Front disc brake/suspension swap question

[ladykiller]

I'm gonna swap all the front parts (steering, suspension, brakes) out a '78 F100 onto my '69 frame. I want to know if I can use the 2 front cross members, cab mounts, spring towers, and torsion bar mounts too. All the '78 parts are rust free. All the '69 stuff is pitted, flaking, or thin as toilet paper. I did a little measuring, and so far so good, but I'd like to see what you guys know about it. I also know I gotta cut welds to get the first cross member out.

It's a lot of work, but I'm ok with it.

[69bumptruck]

I'm gonna swap all the front parts (steering, suspension, brakes) out a '78 F100 onto my '69 frame. I want to know if I can use the 2 front cross members, cab mounts, spring towers, and torsion bar mounts too. All the '78 parts are rust free. All the '69 stuff is pitted, flaking, or thin as toilet paper. I did a little measuring, and so far so good, but I'd like to see what you guys know about it. I also know I gotta cut welds to get the first cross member out.

It's a lot of work, but I'm ok with it.

Should be able to. The frames aren't really different until you get behind the cab.

[fordman]

the front transmission crossmember on a 78 is smaller than our trucks. it will fit i think but it is slightly smaller and a little bit different. the rest you can do for sure.

[ladykiller]

you mean the one directly behind the big front one the engine sits on, right? That one is in the worst shape. As long as I can get it in the frame, I should be fine. Nothing bolts to it, except the torsion mounts, and sort of the cab mounts. The big front one is gonna be a job. Welds, rivets, and bolts, and I gotta spread the frame. The junk one will come off easy, it's the one I want to keep that I'm worried about.

[fordman]

yes that is the one i was talkign about. it almost sounds like it may be better off to do a frame swap. the bed would bed your only problem to deal with when you bolted it back on. maybe move the rear axle forward a slight and then make new holes for the bed to bolt to the frame. but not new holes in the bed of course. just a flat bar boled the the frame that went over a bit so the bed holes would bolt into the flat bar.

[ladykiller]

I would do a frame swap, but the '78 is lwb, the '69 is swb. In retrospect, I should have just cut the '78 to a swb, but I've come far enough on the '69 to see it through. Plus I enjoy the work, it's a great learning experience.

[ladykiller]

Did some more work, got the torsion mounts, 2nd cross member, and front cab mounts off. Started on the spring towers.

I had a scare today. The rear passenger leaf spring is sagging, and the front is sitting funny. I'm gonna take off the rear springs and axle tomorrow and put the frame up on level saw horses to check the frame alignment. I did a bunch of measurements today, it's very square. Still, the entire passenger frame rail seems a little low, but if it is off, it's hardly any. If it doesn't rock on the level surface, I'll know it's fine. If it does have a low rail, it's so little a twist that it'll straiten out when I weld in the '78 1st x-member.

Not sure about the sagging spring. I was gonna flip the forward rear spring mount for a drop, I may try to swap in a set of '90 springs and mounts while I'm at it (I have a perfect set on a parts frame in the back).

There are more bolts than rivets on the '78 stuff, so that'll be easier.

[ladykiller]

Put it up level today, it checks out, clean bill of health. Next, repairs and '92 springs (+mounts) Just waiting for the rain to clear.

[convincor]

I've got a rolling 71 sb frame with a title you can have it you want to come get it.
may be pitted but still solid and no flaking.

[ladykiller]

That's extremely generous of you convincor! If only you were closer! I'm too far away.

I did get the spring towers off today. I'll pull the 1st x-member tomorrow. Then all I gotta do is yank the '78 stuff and swap it in. I'll post the '92 spring swap as soon as I get the new camera.