Hi, I have 66 F-250 CS, 352, Cruise-o that that I'm swapping to a 79 F-250 4x4 460, c6 chassis. I got the 79 striped down and wondering if you guys can help me out a little. I had to rent a shop to have enough room to do this and I'm not made of money so I don't want to do things twice. The frame on the 79 seems to have more of a curve over the rearend. Whats the best way to deal with this? Body lift and cut the mount over the rear to fit? If for some strange reason I wanted to keep the 352 would it bolt to the C6? How much of the wiring harness will mate up with my 66, and will the 79 inner fender wells bolt up to the 66 sheet metal? Will any 2 position toggle work with the gas tank selector switch? Both have Dana 60's, are they the same width? Can I use the 79 core support, and do I have to shorten the 66 steering colum to use it? Finally emissions, if I remove the smog pump and cap the ports on the manifold will anything be ill affected, and are the vacum hoses going to the tanks for any purpose other than fuel vapor return? Sorry for the long post put you guys are the only ones with the answers.
Thanks, T.J.
P.s. If any one in the San Diego
area needs a chassis I got one.

 

the 66 and 79 2x4s have the same cab mounts, but not true of the 66 2x4 and the 79 4x4. So you may need to build some form of mount so the 66 cab will line up with the bed to fit over the curve on the rear of the frame. You'll also find the 79's frame is 4 inches longer. The 79's axle is wider than the 66's, but that may not be a problem, depending on the wheels and tires you use. the 352's motor mounts will bolt into the 79, but the bell housing for the 460's C6 is diffrent. that would need changing. There should be no wiring on the 79 that isn't on the 66 other than reverse lights, and you won't need those, so no wiring changes should be needed. 79 inner fenders and core support will be useless to the 66. It will be best to use the 79's steering column in the 66's cab, as it will lign up with the 79's steering system propperly. the 66's steering wheel should fit it. As for the emmisions, yes, alot will be effected. your best bet is to replace that emmisions carb with a unit ment to run no emmisions, as tuning it with a bunch of disabled and useless vacume lines and smog equipment still attached will be trouble.

 

Sounds like an answer from a man that has been there and done that.

TJ, I had noticed when I removed a bed that the bolts were longer than the 65/66. I have not as of yet tried to put an older bed on a newer chassis so I can't addres that.

I have never been to Calf. but hear that there are strick emmission laws out there, and I doubt that you could get away with removing anything from the engine in that area. In other states you would likely get by with it.

Search articles by fordboypete he has written some nice ones on fitting older sheet metal on newer chassis. Everything cab & front clip should be a direct bolt up.

good luck

John

 

Thanks, I'll look for fordboypete posts. I remember reading a lot from him when I first found this website. I'm keeping the truck titled as a 66 so I'm not that worried about smog. Just figured the more pointless equipment I removed the less I have to worry about.