New member here! Have a few questions!
 

First off, Merry Christmas to all. My name is Tom and i'm from around Sanford, NC. I have a 53 F-100. I was told the body sits on a GMC 3/4 ton frame. Whether that's true or not, i'm totally clueless. The truck has a 350, 700R4, and a 10 bolt rear end. Since it's already got a GM powertrain, i'm building a 383 stroker for it. I have a T-56 and a 9" rear end for when I finish building the 383. Now that you know some info on the truck I have a question or two. What kind of frames or chassis' are available that I could put the body on? I'm sure some of you have put the body on something other than a Ford chassis and also run Chevrolet drivetrain. I have heard of people putting them on S10 frames but that's about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's some pictures since I know everyone likes pictures:

http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...y/DSCF2702.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...y/DSCF2703.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...y/DSCF2704.jpg
http://i396.photobucket.com/albums/p...y/DSCF2705.jpg

Welcome to FTE.
Nice looking truck.
First thing might be to spend some time driving it and see what about it you like and what you would want to change.
Is there a problem with leaving it on the current frame whatever it is. It looks like a good fit. Hopefully it was well done.
Anything can be fabricated to fit anything but it would seem the logical choice would be to use the frame and body as is and transplant the 383/T56/9" into it. It should be a simple and straight forward swap.

I agree, just drive and have fun in it, it looks to good to tear down. and you will find that there seems to be endless possibilities on chassis. It looks to be a long bed and that makes your chassis choices dwindle down., I would say leave it be because if you change one thing you got ten more to change to make it all function! Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Kyle

If it is on a GMC frame someone did a heckova job...almost too good. If I were a betting man I'd say it's still sitting on a Ford frame. The truck looks great whatever frame it's sitting on! :-wink

I don't have a 53 so would someone tell him where to look on the frame for numbers. He may have the original or a Ford frame . That may help identify the frame. If he can put the truck on a lift and take pictures of the frame. Maybe some of you can help identify frame. Merry Xmas, chuck

Thats a nice looking truck you have there. What ever your body is setting on it does match up very nice. Take a few pictures of the chassis and it won,t take long before someone ID's it. Take a picture of the interior also would like to see that nice seat you have in there.

If I remember correctly the numbers are on the right frame rail toward the front... and I think on the top of the rail....

john

An old saying from the past,,,, If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Nice Truck. Drive it.

yep a long bed . probably started out as 3/4 ton . too bad bout the chev , but ...... anyway the numbers on my oe frame , haven't really looked for the ones on my new frame , were on the top right frame rail up by the radiator support , or under the radiator on the x-member . i can't really remember . either way i concur , it's a dain nice truck , it runs , drives and ya can have fun now , leave her alone and drive the hades outta it . i keep coming up with crazy schemes myself, and say if ya want a hot rod get another to play with . in my case the ol' 53 is gonna get sat on the new unbent frame , all the oe drivetrain stuffed in , lowered , power brakes with discs , and a power rack for a little more enjoyment factor and an 8.8 so i can actually step out onto the highway , then the oe frame is gonna get straightened and the bird suspension , , the y block from stu , and a whole 'nother cab etc. are gonna become my " hot rod " and tinker toy . i miss driving mine !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you will too if you get too used to it so .........................:-wink

Tom,
How often do you get over towards Robbins? I have a good friend over there you need to meet. Hey lives not far off HWY 705. Let me know. Welcome to the board. Thanks

If my truck looked like that i wouldnt touch it till it brakes.

Great looking truck.

I recently bought a 55' F-250 with a 8' bed that the previous owner put on a '77 Chevy frame and drive train (350 motor and 4 on the floor). In my opinion it does fit fairly well. But because the frame is a bit narrower it doesn't line up with the gaps for the front bumper.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=222760&.jpg

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=222761&.jpg

Not original but not bad with the long box.

Enjoy it, no matter what you choose to do with it.

Steven

Nice looking truck. If it is sitting on a 3/4 ton GMC frame then there have been a few modifications done as 3/4 ton chassis' were 8 lug axles and yours are 5 lug.I don't think it is a 1/2 ton truck chassis as Chevys were 6 lug.So....it might be 3/4 ton chevy truck chassis with a car rear axle. Not sure what's up front though.Either way, drive it and enjoy it before you tear it apart, they come apart a whole lot faster than than they go back together.

man your quote about they come apart faster than they go back together ought to be immortalized and put up on a wall there sjahnke !!!!!!!!!!!! i haven't heard anything better than that !!!!!!!!!!!!:-drink

That is a great quote....''they come apart faster than they go together.'' LOL