What's the Freakin' Difference???
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78
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What's the Freakin' Difference???
So, here goes.....
I have currently entered the stage in my life, when shiney and new with bells and whistles aren't a must. I am thinkning of trading in my 02 for a 79 F250 Crew Cab Short Box 4x4, or something comparable.
Here are some questions I have:
1. Are there any differences in the frames, between a 150 and a 250?
2. How much difference is there between a 73-77 and the 78-79? Is is just the grilles and accessories that change, or are there other things?
3. If I am willing to change the rear cab mount and custom lengthen a box, can I mash a Crew Cab on a Reg Cab Long Box frame? Or are there too many differences?
4. Is there anything I need to look for when purchasing a project truck?
5. Any reader suggestions?
Here's what I plan to accomplish:
'79 F250 Crew Cab Short Box 4x4
517 ci stroker on propane, auto trans with electric transfer case and auto locking hubs
Complete custom interior
About a 4" lift, and 35" tires
Hydrolic lift for box, with the ability to change from a box to a deck in minutes. (Yes I have the kind of time and patience it will take to build this)
I have currently entered the stage in my life, when shiney and new with bells and whistles aren't a must. I am thinkning of trading in my 02 for a 79 F250 Crew Cab Short Box 4x4, or something comparable.
Here are some questions I have:
1. Are there any differences in the frames, between a 150 and a 250?
2. How much difference is there between a 73-77 and the 78-79? Is is just the grilles and accessories that change, or are there other things?
3. If I am willing to change the rear cab mount and custom lengthen a box, can I mash a Crew Cab on a Reg Cab Long Box frame? Or are there too many differences?
4. Is there anything I need to look for when purchasing a project truck?
5. Any reader suggestions?
Here's what I plan to accomplish:
'79 F250 Crew Cab Short Box 4x4
517 ci stroker on propane, auto trans with electric transfer case and auto locking hubs
Complete custom interior
About a 4" lift, and 35" tires
Hydrolic lift for box, with the ability to change from a box to a deck in minutes. (Yes I have the kind of time and patience it will take to build this)
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,697
Likes: 3
From: Marengo, Iowa
Well, there are abunch of things to look at here. 78-9 didn't change frame width from 2wd to 4wd on the 250 and 350, but 77.5 and older did. The older ones are considered "highboys" with the divorced case. The frame width will make you relocate the bolt holes for the box, but that is the worst of it there. As for trying to get a crew cab on a standard frame, the length of the cab is about 4 foot longer on the crew vs the standard. The difference between a long box and short box is 2 foot. So you would need to extend the frame a minimum of 2 foot to make it work. Only other way would be to custom a shorter box as well.
The front sheet metal is basically a bolt on switch, not a real big issue. Cab mounts tend to rot on the earlier ones, as do the floor pans depending on care the truck received and where you live at as to what winter weather is the norm there.
It all depends on how much work you want to do, how well you can fabricate things, and what you want as a final product.
The front sheet metal is basically a bolt on switch, not a real big issue. Cab mounts tend to rot on the earlier ones, as do the floor pans depending on care the truck received and where you live at as to what winter weather is the norm there.
It all depends on how much work you want to do, how well you can fabricate things, and what you want as a final product.
Junior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 87
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From: South Berwick, Maine
The frames are thicker on the 3/4 ton F250 then the 1/2 ton and the rear springs are 3" wide vice 2 1/2". the wiring harness do change some form year to year but for the most part '72-'79 stuff interchanges. Do yourself a favor and get a Hollander manual that covers those years. hollanderinterchange.net
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
Likes: 13
Find a long wheelbase truck. Either a crew cab SB or a Super cab long box. Personally, id find an F-350.. dont have to worry about the differences with the highboys, and tougher drivetrain. Also, they ride the same. Since you are doing all the custom work, and if youre concerned about ride quality, swap 99-04 super duty front springs in, and some 3/4 chev rear springs. Also, 1/2 tons and 1 tons used 3" rear springs... F-250s use 2.5" rear springs on the hiboys. 73-75 some of the stuff is a little different.. id stick to 76-79. 77+ used married t-cased and mostly came with 351M and 400M engines which are the same bellhousing a 460 uses. If you get a truck with a married NP205 trans, you can bolt it to a newer style transmission with a little grinding. As far as differences in frames and cabs.. all it takes really is moving or build a new crossmember for the rear cab mounts, and drilling some holes for the bed depending on how you do it. But if you get a LWB frame, a factory SB will fit behind the 4dr.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 78
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Wow, lots to consider.
I had planned on finding an Xtended Cab, at least for teh frame, and using a late model trans and transfer case. As for the custom fab on a super short box, I run a small body shop out of my garage, so that won't be an issue.
Thanks for all your input, it is greatly appreciated.
I had planned on finding an Xtended Cab, at least for teh frame, and using a late model trans and transfer case. As for the custom fab on a super short box, I run a small body shop out of my garage, so that won't be an issue.
Thanks for all your input, it is greatly appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 2
From: wyoming
Well interesting topic. I'm currently doing the same exact build just a 1970 version crewcab. Installing on a longwheel base truck. On my build on a 34"tire it has about 6" from front of tire to back of cab. One thing to check out is a truck from Offroad Design - Fullsize Chevy GM 4x4 Suspensions, Parts and Performance. Its a chevy but its a nice setup and seen this truck perform during the ultimate adventure last year. It has a custom built bed he built and it looks nice and functional. I'm gonna do a link suspension on mine instead of leaf spring. Catch you later and check out the website and its cousin willard truck. It'll get you thinking about what you might want for yours.
