Another Frame Question!

[green68250]

Hey,
Would a '72 F-100 Shortbed frame be any different than a Longbed frame other than length? The reason I ask is that my '72 was shortened from a long bed and I just got a true '72 (supposedly) shortbed frame. The front crossmember looks a lot different on my old frame than it does on my new frame. My new frames crossmember looks just like the one on my '68. Are there any differences in the front crossmembers between '67 and '72? I'm trying to figure out what year the old frame that was chopped is. Any ideas? I would like to know because this truck has obviously gone through a lot and im finding out new crap that the PO did to her everyday.

Thanks,
Corbin

[hotrod ford]

get the vin number off of the right side frame. should be behind the spring perches. that vin will tell you what year the frame is.

[fordman]

the best way to find out the year of the frame is to check the vin number on the frame. it is on the pasenger side front top of the frame just below the inner fender.

[green68250]

Ok I'll go see what I can find.

[green68250]

The vin on the old frame is F10GRN65116 and it matches the vin on the door. I can't make out the vin on the new frame.

Corbin

[hotrod ford]

f10 - f100
g - 302 v8
r - san jose cal.
n65116 - mid year 1972

this is all i got from the vin#

that other frame # is probably painted over.

[green68250]

It seems to be a '72. Would the longbed frames be any different than the shortys or do you think my new frame is older and the design was different in '72? The difference that I am seing is the front crossmember on my old frame doesn't have the hollow part before the i beams bolt in. Also the rear shock mounts are like the ones on my '68 and not the '72 style.

Corbin

[hotrod ford]

the two shortbeds i had and have now are like that. with the holes in the front cross member. now my f250 is not like that though. i think it might have to do somthinig with weight reduction. like lightening holes.

[green68250]

Yeah, I'm just wondering when the change was made. If some had the hollow part and some didn't or if they changed at a certain point. It's a lot easier to jack up the frames that have the bigger crossmember due to the larger area on the bottom.

Corbin

[green68250]

Hey,
I was able to find the vin in the second spot on my new frame. It reads F10ARB45935 and that would say that is a '67 with a 240. Right now it has 302 perches so it must have had a swap sometime down the line. So when did the frames change their design? I though they were all the same but it seems my '72's front crossmember is a lot different than that of a '67. I wont have a problem bolting by '72 body to the frame will I? Everything looks like it will fit just fine. Any ideas?

Thanks for the help,
Corbin

[hotrod ford]

67-72 bodies to frames are all changeable. now 73-79 frames will be where you have to modify the bed mounts a little bit. that is what i'm gonna have to do for my 70swb.

[fordman]

i would take a guess and say that the frame crossmemebr was changed in mmid to late 69. because that is when they added the smallblock option to the trucks. so the crossmember had extra holes drilled into it to accept the small block engine perches. this is just a guess.

[green68250]

My new frame looks to have 302 perches on it now and they are only held in with three bolts so maybe the PO threw in a 302 and didn't drill new holes for the perches. Who knows. As long as I do it right when I build it thats all that matters.


Corbin

[hotrod ford]

there you go .