Like I said in my previous post I am out for performance out of my 66 f-100 shortbed, but I just don't think that frame will handle a whole lot. would it be better to put the body on a new frame rather than trying to upgrade to all the newer technology? I think I need to just get a new frame and suspenson and all that to put on it if so what would be a good year of body that will mount up to my shortbed and also the body needs to have good suspension and good handling for high speeds


Thanks again

David

 

David you can run all of this in one post instead of two.
Your truck frame unless it has been altered from factory specks either by man or element should handle your 351W just fine. We would need to do a hands on to give you good advice. I would suggest taking it to a rep. shop in your area for an accessment.

John

jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quiet of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

 

Hey sence your on the subject of a ford frame, where can I
get a pair of rear shock mounts, they are the ones riveted
to the frame, I discovered that are gone from my truck and
I don't even know where to buy them.

 

I havn't read previous post from 66 blueford, but I can't see how a 70's frame or even a late model frame would change the differences in strenght, in handle performance i.e dics brake and power steering I agree, but the frames are built to handle big block v-8's, is it a weight concern or torque?
A 351 is no different than say a 352 of those day's installed for driveability.
Others know best, just thought I add to John's comment.

Mitch

 

FoMoCo F Series frames/ chassis are virtually the same from 1965 thru 79.
I say virtually the same because there are some slight variations which although not exactly similar, do not create any real problems. There's extra 2 inches of wheelbase & slightly wider "CA" or Cab to Axle Frame Rail spacing that are simple to adjust for. My 66 SWB Custom Cab, Style Side, sits on a 79 F-150 SWB Trailer Spcl chassis/ Frame. It has for several years now. Other than prettying it up, some suspension performance upgrades for handling & drag racing my 1979 F-150 frame is OEM Box Stock. A warmed 460 powers my Slick and it turn mid 12s'. I have not had any frame problems.

My 66 frame would've worked fine also, IMHO, but as you noted, later frames (73-79) come with all the goodies I'd have had to install on my 66 frame. . . .It was a simple matter of economics for me to retro a whole chassis/ frame, not spend time + cash screwing around retro fitting safety & performance features of 73/79 style frames on it.

After 79, FoMoCo frames aren't the same quality, durability or compatibility as earlier versions. I wouldn't use/choose 80's up frames for those reasons & a few others. I've owned and worked on FoMoCo's thru the mid 90s. Although I feel they are better than the competition, they are not equal to Fords' 73-79 F-series for toughness & Durability.
FWIW, 73-79s are as close to bolt up as possible, model for model & wheelbase for wheelbase & type for type. In otherwords 4X2 to 4X4, LWB to SWB, F-100/150 to F-250/350 & so forth, although they can be done, are not the way to go (again IMHO).

However a 4X2 to a 4X2, SWB to SWB, and F-100 to an F-100-150 are easy swaps. I have done several once I discovered they compatible and were easily do-able. Since then I haven't swapped drum brakes to disc, or manual/ Bendix P/S to Saginaw type, or suspensions, or fuel tank relocations, or upgrade to 31 spline later miodel 9" FoMoCo rears. and all the other swap-upgrades I comment on all the time. . . .

Of course this is all opinion based on how I feel and think about these things, but they're from my own experiences and not from somebody elses book, papers or video.

FBp

 

You guys know the first post of this thread is 5 years old?

 

Sometimes it takes the right person to come along
to have something to come back to life. I braught
it back to life and I got some resources from it.
Thanks for keepiing it in the system for 5 years.
fordranch

 

Nathan, aka 51 dueller

Although the link you provided is an excellent article, it's not quite really relevant to the querey posed by fordranch. There's a world of difference between 64 & earlier frames & 65 & later frames.
The older FoMoCo "wagon suspensions" , with the early wishbone, or 4 semi elliptical leaf springs and solid axles are a universe away from the IFS Twin I set ups using the 9 Inch Hotchkiss front loader rear axle assy's or the Dana Rear Loading full floaters.

It's easier to bolt the earlier bodies on the 57-64 ladder style frames, but they still do not offer the amenities if the later 73-79 frames. In addition to the PDB, P/S, IFS, Radius arms and anti sway bars 73-79 frames allow a bolt in installation of power and drive trains using virtually "script" OEM Factory mounts, members & parts. Handling is 100% better with the center linked 73-79 4X2 suspensions.

So in spite if the date of origin of the initial question, June 2001, the question posed by fordranch is quite comtemporary, current, and IMHO, relevant today.

FBp

 

Yes the post by Fordranch is relavant but he could have posted a new thread which probally have gotten more responses rather than piggy backing on an old thread. Also I made no reference to my tech article as the link is part of my signature. I just stated that the original thread is old. You have helped many people with the frame swaps in the 61-66 and 67-72 forums just as I've help people decide if the frame swap is a possible upgrade in the 1948-60 forum. Later