Okay here is my problems. Number one: I only joined to get advice about my first ever serious Ford project but all you nuts have got me so reved up I think I'm hooked now because Number two: I can't get having a 70's crewcab out of my head. One with a long box, 4X4; deisil engine; and big lift which leads us to Number three: the fool things don't seem to exist here except for 2X4 shortboxes in varying stages of dead or dying. Hence Number four: I'm going to have to create what I want from bits and pieces. Which finally leads to my question can anyone suggest what donor trucks would have a frame sufficent to allow me to build a crewcab 4X4 longbox.

 

funny, that is the exact truck I'm gathering parts for myself. There where no 4x4 crew long beds made. You have 3 options...

A 2wd crew long, and convert it to a 4x4. From what I have read, it is a big pain in the butt!

A 4wd crew shortbed, and extend the frame....I like better then the above option...

and 3rd find a frame and transplant. This Is the route I think I'm going with. According to 79 ford brochure a 2wd crew long bed has a 165.5 wheel base.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/lc/lc.ph...2FFP79-17.html

2nd gen dodge extended cab long bed is a bit short at 154.7
3rd gen dodge 4dr long bed is close, 160.5
new chevy/gmc crew long is 167.0
99+ ford crew long 172.4
99+ Ford extended long 158.0
88-97 ford crew long 168.4

I used MSN auto to find these dimensions.

My thought is that the wheelbase is most important. After owning all 3 diesels, I'm a cummins fan. I'm looking at using a 3rd gen frame and I'll have to shorten the bed about 5 inches. I have measured both the ford and dodge frame widths. I don't remeber exactly, but it will take some work to make it fit.

I guess there really is no easy answer to your question. I think the easiest route is to extend the frame on a shortbed 4wd. It sounds like that might be a problem finding that, so Deciede which diesel you want and try to adapt the body onto that frame/engine combo. That way you you don't have to adapt a frame to a body, and an engine to a frame. Good luck, keep us posted!

 

Thanks for the info roan65. You sure we weren't seperated at birth cause I'm leaning heavy toward a Cummins too !! Can't say I'm surprised to find out I want the none existant version of these trucks. Guess the easy thing would be to settle for a short box but then I couldn't haul my slide in camper and impress the boys during our fishin' huntin' trips. By the way would you know the years of 3rd gen dodges?

 

of cours 3rd gen is 03 to current. 2nd gen is 94-02. I'm trying to find a frame, up here in alaska, and it is almost impossible! good luck!

 

I was almost positive that th 79' crewcab F350 was made only in a longbed version. The F250 of the same year was available only has a shortbed, I believe both versions were available in 4x4. My crewcab started as a f350 supercab longbed, and was then shortened to accomodate the shortbed I wanted. There are quite a few members on here who have crewcabs. I do know a couple of guys on here that helped me find a cab and frame. Send me a personal message if you want and I'll get you set up with their info.

 

Maybe take a look at this brochure page to see what Ford made.

http://www.tocmp.com/brochures/Ford-...e/FP79-16.html

 

If you are gonna go all out check out the 6x6 in my gallery. It has the 52 GMC drivetrain. Personally If you could find a newer 6x6 with a diesel I think that would be the cats a$$.

 

I thought crew cabs were 3x3's ?

3 in the front 3 in the back

 

I'm with you mil1on. Everytime I've heard 6X6 I thought someone had added a third set of doors to create a 9 passenger crewcab. Glad somebody finally had a pic of one. Betcha a 6X6 could tow a monster trailer . Mind you that 9 passenger crew would be a cool idea.

 

Hey good luck with that Ford dodge conversion. Im am a fan of the cummins its just too bad they put such a good motor into such a bad chassis. Remember if you install a Ford cab on to a newer dodge chassis you still have to deal with the dodge auto tranny unless you can find a stick, also the newer cummins has a ECM just like the gas engines do so theirs all the wireing issues and their will be a lot of them. If you go with a older dodge the frame might be more work (too long) but the wireing will be a lot less.
Leadmic

 

Get 2 77-79 supercab 4x4 frames and there is a section just at the front rear spring mount that is nice and straight( have shortened a few but could lenghten) take front section of one frame, cut it at the back edge of that straight section, take the other frame and cut it at the front edge of that straight section and by my calculations, you could add 16" to the standard 155" wheelbase, thats171" more than you would need and you would have only 1 seam !
A Supercab 2wd may have the same frame dimensions in the rear but I'm not sure, I never modified any 2wds. If you'd like some pics, I have one stripped 4x4 supercab outside, I could get pics this weekend.

 

68Mercury250Ranger now thats an idea I can pull off seeing as I happen to know where I can get 4 of those trucks for $300. Some pics would be greatly appreciated. Funny how a impossible project becomes quickly possible when one has such as vast wealth of knowledge to pull from. A little of topic .... do you really live in a place named gravel road or is that some of our famous Canadian humor ?!!

 

Hey Nice 6x6 . Are You Useing Both Gas Tanks

 

WOW Looking at the 79 sales brochure(link posted above), it looks like you may be correct that the F-350 was only in an 8ft bed. however it does not state weather it is availbale in 2wd, 4wd, or both. that is cool, might have to do some reasearch....

68mercury, I would love more info and some pics of this as well. I have a 78 supercab in the driveway that I have been trying to sell. Might have to change my mind....

 

western star: gravel road Ontario is like B_M ___K Egypt, or Idaho or even Alberta. All that Alberta oil, your gravel roads will all be paved soon.
Its just something I thought up a while back. Actually I'm only about 1 hour from Toronto, and about 15min. from Kitchener about 250,000 population. I actually grew up on a gravel road one concession to the east and would like to end my years there but I'm not even one foot in yet.
My past: started apprenticing in 1988 at FORD Heavy truck dealers Toronto area, Liscenced since 1992, and worked my way closer to home until Ford sold their heavies to Freightliner and now Sterlings. Now I work at a Hino truck dealer and plot new projects to take up my lack of spare time. I have probably cut up/fixed up/restored/cobled together, between 2and 300 1965-1979 Ford pickup/Broncos. My toy fleet has been wittled away lately as scrap price has been up and Dad's farm is littered with trucks.
He has never charged me a cent of storage so I dare not complain when another old relick disappears. At least he hasn't gone inside the barns YET.
Sorry about the rant guys, got home late from work and need to wind down.
Roan 65: I have 2 78/79 supercab shorty 4x4s, is that what you want picks of, or just locations on a bare frame? Probably no photos till Sat/Sun. Only mechanic in the family, large backlog of work.