Hey eveyone I have an interesting quesion. I have 2 78 F-150's, one is 2wd and one is 4wd. The 4wd drive does not have air, but the 2wd one does. I would love to have air in my 4x4 because I drive it the most and has a dash for air with all the besels. The 2wd will be gettin a built 400 and I have to remove the big black box to fit my engine in. So my question is, Can you just swap the two? Has anyone done a swap like this before? Im trying to get by with minimal cutting on my firewall. Thanks

 

Just Swap cabs ..it's a lot easier.

 

You won't have to remove the ac to fit your 400 in. Mine had a 460 installed without removing the factory air. You will have to cut a big hole in the fire wall of the recieving truck and patch a big hole in the donor truck. I think Dennis is on to the easy way of swapping if your bent on doing it.

 

My 4wd just got a new paint job so switching cabs is out and theres about an inch between the box and my stock valve cover, so its not going to fit with my new valve covers.

 

Here is a reply I left for CDAWLEY1, he asked the same thing.

I would start checking some junk yards, if you find one you will want to get every part you can possibly remove. The AC trucks have a larger hole cut through the cab to house the plenum assembly. The first truck I got did not not have AC, I went to the local junk yard and bought the dash, plenum, ductwork, heater/ac controls, wiring harness, hoses, accuumulator and condensor, pump brackets and all pulleys, I picked it all up for 100.00
The most impotant thing you need to do is either get a good pair of metal shears to remove the section of dash that the plenum is mounted through and cut this out or make a really good template of the area.
This section can be cut out of the firewall once the dash and plenum have been removed, warning it is a P.I.T.A. and tight quarters to cut out. I have done it and converted a couple of trucks.


Click on my user name and then select view gallery to look at a AC cab and a NON AC cab, the picture in the galley is mine before and after.
Dont pay any attention to the fact the cab is removed, you wont have to take it this far.

Rudy

 

Where are you located? I am in Oregon and bought a parts truck that had air conditioning. All the parts where there except the evaporator in the big housing. I thought about using some of the stuff for my 65 but if you are interested in the parts let me know.

I would think it would be easier to have the box removed to remove and install the engine, getting to the right side transmission/bell housing bolts would be a lot easier with it removed.

Jeff

 

Ya it was a **** getting it out with that box in the way. So it looks like i would be cutting my firewall to make things works. 427SOHC you showed some great pics so i can go off there. I believe I have all the parts. I dont know if there are good. Can you bring condensers somewhere to get them checked? And all the parts that you got for a 100, I would have to pay 500 for at my local junkyard, why? who knows, its just they way they are. Im locatated in Southern Minnesota so shipping might be a little steap. Thanks

 

Do you have more yards you can check in?

When I bought my parts it was 10 years ago, however there are two yards in my area that have a few of these AC trucks. I more than likely would be able to pick up what I need now for around 175.00, might be less.

These 2 yards are more focused on steel prices now more than selling parts, and the 175.00 I would pay is worth far more than what scrap prices would bring for the weight of the items, however I would have to spend a little time there removing these parts myself since they would not want to waste thier own time with it.

I do however visit these yards enough to have established a decent working relationship with the owners.

I remember spending approx 4 "SCORCHING" hours in the junk yard that July day tagging and removing all the parts I needed and cutting the firewall section.

I try to avoid the more well known junk yards and search out the smaller ones with less overhead. They are still out there.

What is really sad is that when I cut the cab in the photo it was summer 1993, the truck sat in pieces for 13 years before I started working on it again and by then my focus changed after I put in the fatman IFS and the Lincoln 4.8 engine in it.

Believe it or not I welded in a solid piece of steel over the existing firewall to accomodate the 93 Lincoln Mark 8 AC plenum that is bolted to the firewall now along with the dash.

All the parts I had in boxes for the AC and the template I cut from the donor firewall I sold on ebay last fall.

When I cut the firewall section from the donor I used a small pair of metal snips that are made by Jilson co. inc. They will get in some really tight areas and I also had 2 replacement blades available when I cut it out but only needed one(yes the blades will break if they are in a bind) There web site is listed below.

A good battery powered sawzall would work well too.

http://www.jilson.com/snipscatalog.htm

I have the J1451SS set, I bought them from the Matco dealer back in 1990 and use the frequently.

 

From threads like this I know I will now be cutting the heater area piece out of the firewall on my 75 parts truck

 

It would be a good idea Dennis, in a few more years it will be a little more difficult to find these.
I made the mistake of letting my template go with all the parts I sold on Ebay. I might actually be needing to modify another truck.

I did actually forget to mention that when I cut the few firewalls I have done that I left some extra metal on a couple sides and bent it to match the OEM AC cab for extra strength
Hope that makes sense.

 

Yes I know about allowing extra for the actual fitting.
I just never thought this would be a big swap over.

I figure going the other way would be more popular

 

Dennis,

I agree changing the cab would be more popular. In my case I had a rust free cab and I couldnt find an AC style cab without a rusted floor and bad cab mounts.

I really wish that was an option.

 

Well i decided on what to do. I just spent all winter restoring my 4x4 except the box cause its shot and ill just swap for frame to frame and stay with my original plan with puttin a new box on my 4x4 and do the work on my 2wd and keep it nice. So problem solved for a year or two. I'll just have to put a sheet of aluminum or steel and paint it to match my firewall.Thanks for everyones suggestions.

 

427, thanks for the Pics and info! I'm doing a conversion on my truck this winter, and this is exactly what I needed to help me work up the courage to cut up "my baby." :-)

 

To me it took more time than courage, I like to measure twice cut once and worry later.

If you are able try and purchase the entire truck, make your neighbors mad by leaving it in your driveway and take your time removing. When done sell off the extra parts on ebay and remaining unsellable stuff scrap it, steel prices are still up.

My entire build on my 79 is being financed through Ebay!

My seller ID is RUDY045

Good Luck with it and keep me posted.