I'm almost finished my frame swap. I'll probally be done by the end of the week and see if FTE will host my article. I put my '51 M-3 onto a '78 F-250 Supercab frame. Here's some latest pics:


The bottom of the front bumper is 15" from the ground. What do you guys think? Not bad for a 19 year old farm boy .

 

Nice, I want to see the article I have a 1977 F150 4 x 4 I have been comtemplating doing this to.

 

This is super terrific, Nathan. What do I think of this from a 19 year old farmboy? I hope that the future lies in the hands of competent young men like you and not the kind of folks who need a "kit" with instructions to change a lightbulb.

During the time I have been on this board, having seen incredible restorations and fantastic mods to hotrod trucks, I have always championed the guy who would just go out and do the job. You have got a great start on this frame swap thing. You just went out and did it yourself, knowing and having heard from experts, how difficult it might be.

What do I think? I think you're great!

in awe, himmelberg

 

Looks great, Will the wheels always sit outside the fenders? How did it mount up, Did you have to fab up new cab mounts?

Kyle

 

Looks awesome! You just gotta be impressed when someone has the um... lets see, nope, can't say that ... um... GUTS! yeah, guts to do the frame swap! Cool truck!

 

Nathan

Himmelberg, as always, is the man of words.
I would just like to say that I admire a man who doesn't know what the word CAN"T means.

Dick

 

Nice job Nathan! I'll bet the ride will be nice.

 

AWESOME! Keep up the good work...

Vern

 

That's one big tough looking truck!!

Nice job! I can't wait to read the article

Bobby

 

Himmelburg
Thanks. As usual nothing can match your way with words. I did have a head start. I did alot of research before I started anything. I got a '76 shop manual from the library and searched the entire 73-79 forum for anything that had to do with the frame.

Kdmcinnes
The track width of the '78 is 1" wider on each side than the 51. Also with the 16x6 wheels is sits out another 1" compared to the stock 17x5.5. If you used the stock wheels it would only be 1" instead of 2" wider. You should be able to tuck the wheels under the fenders with a wheel with more backspace. 16" wheels is as small as you can go because a 15" won't fit over the 12 9/16" rotors and dual piston calipers. Anyways I might run dual wheels on it. I just got to change the front hubs so having the tires stick out won't be a problem for me . The body mounted fairly well. I took the approach of making the frame fit the body instead of finding a frame that is close and making the body fit. I did however modify the body when no other way was possible. I did have to make new cab mounts but I made them on the frame. I used all the factory '51 body mounts.

rhw
Too bad your selling your '54. I might have been to help you put it on the '79 frame.

Huntsman
Well you should know about how it rides since your '55 is on a '69 frame. Right now I don't have the front swaybar on and shocks. I can move the front suspension with one finger compared to jumping up and down on the original leaf suspension and having it barely move.

Bobby
That was the whole reason for using the F-250 chassis. I want a truck I can use. The lowered F-100 are nice trucks but I wanted something I could toss an engine block in the box and not have it flinch. This thing is keeping the 8 ft express box!

 

Nice work.