hump cover will then bolt right on.. Real painless to do...

If the A/C still holds a charge when you swap the cab get some help and lift the core support also at the same time, also, the compressor. That way everything is intact.

 

Or evacuate the a/c system and take it apart where needed...

You said to cut out hump and bolt new one in... How does that work?
Mark

 

If charged, why would you want to take apart and loose the R-12 refridgerant?? Lifting the cab, compressor/ hoses and core support is simple. To restore as I did my 79 crew takes a little more time as cleaning and painting is more of a challange for the compressor and core support. But, paper and masking tape cure that. If the cab you are going to use blew cold before you might as well keep intact. If not, dissasemble.

As for the hump. 2wd trucks have a solid floor. (unless they are a 4 speed truck). 4x4 trucks have a removeable cover on the inside of the cab. Bolted down to the floor by ( I think 11 screws).

Take the carpet out and front seat. Take the 4x4 hump cover and lay on the 2wd cab's floor hump area. On the 2wd there is already an indentation where the hump cover goes. Trace the 4x4 hump cover with a perm. marker or something. You will see the indents also on the 2wd floor for the screws that hold the 4x4 hump in place. Drill them out first. Then, drill another hole big enough for a saz all blade in the trace. Saz all on the line. Deburr the edges and under neath. Use some good paint to keep edge from rusting. Hump now is done so the xfer case shifter will be in the cab. If this is a truck you are restoring to nicey nice. I sandblasted the hump and painted with POR-15, then use a sound deadener. Then POR-15 again. In fact, I did the whole under neath of the crew cab. I then used another sound deadener on the inside of the floor of the cab. Called brown bread I think. I can get the links if anybody wants them. I like it better than Dynomat. So anyway, swapping a 2wd cab to a 4x4 chassis is pretty simple.

As for interference. Its tight.... My 79 crewcab has air with 460, edelbrock and Land L headers. But, original R-12 A/C works great.. Just carefull putting cab in.. Have some help...

 

What I was getting at is you could always recover the R12 that's in there, and put it back in after the cab swap. Just pull a good vacuum and refill after an hour or so. What do you do with the compressor? Tie it up to a 2X4 straddled across the inner fenders? I have done that when replacing front seals and whatnot...

 

My friend and I have swapped at least 8 truck cabs now. We use a tractor loader with a 4 x 4 thru the side windows. on each end of the 4x4 we have a plate that keeps chain from sliding. On a reg cab it balances real nice there, then, use a web strap from the frame of the loader to the compressor. same with the core suppport.

I just would rather not seperate anything if its got freon. taking a chance of disrupting the seals ect. to each his own thou.. Keeping them in 1 piece has worked good for us. We have bought trucks with crappy boddies and that dont run worth a hoot if the A/C works just for the working A/C. Mind you we dont pay much. When you swap the cabs make sure put in new heater core and blow motor. They are a pain in the butt otherwise.

So far i have used a complete A/C system from a 79 2wd reg cab for my 79 shortbed crew 4x4, 79 reg cab 2wd for my 79 Bronco, 78 reg cab 2wd for my 79 shortbed reg cab 4x4. All A/C"s work good.. I have heard of other folks installing the new refridgerant, and I would do if I did not have a supply of trucks with good R-12...

 

Thanks for all the information. I do want to keep the a/c in one piece since it blows great cold air.

Craig