72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

[Filthy67]

This is absolutely amazing!!!

[Ford Custom Project]

I am debating on what rear end I can use for my 67. I have a 78 that I am taking the fron suspension from so I will have front Disk Brakes and I would also like to have rear disk brakes. What do you think is the easiest way to go? I know that you used a CV rear and then one from an explorer. Which one would be easier to install with less modifications? Another thing, Would I be able to use my same wheels if I change the rear end? Would it be the same bolt pattern as the original rear end? I live in Corpus Christi and there are not a lot of trucks like this. I appreciate any information that you could give me. Thanks.

[marz68]

Any updates? this is my favorite truck that rolls on a CV front.

[JG F100]

Any updates? this is my favorite truck that rolls on a CV front.

Not as much as I'd like, its been a wet winter here and have only made slow progress on the bed side. With work and family I've been spending on average about 1-2 hours block sanding, thinking of investing in a small spray gun to primer it. Here it is, I'll be driving it again soon. Now that I think about it, this all started because I wanted to spray some bedliner in the bed, thought I would weld things up first. That was a few months ago

[marz68]

Any updates? this is my favorite truck that rolls on a CV front.

Not as much as I'd like, its been a wet winter here and have only made slow progress on the bed side. With work and family I've been spending on average about 1-2 hours block sanding, thinking of investing in a small spray gun to primer it. Here it is, I'll be driving it again soon. Now that I think about it, this all started because I wanted to spray some bedliner in the bed, thought I would weld things up first. That was a few months ago

Ah ok...well it's looking good as always!

As for the bed, is there a seam sealer that works as good as using a welder? I would like to avoid any warping as im not a good body worker.

[JG F100]

Ah ok...well it's looking good as always!

As for the bed, is there a seam sealer that works as good as using a welder? I would like to avoid any warping as im not a good body worker.

THere are quite a few seam sealers out there, I really didnt nail down which one would work best, probably something from 3M. These beds have pretty thick sheetmetal, it wont warp as easy if you take your time.

[philofab]

Nice truck! I like it.

For the filler I've used a product in the past called "All Metal". You may want to try it out. Works great for rusty area you don't want to weld for one reason or another.

[marz68]

How about welding the seem every 1 1/2" then filling in the rest with All metal what philofab used? I think I will do that to mine.

[philofab]

The original rear is 61.5 from wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface, I think the 2007 crown vics are somewhere around 70" wms-wms. I went through two drive-shafts, the first one when I went to short-wheel base and the second one because once lowered it was too long. I used a 8.8 flange style yoke with the explorer rear.

There is no way a CV rear is 70" wide. The widest factory Ford rear I've ever seen is 68". That's the pre72 Econoline and the late model 3/4 and 1 ton rears.

The Explorer disc brake rear is 59.5 I think.

[philofab]

Just looked it up, 79 to 2002 Crown Vic is 62.8 wide.

[elgemcdlf]

Just looked it up, 79 to 2002 Crown Vic is 62.8 wide.

For the most part when folks here speak of CV they are talking about '03-'11 and hub to hub width changed dramatically in '03. They moved the centerline of the wheel outward. I believe if you go looking you will find a hub to hub of something like 69.25" or so.

[mybros71]

Just looked it up, 79 to 2002 Crown Vic is 62.8 wide.

For the most part when folks here speak of CV they are talking about '03-'11 and hub to hub width changed dramatically in '03. They moved the centerline of the wheel outward. I believe if you go looking you will find a hub to hub of something like 69.25" or so.

They went to a nearly zero offset wheel in 2003. If you google an '02 and an '03 Crown Viv, you'll see a big difference in the dish. They handled dramatically better at speed after that as well.

[philofab]

They went to a nearly zero offset wheel in 2003. If you google an '02 and an '03 Crown Viv, you'll see a big difference in the dish. They handled dramatically better at speed after that as well.

0 offset is in the center of the rim. They went to positive offset from near 0 offset.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/tec ... techid=101

[mybros71]

They went to a nearly zero offset wheel in 2003. If you google an '02 and an '03 Crown Viv, you'll see a big difference in the dish. They handled dramatically better at speed after that as well.

0 offset is in the center of the rim. They went to positive offset from near 0 offset.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/tec ... techid=101

WOW! Corrected me in public and whrew some tech article in my face. Geez!

Just kidding. You are right. I remember the first time I saw a rim like that on a Toranado when I was a kid mounting tires for Hoosier Tire in Fresno. Someone explained it to me that way and I guess it stuck. When we spec'ed wheels to Duralite we used backspace exclusively. I had to wait 20 years to get straightened out.

I've been curious about this swap for a while now. What does one of these front ends generally cost? My only experience is with Mustang II kits and crossmembers.

[philofab]

WOW! Corrected me in public and whrew some tech article in my face. Geez!

Just kidding. You are right. I remember the first time I saw a rim like that on a Toranado when I was a kid mounting tires for Hoosier Tire in Fresno. Someone explained it to me that way and I guess it stuck. When we spec'ed wheels to Duralite we used backspace exclusively. I had to wait 20 years to get straightened out.

I've been curious about this swap for a while now. What does one of these front ends generally cost? My only experience is with Mustang II kits and crossmembers.

I haven't been able to find a 03+ front end here... too new to find in local JYs. A buddy wants to put one under his 79. He was the first one that made me aware of the swap. I'd think $500 or less would get you one.