F100 4x4?
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Logistics Pro
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From: Florida
F100 4x4?
I've been toying around with the idea of converting to 4x4 for awhile now,and i'm leaning more towards converting.I know it can be done,but I wanna clear something up first.My truck is a 1980 F100,and has the swiss cheese frame.Would the current frame rails be too weak for a 4x4 system?Would it be best to swap to an F150 Frame?
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2007
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I'm curious about this as well since I have an almost identical setup also with the swiss cheese frame. Although I have heard many of the other trucks from F-100 up had swiss cheesed frames...not sure. I have hauled a lot of weight with mine though, and have 3/4 ton class springs on it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Dryden, ON, Canada
Your F100 has an F150 frame, it's the same deal.
If it's in good shape, it'll be fine, if it's questionable, then I'd consider building everything on a later frame and swapping your body on.
If it's in good shape, it'll be fine, if it's questionable, then I'd consider building everything on a later frame and swapping your body on.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Florida
Oh okay,I wasn't sure if the F150's had swiss cheese frames too or not.From what I can tell,the frame is solid,just surface rust.It's been a Cali and Florida truck all it's life.Thanks for the reply man.
Cross-Country
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I have measured my F-100 frame and a F-150's frame that I had parted out, and they seemed to be the same thickness. Not sure why ford used the classification of an F-100 V.S. F-150 as mine uses all F-150 parts. Though some did come with smaller brake components and such.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Lost
The F250 from 80 and early 81 also had the same hole-filled frame. There isn't any issue with the frame's strength, unless it's rusty or involved in a crash. But, the same can be said for all truck frames.
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From: Virginia
If you do some digging, you might find out it was just a licensing thing or some sort of government classification issue. Some sort of red tape that doesn't really relate to actually using the truck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Northern California
The biggest differences between the F-100 and F-150 is to get around the smog issues of the day.
F-100's were under tighter smog regulations than the F-150. Why the F-150 was brought to life in 1975 was to get out of having catalytic converters and air pumps.
By 1983 F-100's and F-150's had the same smog classification and that's why the F-100 was basicly discontinued.
Sure there were some wheel, brake and spring and suspension differences between the two after 1979, but it wont make a difference in Fordzilla's case as he's got all F-150 parts on the front and rear anyway if I remember correctly.
F-100's were under tighter smog regulations than the F-150. Why the F-150 was brought to life in 1975 was to get out of having catalytic converters and air pumps.
By 1983 F-100's and F-150's had the same smog classification and that's why the F-100 was basicly discontinued.
Sure there were some wheel, brake and spring and suspension differences between the two after 1979, but it wont make a difference in Fordzilla's case as he's got all F-150 parts on the front and rear anyway if I remember correctly.
Cross-Country
Joined: Aug 2007
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The biggest differences between the F-100 and F-150 is to get around the smog issues of the day.
F-100's were under tighter smog regulations than the F-150. Why the F-150 was brought to life in 1975 was to get out of having catalytic converters and air pumps.
By 1983 F-100's and F-150's had the same smog classification and that's why the F-100 was basicly discontinued.
Sure there were some wheel, brake and spring and suspension differences between the two after 1979, but it wont make a difference in Fordzilla's case as he's got all F-150 parts on the front and rear anyway if I remember correctly.
F-100's were under tighter smog regulations than the F-150. Why the F-150 was brought to life in 1975 was to get out of having catalytic converters and air pumps.
By 1983 F-100's and F-150's had the same smog classification and that's why the F-100 was basicly discontinued.
Sure there were some wheel, brake and spring and suspension differences between the two after 1979, but it wont make a difference in Fordzilla's case as he's got all F-150 parts on the front and rear anyway if I remember correctly.
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From: Virginia
I never had any trouble with the frame on my f150 4x4 either. I was reading somewhere that the holes being punched in the frame may not be as bad a thing as everyone thinks. It seems when you form and work the metal, it gets what they call "work hardened", which actually makes it stiffer that it normally would be. So this happens when they form the metal into a c channel for the frame, and they also said punching holes in the metal also hardens the metal around the hole.
Another example are derby cars that they run in the smash up derbys. Some of those guys figured out if they took a hammer and went around the whole car and hammered little dents all over it, the car sheetmetal would be stronger and harder to damage. I have heard most of the derby events now do not allow that.
I bet that's also why they don't want you to weld on the frames anymore. The heat from the welding operation would make the work hardened metal relax, and weaken it.
Another example are derby cars that they run in the smash up derbys. Some of those guys figured out if they took a hammer and went around the whole car and hammered little dents all over it, the car sheetmetal would be stronger and harder to damage. I have heard most of the derby events now do not allow that.
I bet that's also why they don't want you to weld on the frames anymore. The heat from the welding operation would make the work hardened metal relax, and weaken it.
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Logistics Pro
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From: Florida
Thanks y'all,that helps alot.I just wasn't sure if the frame would fail under extreme articulation should that ever come about.
And yes 81 Explorer,my F100 is basically an F150,it's just got F100 emblems,F10 on the vin,and 4 leafs in the rear instead of 5.When I rebuild the truck,i'm gonna swap to 5 leafs,so it essentially won't be an F100 anymore.I think the rear springs are the only things that make it an F100.
And yes 81 Explorer,my F100 is basically an F150,it's just got F100 emblems,F10 on the vin,and 4 leafs in the rear instead of 5.When I rebuild the truck,i'm gonna swap to 5 leafs,so it essentially won't be an F100 anymore.I think the rear springs are the only things that make it an F100.