34 ford big truck into pickup?

Anybody ever cut and shorten the back of the frame and change the the front axle and rearend to use the same frame?
What did you do? got pics?
I am wanting a pickup and found a rough big truck for a thousand bucks but???

 

Have you seen it done?

 

If the cab looks the same, go for it. Buy a copy of Tex Smith's Hot Rod Chassis. It has the blueprints for all the early Ford Frames. They're pretty simple...

 

The cab size is the same everything else is big... Build your own frame it'll look better, the stock frame is far to big for a short bed.

 

Is the grille shell and hood also bigger?

 

grille is the same, fenders are bigger. my 33 was a big truck cab. it's a cool looking frame, but way too big. hope the doors are in good shape....

 

doors are the worst part of it

 

My Big A grille is larger than a regular pu grille, wider and taller.

 

The fenders, grill, hood, splash apron and cab will all fit on pick up/car frame. I have 1 1/2 ton RF fender on my P/U. (no spare tire well) If you want to chop and channel it, build a tube frame. Cut the front frame horns off and weld them on the tube frame...less work IMHO

Running boards, rear fenders (fiberglass) and bed are all available in reproduction if you want a full fendered P/U using a reproduction 34 frame.

Doors and the guts for the doors are getting very pricey.

If the cab is complete with all the little bits and pieces and only needs the usual rust repair around the bottom, then 1000 probably is a decent price. All those little pieces that the vendors hold you up on can make a cheap cab very expensive, but you do get to pay for it over time.

 

Yep, mine was a 1&1/2 ton. I got most of the cost back selling the front fenders. Howells has the door skins for 65 bucks ea. Door bottoms are 32 a pair. Nice pieces.

 

Plowboy's truck started life as a big truck (yea, the Space Truck).

Course it was a Chevy....AND a Buick.

Not certain he kept the frame though.....


I remember him posting the pic of his (then) newly acquired flatbed truck and thinking to myself - that has a loooong ways to go before it looks like a hot rod.

I also seem to remember that he C'd & shortened the frame. But what frame he used - I couldn't tell you.

 

I shortened my 34 1ton by 3 feet. The first front end I used was a dropped tube axle. I didn't like the way it tracked down the highway above 60mph. It wanted to wander. I then had a mustang 11 front end installed with the same results. I beleive the frame was so strong that it wouldn't flex. I used fiberglass front fenders and widened trailor fenders on the back. This meant making my own running boards. A local welder built a box for it. The truck was dependable and looked good. I would take 4 feet off the back however to better balance the overall look. Joe

 

The Trucks (AA,BB,etc. one ton) share cabs and front fenders, hoods, radiator shells, radiator aprons with the 1/2 ton pickups from 1928-34.
From 35-up they share the grille, and hood on most, but not fenders.

 

The not flexing of the frame on that conversion job had nothing to do with the high speed wander at all. Wander is steering and suspension and alignment and combinations thereof of worn out parts, incorrect adjustment, etc.

 

One thing I forgot to tell you is the cab is very cramped. I used Pontiac Fiero buckets but they took up lots of leg room. I found that Dodge Caravan middle bench seat were closer to the ground and gave me more leg room. All I had to do was remove the arm rests. The seat didn't need shortening. I'm only 5'7" and a taller person might not be happy. The truck was also chopped 3". Again it's the leg room that's the issue. Joe

 

So are the fenders the same? they dont really look like it but I could be wrong.
This truck could be a 1 and 1/2 ton,not sure?

 

As stated before, the front fenders are the same on big and little trucks. There is 1 more process on the stamping, I think it is where the runningboard meets the fender? Not a biggie, you wouldn't know it is there unless someone told you.
The frame is considerably thicker in gauge but suprisingly only 1" taller than its 1/2 ton cousin. Still WAY overkill for anything we would all build, not that it can't be done.

 

Fenders are for station wagons. Run it sans fenders and make some $$ from a restorer.
Btw.....Big truck car hauler....huh, maybe? Kirk, are ya listening?