Ford body swap?

[JUNK-MAN]

So I can get a really good deal on a 1991 ford f-150 but it has quite a bit of damage on the body, I much prefer the older body style of the 70s trucks so would a body swap be possible (without it being a major project)? Someone once told me a lot of older fords bolted up the same and that it would be an easy swap but I've never really looked under them so I can't be sure. What do you think or have any of you guys done something like this before? Thanks

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[popparoach]

heck yeah,if you havent looked underneath,they are literally the same.just a few bolts and you will be cruising an old school with modern guts.it is one of the easiest things to do mechanically.you will need quite a few zip ties as you have to cut quite a few.

 

[2mJps]

Imposable is the word i would use. If you had 2 1991 fords it would be hard to say if their bodys would interchange. I would realy think this through before i started and do alot of tape measure work. The 70s ford frames and axles are alot better than the 90s. If any thing i would swap in the 91s engine but you will also need its wireing and all that junk to make it work and ford oil pans make it very hard to do this. They changed the frames so much from model years that it may be very hard to do.Major prodject dosent start to tell the story on what you would have to go through. I have a 63 f600 and i just got through puting a engine in it from a 64 f600. The 63 had a 292 and the 64 was the first year for the 330. I had to replace 2 crossmembers and build a few custom parts to make this work and i had a complete 64 to use for parts.

 

[Jazz1]

Go to a ford forum and pose your question to someone who has done the swap. My experience is the original frame is always the best fit. This '79 I had was a 55k mile truck when i got it in 2009, i squirted some paint on it...300 6, 3 on tree, manual everthing!

 

[JUNK-MAN]

Go to a ford forum and pose your question to someone who has done the swap. My experience is the original frame is always the best fit. This '79 I had was a 55k mile truck when i got it in 2009, i squirted some paint on it...300 6, 3 on tree, manual everthing!

Nice! The 78-79 trucks have alway been my favorite. I really like the paint.

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[8t6bronco]

I've never looked at doing this swap but I can tell you the frames on the older trucks is narrower than the 91 so I'd think that the body mounts would be in very different places

 

[Perrorojo]

I would think it would be easier to swap the mechanicals to the old frame rather than swap an old body to a new frame. Maybe not.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I would think it would be easier to swap the mechanicals to the old frame rather than swap an old body to a new frame. Maybe not.

Maybe so but here in the rust belt it's going to be difficult finding a good frame that old. I have 3 old trucks out back that have great bodies but rotten frames.

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[creativecars]

So I can get a really good deal on a 1991 ford f-150 but it has quite a bit of damage on the body, I much prefer the older body style of the 70s trucks so would a body swap be possible (without it being a major project)? Someone once told me a lot of older fords bolted up the same and that it would be an easy swap but I've never really looked under them so I can't be sure. What do you think or have any of you guys done something like this before? Thanks

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The key word here is defining "major". For some people changing a door and its internals is major.
It depends on how much you want it! How much time/money/knowledge do you have. Putting the old body on the new frame may require welding frame mounts... Not too bad if you know how. Then swapping in all the computer controls to the old body. A 91 will be computer controlled EFI so all the electronics will have to be integrated to the 70's wiring.
Not really a weekend project IMHO.

 

[fergus]

I would say ask TimeWarpF100. Maybe send him a PM. That guys is THE Ford pickup guy. He might know off the top of his head. His Ecoboost 66 F100 seemed like the mounts were surprising close for trucks that were 45 years apart.

 

[larry_g]

If my recollections are any good, Frame/body shops have diagrams and measurements of frames so they can straighten them after collisions. I know that I was able to get one for my 47 Ford.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[HOTFR8]

Speaking with some experience some of the commercial Ford vehicles are easy to swap bodies some with little work and some with only a few modifications required.

 

[bluebolt]

It can be done but for an F150 I don't see much improvement. The 73-79 F-series frames are very similar in the back to the 1980-1996 so the bed's are not hard to mount. The front part of the frames is all different as far as cab mounts go, a friend did a swap putting a Crewcab 1978 F250 body on a diesel 1980's or 90's frame. He had to do a lot of cab mount work. It was worth it in this case because the diesel frame is a lot stronger than the early F250 frame.

