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Senior User
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Your thoughts
Ok guys I need some advice / opinions. I have a 1979 f250 4X that I am restoring for multi use (local car shows, limited pleasure drive, modified street class truck pulls). Knowing what it will be used for might help with your opinions.
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Dilemma: Can’t find a good bed….shocker! I did however find a perfect camper special bed. Some of you might have read my post on this find. This bed is like new! I am trying to sell it (craigslist ebay etc.) and it does not appear that this is going to happen.
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Option #1: Cut metal panels out of the camper special bed and weld them into the regular bed. I would pretty much have to use the bottom of the bed and front panel (near the cab) from the CS, cut out the inner fenders (you know the CS inners are different), and make side panels from the CS cut outs and the old bed. This sounds like a lot of work! A lot of body work, cutting, seam busting, welding!!!!
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Option #2: Just thought of this idea! I have the complete CS frame with rear springs. I did some measuring and it appears that the difference in the CS is with the length of the rear leafs (shorter). The frame is the same length as my 4X. By the way the CS was a 79 F350 2X. I thought I might take the leafs and hangers and put them on my 4X. This would move my rear axle back (benefit for truck pulling) and I could use my bed. Get a longer rear drive shaft and hit the road. What do think?
<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
fficeffice" /><o></o>Dilemma: Can’t find a good bed….shocker! I did however find a perfect camper special bed. Some of you might have read my post on this find. This bed is like new! I am trying to sell it (craigslist ebay etc.) and it does not appear that this is going to happen.
<o
></o>Option #1: Cut metal panels out of the camper special bed and weld them into the regular bed. I would pretty much have to use the bottom of the bed and front panel (near the cab) from the CS, cut out the inner fenders (you know the CS inners are different), and make side panels from the CS cut outs and the old bed. This sounds like a lot of work! A lot of body work, cutting, seam busting, welding!!!!
<o
></o>Option #2: Just thought of this idea! I have the complete CS frame with rear springs. I did some measuring and it appears that the difference in the CS is with the length of the rear leafs (shorter). The frame is the same length as my 4X. By the way the CS was a 79 F350 2X. I thought I might take the leafs and hangers and put them on my 4X. This would move my rear axle back (benefit for truck pulling) and I could use my bed. Get a longer rear drive shaft and hit the road. What do think?
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Just found an issue with Option #2. I found it on FTE first and confirmed it myself that the springs on the CS are 2 1/2" wide vs 3" on my 4x. I guess the springs would still sit on the axle. I would just need to get a ubolt plate for the 2 1/2" springs. Did Ford Motor Company ever make two trucks the same? Typical ford! Got to love them!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
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From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Same thought as Jolly Green, it would be a shame to ruin a perfect bed when a few hours of nut and bolt mechanics would solve your problem. The plus is you can finish your truck and then keep watching for the proper bed, find one you like and it's still only an afternoon to change her back. So option 2 is the only way to go.
Elder User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 514
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From: Northern Colorado
Not sure if I'm capturing all of this or not, but sounds to me like all you need are wider spring perches for the axle - knock off the old narrows and weld on the new ones. They are available in the aftermarket.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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I would go with option 2 but keep in mind you will probably have a bigger turn radius with the longer wheel base, could present problems in off roading.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Goliad, Texas
if I remember correctly, you posted this several weeks ago. I think that you said or posted a pic of the bed and we decided that it was a SCS bed, not a CS. (CS has the same wb and the same bed as a regular 8 ft; SCS has a longer wb with a different 8 ft bed). plus a F250 is a CS, F350 is a SCS, but the SCS name was dropped at the end of 77.
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Thread Starter
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if I remember correctly, you posted this several weeks ago. I think that you said or posted a pic of the bed and we decided that it was a SCS bed, not a CS. (CS has the same wb and the same bed as a regular 8 ft; SCS has a longer wb with a different 8 ft bed). plus a F250 is a CS, F350 is a SCS, but the SCS name was dropped at the end of 77.
