New body-swap tutorial posted....and input needed

[FORDification]

I was bored tonight, so after the kids went to bed and Mary's in the [censored] working on a birthday cake for our daughter's 1st birthday party tomorrow, I decided to whip up a technical article that I've been wanting to do for some time. This one explores some of the things one needs to be aware of when swapping a '67-'72 truck body onto a '73-'79 chassis.

I believe I've covered all the areas needed. However, I've never personally done a body swap before, so the information contained on this page is the result of reading posts from other seeking information on the subject. in the pursuit of making this article as technically correct as possible, I'd like to enlist the input of those of you who have actually done it.

Please read the article in the link below and let me know if I've got the information correct, and if there's anything that needs to be addressed. I'd be happy to amend the article to include any information that was omitted, incomplete or incorrect. Also, I really need a GOOD picture of the rear cab mounts on an F250 Highboy, since those cab mounts are on the outside of the frame, as opposed to 2WDs and F100 4WDs that are on the inside of the frame on a crossmember. Please forward good hi-resolution pics of the rear cab mounts to me at to include in this article.

Chassis Comparison - '67-'72 vs. '73-'79

[rjewkes]

Happy b-day to the little one. And great tutorial.

[71 LONG BED]

I was bored tonight

With all you do you had time to get bored???!!!
Happy birthday to the little one! And great tutorial, thanks.

[MAK]

So much good information you have put together here. How much longer do we have to wait for your book?? Can I pre-order?
Seriously, there are no books out there for the 67-72 owners. Probably not a huge market but no competition either... Heck, even if you don't go the traditional publishing route, these days you can go to the local print shop and bind your own and sell it here and through the parts resto guys.

[FORDification]

Thanks guys...but this particular tech article couldn't have been written without you all. As stated, I have no personal experience with this, so all the info in it was gotten here on the forums. I was learning right along with you. We just needed all the info put down to paper....err...webpage, to help answer one of those questions that seem to pop up at least once a week. Now when someone asks the question, we have a page we can send them to for the answer, without having to retype the same info over and over.

So if anyone else has any info they feel would be beneficial to add to this page, please let me know.

[flyboy2610]

Happy Birthday to your daughter!
My son turns 7 today. He came down at 6:20 this morning, woke up my wife, and asked if he was 7 yet. She said yes, but was NOT amused!

[heep70]

Happy B-day to the youngster.

Now the article I would like to read from you is the one on how I get bored.

[mk]

I was able to grab the opportunity to spend a couple of hours at the wreckers yesterday so I made sure I had my tape measure with me. Took the measure of a '74, '87 and a '68 longbox. They are all actually the same length, right around 102", confirming some previous cab measuring I did a while ago. Given that the cowl/windshield area dimensions are the same from 67-79, I ran a tape from the bottom front corner of the cowl to the back of the cab on both a 78 and a 68 cab. The 78 was two inches longer -58" vs 56", I believe. Just for kicks, I also measured a diagonal from that bottom front cowl corner to the top back edge of the roof. These turned out to be the same so basically it was just below the cab belt line that Ford added those extra two inches. I suppose, Keith, this could be double checked by measuring from the rear cab mount holes to the back wall of these cabs as well.


mike

[Tim P.]

Sounds like somebody is doing home work

[mk]

Can't help myself sometimes, Tim Just want to help get the right info out there to help you guys out...


mike

[Tim P.]

Excellent