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1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

cab swap.

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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 07:33 PM
  #1  
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Question cab swap.

Hey everyone,

I am restoring my '70 F250 Highboy (4X4) and the cab mounts and floor boards are really rusted out. . I have access to a '72 F250 2WD cab that is in good condition.

Will these two swap out pretty well? I know I need to transfer the old transmission hump cover from my cab to that one since I have a manual transmission and and transfer case shifter.

You can see photos of my truck here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?userid=350483
 
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Old Nov 11, 2007 | 08:58 PM
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19704X4F250
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Yes, it is a bolt on swap. The 67 thru 79 model cabs have the same cab mount locations. Everything should bolt on such as doors, electrical, etc. I think the only thing that was changed between 70 and 72 is the grill. I'm working on a 70 2wd cab swap on to a 79 4X4.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 05:40 AM
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Dittos, The basic should be the same, there are some cosmetic changes, but shouldn't effect the swap.

John
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 08:39 AM
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Are you using your '70 steering column? The turn signal wiring is an issue with these trucks as certain years there is a change in coloring and things won't work correctly(no matter how you try----been there).

The cab swap is an easy job none the less.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 08:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Freightrain
Are you using your '70 steering column? The turn signal wiring is an issue with these trucks as certain years there is a change in coloring and things won't work correctly(no matter how you try----been there).

The cab swap is an easy job none the less.
FT, I want to challenge your statement, I disagree, they can be made to work correctly. Once the power and horn wires are isolated the others can pretty easily be found and connected.

I say that because if I can make a 76 column work with a hazzard switch in my 66, anybody can pull it off. It took a little more than an hour, but I nailed it.

standing down

John
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 01:27 PM
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Ah, well John I don't really know.

I bought a different column years back for my '70 F100(Probably late 80's at the time). Can't really say what year it came from, but when I tried wiring it up, there was two wires in the plug that didn't match up to the remaining wires. NO matter what I tried I either lost a front t/s or a rear brake light. I can't say WHY it did this, but you would think that as long as it's a turn signal switch it should wire up no matter what. I'm much more electrically knowledged now then 20 odd yrs ago, so maybe I didn't try hard enough? If you look at most catalogs, they show different switches for certain years, so there may be more to it. Maybe it's just a '70's think. The headlight buckets for a 1970 were the same as a f700-larger truck, not the same as 67-69 and 71-72 F100. I went thru that nightmare back then too, as the buckets are UPSIDE down compared to the rest. Can't put the headlight in righside up(tabs) if you try to use other years.

Who knows?
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 01:32 PM
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I plan to use my '70 steering column since I like the style of the wheel and horn button better.

Thanks for all the information.
 
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Old Nov 12, 2007 | 02:06 PM
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im planning on installing a 70 steering column in my 67, did notice the wire connector is different, but wire colors are a bit different, i guess i can use the old wire connector from the 67 and transfer the wires from one to the other??

yes i am doing a power steering conversion, along with drum to disc conversion.
 
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Old Nov 13, 2007 | 01:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 19704X4F250
Yes, it is a bolt on swap. The 67 thru 79 model cabs have the same cab mount locations. Everything should bolt on such as doors, electrical, etc. I think the only thing that was changed between 70 and 72 is the grill. I'm working on a 70 2wd cab swap on to a 79 4X4.
My dad did this swap in the early 90's and found that the 2 wheel drive cab mounts are on the inside of the frame whereas the cab mounts for the 4X4 are on the outside. The cabs have a place for both mounting points but you will have to drill the holes your self unless the cab has been swaped before between the two applications.
 
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Old Nov 13, 2007 | 05:21 AM
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FT, I wonder if the connector is the key here. Mine were different, so I bypassed them. I am going from memory, but you have your four corners, power and horn wires, hazards if there is a switch in the column, and that is about it.

I think I used a hot wire and found my corners, labeled them, put on plug in type butt connectors and by trial & error got them all working.

Like I said if I can do it anyone can do it.


John
 
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Old Nov 13, 2007 | 08:09 AM
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I just remember there being four wires that didn't match in color code. I got everything to work, but one front t/s and one rear brake light. Depending on how I put those two wires together I had one or the other. After 20 yrs, it's all fuzzy LOL!!
I know I went to dealer and bought the right switch and everything worked. Back then this stuff wasn't obsolete yet.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 02:27 PM
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Another issue you might run into if you have an in-cab tank is the tank mounts. I have a '71 and had to swap to a cab that was "labeled" as a '72 cab and ran into this issue. Not too difficult to overcome but certainly surprised me. Be prepared for all of the "get the tank out of the cab" arguments if you do have the in-cab tank.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by clutter
Another issue you might run into if you have an in-cab tank is the tank mounts. I have a '71 and had to swap to a cab that was "labeled" as a '72 cab and ran into this issue. Not too difficult to overcome but certainly surprised me. Be prepared for all of the "get the tank out of the cab" arguments if you do have the in-cab tank.
That is interesting. I didn't know that the tanks were removed from the cab until the chassis was widened in 73 and they were moved to the rear of the truck.

Wonder what da Dummy can offer on this.

John
 
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 02:38 PM
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I didn't say that the Bumpsides came with tanks outside the cab. A lot of guys have moved them to the frames. I did mention that the in-cab mountings can be different as I have found.
 
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Old Nov 14, 2007 | 03:03 PM
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I am going to swap out the tanks because the donor truck has not run in many years and I am not sure of the condition of the tank after sitting for so many years. I just drove my truck this past weekend, so I know more about it's status.
 
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