I'm rebuilding a 49 Ford pickup that I really want to make into a weekend driver. I'd like to sit the body on a later model frame and drivetrain, possibly from an F150. Has anyone done this before? Does it make for an easy changeout, or is it better in the long run to retain the older frame and refit a new drivetrain into it?
They have been put on chevy S10 frames sucessfully, but many don't like to mix and match. I am putting a 53 chevy on a S10/ my 50 F1 is on the original frame with a chevy 327/700r4 and 9" rear. Mustang II front end.
...I installed a Nova sub, Gm 10 bolt on my 48 F-1, smallblock Chev, auto. I don't think it'd work on a late model F-100 ch***is.
Man, you guys are too good. This is just the info I'm needing. My 49 truck is actually an F5, but I really want to 'size it down' to look like a half ton pickup. And from what info I can dig up, the only difference in the body of an F1 compared to an F2 thru F8 was the size of the fenders. Is this info correct? I know the wheels and springs had to be larger on the heavier trucks, but was there any other differences in the body themselves? Back to the subject of finding a frame to sit my body on... Would a frame and frontend from an S10 or maybe a Ford Ranger (I'm a Ford man) be heavy enough to support the weight of the cab, plus a 302 engine and say a C4 transmission? Or would I have to beef up the suspension?
Thought I'd show you what I'm starting with. Here's my F5, still on the trailer. I found this in a guy's pasture. It was last registered in 1974.
An s10 or ranger would be heavy duty enough, and kits are available for both to put the v8 in. I have seen alot of these at the track. I wanted to build one I could really use as a truck and tow with, I considered a 67-72 shortbed chevy truck frame, you get coil springs all around so easy to lower or switch to bags, disc front and about the right dimensions for width and wheelbase.
The beds are longer on the F5 but the frames are also befier on the F5. Parts for bed replacement maybe very difficult to get new as they are avialable for the F1. this site shows how to put an F1 on an S10 frame very helpful . http://www.geocities.com/lakota_circle_dancer/swap1 Ed ke6bnl
Thanks for all the helpful info guys. I can't get the geocities url to open though? Do you possibly have an updated url?
Ive got a friend who has a 51 f1 on an 88 ranger frame, works well.. the frames got lowering i beams in it with a 302/c4 and the body is channled over the frame, shortned the bed and no front end... looks neat and the best part is that its ALL FORD.
Go to the Ford Truck Enthusiasts' web site: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum41/ Register and do a search on frame swaps. There's a lot of discussions about frame swaps. Most of the guys there look very dimly on frame swaps. You can start by checking out this post: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...e-swap-thread-please-everyone-contribute.html
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