Truck Frame Swap on Full-Size Truck & Van Frames

All right - we've all seen S-10 frame swaps....

What about guys that swap that old F1 or International onto an F-250/F-350 or GMT400 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_GMT_platform ) frame and put 'em back to work? Not necessarily a 4X4 or anything, more of a streetable work truck.

Anybody out there running something like this?

I've been looking in parking lots. Hell, I've even looked at the Freightliner Sprinter as a possible chassis... http://www.fl-sprinter.com/

~Jason

 

the spinter does not have a remove frame ,its made like all the new car

 

I was looking at those this morning, and just noticed that...

Bummer, too - I saw one delivering stuff around town the other day, and the wheelbase looked about perfect. I should've crawled under to look.

~Jason

 

Bump for the afternoon folks. Surely someone's running an F-350 chassis or something of that ilk...

 

BTTT - surely someone has done this...

~Jason

 

I'm actually going to be doing this swap once the snow melts here. I'm putting a 54 F100 cab with F600 front fenders on a 1978 Ford F250 4x4 chassis. I was going to swap it onto a 2wd F250 chassis ( even bought a 2wd donor truck ) . But I decided to go 4x4 so I can use it year round. I decided on a newer chassis for a stronger chassis and so it would be a little easier to get parts when I need them.

I'm building it to pull my 20 foot car trailer and to use for a work truck. I'm installing a utilitybox/service body on the back instead of a truck box/flatbed. That way I can set it up with all my tools, towing supplies, spare parts and cold beverages.

If you plan to do the swap you'll just have to do a lot of measuring. You'll need to find one with a narrow enough frame and the correct track width for the body you want to run. It's not exactly traditional but it's a way to build a great work truck.

 

Building this for my son as his service truck. Took a '54 chevy 6600 and set it on a '92 3/4 ton dodge with the cummings. Not finished yet. Joe.

 

This is EXACTLY what I'm talking about!

~Jason

 

This is awesome, Joe! Totally what I'm after (and man, thanks for the pics - those are perfect)!

And yes guys, maybe it's not "traditional", but hell, I have "traditional" crap to work on - I just want a nice work truck that I can do things with (pull the car hauler, rent a Bobcat and tow it to the house on a trailer with, plow snow, etc) that an S-10 frame wouldn't let me do.

~Jason

 

Hey Jason, I'm also doing a '36 ford. '99 vortec, 5 sp and rear from a '98 chevy ton truck. Mated the rear half of the frame of the '98 to the '36 frame. Used the '36 axle with '79 3/4 ton spindles. Making a 3/4 ton PU to pull my trailer.

 

That's freakin' awesome!

I knew my people would come out of the woodwork!!!

~Jason

 

lol ive never seen a thread starter post 7 of the first 11 posts. they kinda just dont look right to me i just dont like the height issue

 

That's because a real truck needs more then 2" of ground clearance!

 

I think that Chev on the Dodge chassis is going to look pretty interesting when it is finished. Those Diesel pickups are still too spendy in this area for the average guy to buy and play the body swap game with yet.

 

Yea the diesel and late model trucks were too expsensive for me. That's why I went with a 70's chassis.

Here's my donor. It cost me $600 and it has a rebuilt engine. I'm going to graft the section of firewall and the transmission tunnel out of the 78 cab to my 54 cab. That will allow my 54 cab to sit over the F250 frame like the stock 54 frame. Plus I also have the shorty F600 running boards and brackets.

 

Ditto on the diesel being too pricey around these parts.

~Jason

 

LOL!

I agree, I've seen some swaps done like this that look too tall/weird/contrived/cobbled together, etc, but I've also seen way more done right, with running boards to cover the frame, or with the body channeled over it, etc. They turn out to be some really nice, streetable work trucks/daily drivers that can also tow the boat to the lake every once in a while and still go out hunting in (for critters or for some tail).

~Jason

 

THAT is the kind of thing coming up on Craigslist, etc around here.

I've also looked at some 4X4 1-ton vans with the bodies rotting off, but otherwise running and intact, with 8-lug wheels!

~Jason

 

this was my old COE truck mounted on a $100.00 1974 dodge 3/4 ton chassis. it worked out GREAT and was great driver till the fallbrook fire took it . Ron....

 

Great thread! I'd love to see more of this stuff...

 

Thank you - and yeah, I would too.

Having an oldie be your everyday work truck is awesome!

~Jason

 

Anymore pics out there

 

More info. Would like to build a heavy truck to use.

 

I put a 49 F-7 on an 85 F250 4x4 with 351/ C-6...other projects have snuck ahead of it, but kept the floor with cab mounts and half of the firewall from the 85. Sure was easier than fabbing the trans hump, engine recess, hanging pedal and steering column mount, etc. Can't get the new printer/scanner to work though !!! pics one of these days.

 

I took my 1977 dodge truck d100 and replaced the frame with a 1991 dodge d250 had to change the motor mount perch on the drivers side and change the transmission mount/crossmember so everything would fit, just remember measure twice and then somemore.

 

doin a 1952 f2 on 79 chevy half ton frame
...not a perfect fit but i think its its gonna work
still wanted a truck..........not an s10!!

 

interesting

 

this thread is awsome ive got lots of pics of my truck
on its new frame just got to get em on here!!!

 

GM Astro vans and full size vans are I believe all unibody. Certainly '71-'95 full size vans are. I had a '99 van here for a while and I don't even remember if it has a frame or not. I don't think it did. Just for the info - you could probably use one cut to the floorboards under an older van shell of some sort, and something like a camper or ambulance is different - that should have a chassis under it. Would probably work well for a COE truck.