Pics of progress

[Jake11]

That's a lot of work Smokey. Looks really good. Nice truck!

[SmokeyBear]

The actual swap was pretty basic, no? You said only a few things had to be made. Rear mounts for the cab, but tranny mount can be reused/drilled to match tranny mount? I am really looking into doing this after the motor is rebuilt and back in the truck. I want to drive it for a few weeks, and then park it at my grandmas, and do the swap that way, so I can do the frame how I want. Full reinforcement, hydros, wheels, powdercoat...all that first. Get it mocked up/cut/notched and all that of course so everything mounts nicely when done.

Yeah the swap was cake. To mount the body starting from the front to back goes like this:
You have two options for the front, 1 lop off the front crossmember and notch the core support to fit the apron or, 2 if you want to keep your trucks core support, lop off the front frame rails and weld on your original frame horns.

The front cab mounts are so close you only have to oval out the holes on either the cab mounts or the frame.

The rear cab mount will have to be fabbed but it's nothing but a new crossmember and a couple of holes drilled.

For the front bed mounts you have a couple of options too. Either another crossmember like the one for the rear of the bed and use the original bed holes, or you can weld on some rectangular tubing to the existing frame to raise up the mounting points and drill new holes in the bed floor.

The rear bed mounts are pretty much identical to the front ones.

I'm using the cars sterring column and pedal assemblies so I'll have to fab up mounts for them but it looks fairly straight forwards so far, when I get to that I'll get some more pics.

[layedout72]

thanks a lot! ill be using the trucks pieces I believe, I just hope that doesnt cause a lot of problems with steering. You know the whole bumpsteer and all that. It really shouldnt be a problem I dont think. I REALLY like my 3 speed on the column, thats why I want to use the trucks.

[19674x4]

darn these school computers.......can't see the pics

[GT-Racer]

That is very cool. Lotta reading to get all caught up but it was worth it.

Great Job smokey

[MadMaxetc]

Looking good. This seems to be a popular swap lately. For good reason.

Keep it up! How long till paint!

[SmokeyBear]

It's BAAAAACK!!! I can't believe I haven't done any work on my baby since OCT!!! I'll have to say a little prayer and ask for forgiveness.

Blessed Ford in heaven, lowered be thy name, please forgive me of the sins I've committed by neglecting my truck. Give me the patience to finish what I've started, the strength not to start anything else before this project is done and the wisdom to keep it under budget so my wife doesn't divorce me and force me to live in an unfinished truck. In Henry's name I pray, Amen.


sheeew, I feel better already.

Anywho... here is what I got done this weekend, actually just on Saturday because I spend Sunday pulling the rest of the needed items off the merc like window motors, door handles and lock solenoids. I fabbed up the steering column and brake pedal bracket mounts and installed the steering column, the brake pedal, the gas pedal, the computer mount, the front wiring harness is installed(but not mounted yet) and partially hooked up, the brake booster is on, the throttle cable is hooked up, the digital dash is mocked up so I can fab the mount, the gear selector cable is mounted and hooked up, and the gear indicator is hooked up.

If my calculations are correct (and they are usually not because I always overlook something) I may have her ready to run in another 3 or four days of work. Too bad I may not get to work on her for another couple of weeks. I need to finish the wiring (another full days work on remembering where everything goes LOL), mount the fuel tank and filler neck, finish the bed mounts, and fab up the core support and inner fender mounts.

By the time I finished it was too dark for pics but I'll get some next time.

[marz68]

I was wondering what had happened with your truck.
You are forgiven now get back to it. j/k

[71 LONG BED]

Forgiveness is granted my son. But I hate to tell you....















































Glad your back at it!

[layedout72]

where are the pics?!?!?! haha.

[SmokeyBear]

where are the pics?!?!?! haha.

I should get to work on her this weekend, I have to work half a day saturday but then the wrenching begins. I should have some pics up by monday.

[EppersonRacin]

i liked your swap so much i went and bought a 86 crown vic to do my swap with. cant wait to see more progress. good job so far, keep it up!

[SmokeyBear]

i liked your swap so much i went and bought a 86 crown vic to do my swap with. cant wait to see more progress. good job so far, keep it up!

Cool, I feel like such an innovator. LOL
Seriously, If you run into any snags just let me know I may be able to help out since I'm the guinnea pig on this.

Anyway here are some of the pictures I've been promising...

steering column installed


brake and throttle pedals installed


computer and brake booster mounted


There is a whole mess of wiring there it's hard to make out.

[SmokeyBear]

and here are some pics from this weekends wrenchfest. I was determined to get the inner fenders mounted so I could get the hood back on, I was tired of lifting that thing on and off. LOL I actually got a little further than I expected, I got the inners, outers, hood, grill, and valance on, I mocked up the bumper to see where I am actually going to mount it and to get a few pics. She's starting to look like a truck again. My wife said "Christine is coming back to life MUHAHAHAHA!!!" (evil laugh included)

Here are some pics...

drivers side inner



passengers side inner



fenders and hood on

[SmokeyBear]

more pics...





Sunday I spent a little time in my work room piddling around and fitted the instrument cluster to the dash mount. I still have a small amount of trimming to do around the gear indicator and I have to paint it but you can see the difference between stock and what I'll be running.