hey guys, im new to the site, but not new to bumpsides. ive owned 3 f100 shorties in the past, the last one i installed a 460 into. i loved it except when i drove past a gas station. lol.

my current project is a 69 f100 long bed that im going to body swap onto a 97 f250 powerstroke chassis. i know theres a difference in the wheelbase, and i havent decided if im going to keep my reading service bed, or stretch the bed to make up the 3 inches.

question is, has anyone done this before me? any tips, things to look out for? im a master tech, and no stranger to customs, it is my job (my other ride is a 69 suburban body on a 01 yukon chassis). i just like to get any and all information that i can before i dig in. its always helpful if someone else has already made the mistakes and i can save time by learning from them its 2:18am and im planning to pull the body off the 69 later today. i didnt see a "project/build" section so i guess i will post my progress on this thread if you guys want.(i can add links to my other builds if you guys want....some are chevys, just be warned,lol)

anyways, thanks in advance for any help you guys can give.

 

cool project.. post up pics i'd love to see it.

 

Same here, would love to see pics.

 

Interesting project Idea.. I too am interested in seeing your other projects...

 

I've always wanted to do that with a vintage crew cab onto a late 90's 7.3 powerstroke chassis.

 

ok, so i've finally had time and space to start on the body swap. i got the 69 bed and cab off the old frame. and i got started taking the 97 powerstroke apart. with any luck, the cab will be off tomorrow and i'll be able to set the 69 cab on to see where it hits (aka where it needs to be cut).

 

 

the only thing running through my head as i read your first post was

WHY IN THE HELL......




hasn't some one done this yet wow awsome idea there please please please keep posting updates and talking to us

let us see the good the bad and the fugly and good luck with it.

 

trust me, im sure there will be plenty of bad and fugly in the coming weeks. later today i will get pics of the powerstroke and my progress there. im hoping to have it back together and driveable by the end of the month....i wanna drive it to the good guys show at the speedway in charlotte.

 

so here is the progress i have made so far taking the 97 f250 apart:





and here i just had to sit the front up on there to get a feel for how its gonna look



everything is disconnected from the cab, with the exception of the stubborn rear cab mounts. unfortunately, i ran out of oxygen yesterday working on the 69, or i would cut them off and be done with it. and of course, the welding supply store is closed today. so it looks like the cab will have to wait till monday to come off.

as far as the f250 goes, i left the soft inner fenders in place, and im hoping to be able o modify them and use them. im also looking at modifying the 97 hood hinges and springs versus using the old style. this way i wont have to use any of the 69 inner fenders. that would free up alot of room for all the BS that is attached to the powerstroke to fit.

 

wow you beat that 97 like it was a red headed step child man where was the love?

 

ok, so i lied. the cab came off today. seems i had a brain fart and forgot i had stone age tools i could work with( 4 1/2 angle grinder). got the cab off and the 69 cab dangling over the chassis.

here starts the fun.... i sat the cab down on the chassis and the cab mount damn near matched up perfectly. i almost got excited. almost. then i remembered that i may want to check how well the wheels lined up in the fender. they dont, lol. and to move the cab forward enough to fit the fenders, a LARGE chunk of the firewall has to go. also, to make it fit and look right, its gonna have a slight body lift. im retaining the 97 radiator support, and will just modify it to mount the fenders and grill. ill post a few more pics in a bit.

 

97 cab on the floor



chassis and engine



cab and fender (shows how far back the cab is and where the wheel lines up



the front (i think it looks pretty cool)



here i moved the fender forward about to where i think it should be. i may move it forward a bit more. im gonna borrow a set of 33's to check clearances from. you can see the spacing between the fender and cab is about 3 inches. this shows where it will sit with the body lift. what do you guys think?

 

it's gonna be so very cool

 

Just an idea here...if you had another pair of fenders and a hood that you could use, you could stretch them to make up the difference...depending on your sheet metal skills and all. It would save you from having to make new cab mounts and firewall, give you more room under the hood and you will keep all your cab room. You can also trim/mod the wheel openings to fit larger tires better.