Chassis Swap (1972 onto a 2002 Chassis)

[FoPAR]

With the passenger side stake bed holes filled I moved over to the driver side and got to work filling them in to. They went in nice and easy, then I ground them smooth. I never did finish grinding down all the welds on the driver side seam or where I welded the bed back together so I put the ear plugs back in and got to work.













So it's starting to look like one piece of sheet metal...

[Joshpow]

Looking good!! I like those seats. I got same ones. You got alot of work ahead of you to make seats fit but its well worth it!

[FoPAR]

So I filled in all the welds and the bed seam with metal filler and then sanded it all down. Then more block sanding on the passenger side. Mixed up more body filler and filled in the lows and also hit the driver side with some filler too..... Then more block sanding.... and more block sanding....













So much fun I can hardly stand it.........

[Joshpow]

Looking good!

[48prerunner]

Wow just finished reading from start. Started last night during race delay when they hit the track dryer truck. Funny how many ford parts will fit with just a little work. I have a 48 ford on a 91 explorer frame. Bump looks great, motivates me to get working on mine again.

[Joshpow]

Lots dont fit exactly between years but are so close they can be made fit. I bet the 48 is cool. like to see that. keep up the awesome work fopar. looking more awesome all the time.

[guerra]

Truck is looking good... why are you keeping the bald tires??

[FoPAR]

Wow just finished reading from start. Started last night during race delay when they hit the track dryer truck. Funny how many ford parts will fit with just a little work. I have a 48 ford on a 91 explorer frame. Bump looks great, motivates me to get working on mine again.

Thanks for checking it out, & yes it seems like they really didn't change the basics but still made up grades, so it doesn't take a lot to make them work together.

Lots dont fit exactly between years but are so close they can be made fit. I bet the 48 is cool. like to see that. keep up the awesome work fopar. looking more awesome all the time.

would love to see pic's of that. Thanks and yeah I'm trying, the block sanding is burning me out so I took a break from it and started working on my custom tail gate idea.... more pic's soon

Truck is looking good... why are you keeping the bald tires??

Thanks, not keeping them just haven't taken them down to have them removed. Kinda figured that I would do that when I bought my new tires.

[philofab]

Very nice truck! I always wondered if Ford kept the a-pillar mount in the same place. I always thought newer suspension would be too wide for one of these old trucks. Ended up looking really good.

[FoPAR]

Ok very burned out on all the block sanding so I had to do some creative stuff again. I've wanted to do something to the tail gate but didn't really know what As I was look it over I noticed a ton of dents in my original one that were made when the tailgate was down and then stuff hitting it as it was loaded and because these are single wall sheet metal where the stamped "FORD" is at, the dents the show on the outside. I hate worrying about the new paint on the other side in an area that gets used as much as a tails do. So thats when I knew what I was going to do.

I grabbed my good tail gate and cut out the stamped "FORD".








I picked up a 4' x 8' sheet of 16ga metal




Prepped the tailgate and then cut out a patch panel and tacked it in.










After that I made a dish area around the handle.










Then I cut out another panel to fit over the larger area.






This was what I thought of when I thought of a double wall tailgate. I know other guys have put a panel over like this but I've never seen one with the stamped "FORD" added back in.






Marked the panel and then cut out the spot for the "FORD" and then tacked it in to it's new spot.

[67mann]

I think(won't be stealing this one ) it looks good.....a 1off tailgate for a 1 of a kind truck

[FoPAR]

yeah I know it's not going to be a good change for everyone... some just won't understand...

[philofab]

yeah I know it's not going to be a good change for everyone... some just won't understand...

I like it, I think if I did it myself I would have moved the "FORD" panel up a couple of inches though.

I may copy some of it on my 71.

[FoPAR]

yes I thought the same thing but I want to do a two tone paint job on it and I want it to go around the back to. If you leave the "FORD" in the stock location then it is spit in half by the paint. With it low on mine it will be under the paint line and I think I will like the appearance a lot more.

[FoPAR]

So the tailgate mods are going well. I really like the way it is turning out. I finished welding up the patch panel were the stamped "FORD" was. It is welded on the inside and the outside, so the should help with sealing it from water and stuff. I also put down a good 3 coats of weldable primer on the underside of the new panel and in the empty space in the tailgate now.






The panel is now tacked on and all is well so far.... no waves or anything in the panel yet from the heat.






Just trying to take my time and not rush it. I wanted a smooth tailgate but didn't want to give up the the old school look of it and I think that this does both.