Advice needed on f100

Happy day after Thanksgiving all......
SO I have had a 1963 Ford Unibody, long bed, big back window for sale for some time now and it just isn't moving. I have decided it isn't going anywhere and I am going to start collecting parts..... I bought the truck from a friend of mine and he put it on a 82 Econoline frame, I don't like it. The front end is too wide for the body (like 3 inches on each side) and has the twin I beams....

My question is what would you guys do?
Option 1...Find a camaro subframe and build my own full custom frame? Found a subframe locally for $100 with disks etc.
Option 2...Find a close to original frame with straight front axle and put it under the 63 for a old school feel and look. Found a 60 (long bed) frame Locally for $100 as well. Now I am aware that this wheelbase is about 4 inches too short, but lengthing a wheelbase has been done before.
I understand that the ride quality will not be as nice with the 60 frame but I like the nostalgic of it. I have done many frame modifications and full frame builds and custom suspensions as well, so I understand the work I am looking at here.
What would you guys do? Just looking for opinions, I want this to be a nice traditional style truck.
And if it makes any difference, I really want to run a ford 300 in this, but a good old SBC would be fine as well.

Thanks in advance
Mike

 

Original frame with camaro stub... BTW the original frame is not a "Old School Feel", it was made for it.

 

Original chassis w/upgrades

 

My vote is w/Carkiller. I'd stick with the 300 also. You'll wear out 2 SBC before the 300.

 

I'm on the 'original frame' bandwagon, with a MII (easy to upgrade), or a Nova clip.

 

Thanks for the reply's.... Well that 60 frame looks very good now... Wish I had the original frame...

 

I can't imagine a 1961-1963 unibody frame would be that hard to find. I'd get one of them first, then you know it will bolt up to the body. Then you can look at suspension upgrades.

 

It wont bolt up to the body, He cut all the mounts out. I have to fab up all my own mounts.

 

IIRC, your truck body is a near bolt-on to most Ford truck chassis up into the 1980's models.

 

The newer frames are only true for '65 and later. The '61-64 "I" beam trucks use a different frame. Check out this site for a bunch of help, parts sources and info!

SPark

http://fordtruk.com/forums/index.php

 

Original frame and 03-up Crown Victoria front suspension....WAY easier/better than a Camaro sub for about same price. Look for posts on my truck.

 

btw....unibody used the same frame as a non-unibody but used less cab mounts. So any 61-64 longbed would work.

 

I'm with FoMoCoPower you can find a 1993 to 2002 crown vic cut the door wells out and there you have it. I'm using a 1970 Lincoln Mark III chassis under my unibody, and yes keep it all Ford!!

 

The 60 chassis won't be myuch different than the original for your truck.

Getting the wheel base correct isn't that big a deal and it will be a truck just like it is supposed to be. You can always play with spring rates to make it ride nicer if you want.

What I might do if it were mine is keep the beam and change the front end out to coils. Its kind of an old world approach but it gives you the option of easy lowering and they do ride nice if you get your spring rate correct.

Nice thing about the unibody is that they handle better then a standard truck, the body is a structural part of it and you won't get as much flex.

You mentioned a 300" six good motors. I probably wouldn't go SBC unless I just didn't have any other options. An FE is a shoe in and a Y Block bolts in easy.

Now you should be aware that I am a small block chebby man I just don't believe that it is the optimal engine in every situation.

 

You're better off clipping the front suspension with a gen 2 camaro. 03 and up crown vics are way too wide. Nothing worse than having the front wheels stick out past the fenders. Yuck.

 

You've piqued my interest. It's an optical illusion.

I have a completely stock '63 Uni awaiting my attention outside. I also have a '78 camaro subframe and a '95 Crown Vic.

I quick check with a tape has the track width of the Uni and Crown Vic within an inch of each other. The Camaro a few inches narrower.

 

It really depends on how low you want to go. The narrower the better if you want to go really low. 78 camaro is 61.5 wide the same as the stock 61 f100. I don't know what a 95 crown vic is. The 03 and up crown vics are way to wide. I checked all possibilities out before putting a camaro clip in my SWB 62 uni. Here is a pic of my uni mocked up before I blew it apart for finishing.