1970 F100 Frame and Powertrain Swap (to 07 CrownVic running gear)

[biggurn]

Had a full day finally to work on the truck. My exhaust is in and ready to go.




The intake is installed.


The harness showed up from PSI, so it's installed under the hood. Now I need to work out all the dash connections. Filled the coolant system and hooked the power steering up.




The power steering line is an off the shelf 3/8 hydraulic line. Used a adapter to the steel line for the rack and a -6AN adapter at the pump. Makes it easy to replace.

[hfdco4]

Great progress, looks like you are getting real close!

[biggurn]

Between work and Ski-Patrol, I haven't had time to work on Floyd! Fortunately, I had a free afternoon yesterday to gut the interior and start on the floors.

When I bought this truck, it had some thinning spots, but nothing that had rotted through. Over the last 5 years, those spots had gotten thinner, and after poking at them with screw driver, I decided it was time to repair it, especially since the truck was already in the shop.

After stabbing away at it, this is what I have:




And after cutting out any areas of concern, this is what I'll be patching up:




I coated all the remaining surface rust in a product that will stabilize it so that it can be resealed. Hopefully, next Tuesday I can get back to it!

[biggurn]

Finally had some time to spend a day working on my F100! Swapped my Lokar shifter over from a transmission mounted, to a floor mounted, cable shifter for the 4L80E.


With that done, I installed the new carpet, shifter boot, seat and new shoulder seat belts. Next up, mount the throttle and start wiring.

[Fordkid68]

Looks good!

[biggurn]

Looks good!

Thanks!

Worked on more wiring today, so now the Gauges work! The fan turns on both low, and high speed (running a single, two speed fan). I think all the under hood wiring is done. Just the cab wiring tomorrow, and then hopefully a driveline line next week!.

https://youtu.be/wNiC5DnNI70

[biggurn]

Finished up all the wiring this morning. If I had a driveline, I'd be doing burnouts! Unfortunately, the shop said 1-2 weeks before it'll be done . Found a nice panel to use for the cruise control. I'll work on insulating the doors with Kilmat as well as replacing the window felts and seals while I wait.

[biggurn]

Nothing like waiting... and waiting. My last month hasn't been idle, I've rebuilt both doors (all new seals, wing window seals, anti-rattle strips, window regulators, killmat, etc) and I've even put killmat on the roof. This thing is deadly quite inside!


If only I had the one, tiny, little, near insignificant part that I've been waiting on since Thanksgiving...


Unfortunately, I've officially run out of things to do while waiting on the part... hopefully I'll have it next week. I'd really like to be driving this once the snow melts!

[biggurn]

Finally! After months of waiting (since Thanksgiving) I have a driveline in my F100... went for a quick drive, and well, its the monster I always wanted it to be when I did the CrownVic swap, but wasn't! Just a tow tap of the skinny pedal and it's sideways. I'm sure getting the bed back on will help with that behavior some.

[biggurn]

Bed is finally back on... can't find the hardware anywhere . We remember putting it "somewhere we know it'll be safe..." Wherever that is, it's a VERY safe location.

Everything is working great, except the cruise control. I suspect that is because of my L.E.D. brake lamps. I'll have to switch back to regular 1157s or add a resistor.

Truck is soo much more fun to drive! Now to decide on what necessary mod Floyd will need next... (AC?)

[biggurn]

Resolved my cruise control functionality. Sure enough, the LED tail lamps did not have adequate resistance for the ECU. Swapped out for incandescent 1157 bulbs and all is well... now to decide if I want to run the LEDs and a resistor (then deal with the heat of the resistor under the dash) or just forget it and run the 1157s....

Little teaser for those in the know.

[biggurn]

Was having issues with the K&N filter set up I was running (see previous pictures). No matter what I did, it caused a MAF Sensor code and the MIL light to come on. Found I could swap intakes with my LS swapped Wrangler, no issue, problem went away. Didn't matter which sensor off of the pile we have that I used.

So... I stumbled across a C5 Corvette air box set up. Decided I'd give it a try. Very happy with the fit and function. Had to make up a couple mounts. So far, when running up to RPM, no codes. Quiets down the intake noise and provides for a readily available and easy to change filter option.

[hfdco4]

Good to hear things are working well now. You should have a lot of fun with that one!

[biggurn]

Good to hear things are working well now. You should have a lot of fun with that one!

Oh, it's LOTS of fun to drive. Walking out of the Oriellys with a 'vette filter and installing it in my '70 caught everyone's attention . Reving the engine at stop lights makes people look around.

The day after installing the air box, I went on a 400 mile drive. Such a good engine swap (21mpg @ 65ish mph) and no codes with the airbox. While I wish there was a similar affordable modern Ford powertrain available, it's hard to beat the LS swap (this is my 3rd, first in a Ford). Seriously considering a 5.3 or 6.0 swap for the '68 Highboy.

[biggurn]