 

[2mJps]

Maybe so but here in the rust belt it's going to be difficult finding a good frame that old. I have 3 old trucks out back that have great bodies but rotten frames.

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What years do you have i think i could find you a frame? But finding a good body is another thing the fords were bad about rusting out at the front cab mounts and inerfenders were they mounted to the cab and held the hood hinges. I have a good 72 cab and front clip because some one was going to restore it and took it apart they lost interest and gave me the front half and made a trailer out of the back half. Notheing aginst fords but they dont bring much here or i would buy the trailer and put it back together.You need to look yours over i have saw alot of fords that hide there rust the out side will look good but the floors and instructure will be beyond repair.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

The only one I know I have for sure is a 91 S10 witch I have no interest in fixing. The one is an 80s ford van and I haven't even looked at it 5 to 6 years so its body is probably shot by now. I'll check out the other one this weekend. I have not picked up the 91 ford yet but I will next week sometime and post pics of it then.

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[yhprum]

The other question will be the VIN number, that usually is on the cab right?

 

[2mJps]

The other question will be the VIN number, that usually is on the cab right?

Its on the cab and the frame. After its together here in MO you show it to the Highway patrol with both titles and they give you a new Vin plate and new title.

 

[CJM8515]

80-96 interchange really. Anything older the cab is an issue. Go tot he ford truck enthusiast forums,t hey will know for sure. Best place when I had my F trucks.

 

[speed bump]

That's a fairly involved swap with very little to gain. The only things you want out of the 91 are the engine/transmission, seat (if in good shape), maybe the rear end (for the speed sensor), and the intermittent wiper switch.

 

[brownbagg]

Its on the cab and the frame. After its together here in MO you show it to the Highway patrol with both titles and they give you a new Vin plate and new title.

if you have a current tag, why show anything?

 

[henrylady]

It can be done but for an F150 I don't see much improvement. The 73-79 F-series frames are very similar in the back to the 1980-1996 so the bed's are not hard to mount. The front part of the frames is all different as far as cab mounts go, a friend did a swap putting a Crewcab 1978 F250 body on a diesel 1980's or 90's frame. He had to do a lot of cab mount work. It was worth it in this case because the diesel frame is a lot stronger than the early F250 frame.

in the middle of a frame swap 1990 f150 to a1968f100 shorten frame mve all mounts including rad support cab front and back all box mounts cut firewall very difficult swap

 

[henrylady]

inthe middle of putting 1990 f150 frame under a1968 f100 all mounts to move starting with rad support front and rear cab mounts cut firewall for engine clearance shorten frame very big project

 

[driftpin]

if you have a current tag, why show anything?

Because any LEO that checks out things during a traffic stop is going to be very concerned.

 

[speed bump]

Maybe so but here in the rust belt it's going to be difficult finding a good frame that old. I have 3 old trucks out back that have great bodies but rotten frames.

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Have you gotten under them? I've owned 4 70-79 ford pickups. None of them had frame rust but all but one had rusted out cab mounts, not to mention they usually have some rust starting in the back of the fender and cab.

As far as swapping a 77-79 f-150 frame/running gear is a far better choice than a 91 in my opinion. The only things I would want out of the 91 are the fuel injected engine, cruise control, transmission, maybe the column (I can't remember if the tilt columns from that late swap or not), and the seats if they were in good condition.

 

[liliysdad]

Outside of extenuating circumstance, frames dont "rust out" on these trucks. At worst, you lose some body mounts...but if the frame is that bad, I can assure you the body is beyond salvaging.

With that settled, there really isn't anything to be gained by swapping. The suspensions is largely the same, there are no substantial improvement in design or quality..its a lot of no work for zero gain. Even the newer engine isn't worth swapping....80s tech EFI isn't something I would spend time or money trying to achieve.

In the end...buy they truck you want, and make it what you want....no need to swap frames, bodies, etc. Literally anything you want can be had without all that drama.