3/4 ton swap to 1 ton

[junkman johnnie]

I have a 71 F250 2wd truck. I am putting a tow truck bed on it. The dual rear end is already swaped out. The donor truck was a 1980 F350 (cab and chassis). The rear end bolted right up! Now in order to get the front end to a bud wheel. What am I going to have to do? Can I use the entire radius and I beams from a bump side F350? Or is there another way? Thanks, John.

[knightfire83]

I have been researching this question, but haven't found the correct answers for you.

From what I have read the f350's with bud rims have an extensions on the rotors in order to run the wheels. If the spindles are different, I don't know, otherwise you could just swap to the correct rotors if they are the same. I can not find a picture of the front wheel assembly in a exploded diagram or anything.

There is a company making aftermarket extensions for your application though: http://www.chromewheel.com/adaptors.htm Looking at the picture at the top of the page there, the adapter on the left would be for the front wheels.

You would think you could take the front I beams and related parts off a f350 ford truck up to 1979 with bud wheels and swap all the stuff on to yours. There are bumpside trucks with bud wheels running around here, so it is possible....

If nothing else, this will bump the post to the top for another go around....

Nice truck by the way, I like what you are doing. Keep posting pictures and keep us updated.

[SoCalExile]

I recently found a '72 bump that might've been a tow truck or flat bed (no bed and something was dropped on the cab) in a local wrecking yard with the bud and dually wheels still on it.

If you need any parts let me know.

[fordman]

http://www.okcnetworks.com/bronco/brakes/index.htm

[junkman johnnie]

Well if everyone has seen the truck, they will notice the length of it. That's right its a short bed sized 3/4 frame. I had to cut 16" out of it and welded it up. Now I'm needing the 16" back in it for the wrecker bed. It's not the first frame I have had to cut and weld! I am beginning to become a pro at this stuff. I was thinking that the bud wheels disk were the same, but can't find nothing on the swap items. But after looking at the bare frame and dually rear end with the big 33's on the front, I will run them until I can find everything I need for the swap. It looks pretty cool! I love the bump sides and have worked hard to build a pretty good truck! I have a 2000 F150 4x4 extended cab whick is giving me some many problems! I can't wait to get my tow truck done! That will be my everyday driver!!! I just found the last few items for the 460 EFI to set that monster in it too. I am trying to find out how to upload all of my pictures so all can see my progress. Thanks again for all of your helpful information! I will keep everyone updated on my toy!!!!!!!!!!!!

[basketcase0302]

I have a 2000 F150 4x4 extended cab whick is giving me some many problems! I can't wait to get my tow truck done! That will be my everyday driver!!! I

I have an 03' Expedition that is also doing the same thing to me! And yes, my bump will also be my daily driver.

[junkman johnnie]

That 5.4 is junk! Right now I'm have an electrical issue. My ECM keeps getting moisture in it. And when it does it throws up codes saying that the coil pack are bad. Well after changing them 3 times, I decieded to look at some other reason. FOUND IT!!!! So as long as I take the ECU out every 2 weeks and dry it out, its a great running truck. My bump side never had issues like that! The fuel injection 460ci motor has a soild state brain box, so moisture can get in there. I just got gas for my tanks to cut the old bolts off the wrecker bed to swap them out. I am cutting the frame inside the front leaf spring hanger, so when it goes back together the hanger will provide more strength!