79 F-150 supercab 04 6.0

Dzchey21

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Little project i am taking on for a boat hauler, my wife and i decided that she likes her car too much to sell for a truck, and doesn't want to drive around a truck or larger SUV.



I picked up a 04 6.0 that had been backed over buy a loader it smashed up the bed and cab pretty good. This is the first 6.0 That i have ever bought that drove on the trailer under its own power! LOL



I was originally going to put the body from my 76 Ford f-150 on that frame, but after some thinking i decided that i was going to need more cab space then what a regular cab can offer (part of the reason i got rid of my race truck) So i went on a search to find a supercab, and got very lucky.
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Picked this 79 F-150 for $400 from the original owner. 184k on the ticker, stock 400M 4 speed 4wd, Turns out these things have some pretty desireable front axles that the jeep guys love so thats cool for me. Keeping the 9 inch for another project after this one.


Started tearing the 6.0 down by stripping the cab and doors, then most of the interior stuff including the dash. After i was down to about wiring i lifted the cab and rolled the chassis out from under the truck. Setting it back down to remove the HVAC and the rest of the wiring.

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The plan is to do similar to what Wayne did with his 71 truck, and cut the floor, firewall out of the superduty and weld it in the 79, that way i have mounts for superduty seats, brakes, pedals, and cab mounts. Then i will cut the frame to match the wheel base. Im going to use the front clip, bed doors ect from my 76, so i will only need to do paint and body work to the 79 cab.


Progress has been slow so far, trying to take my time and be organized since i will basically have 3 trucks torn apart at one time.
 

pullandpray

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Good project!! Mines still sitting there. If you need any help with anything or any questions on what I did to that crew cab let me know
 

co04cobra

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I've been dying to do this kind of swap too for at least 5yrs.

Very cool project. You may find that the bed holes on your 76, will be to wide for the supercab frame.

They did a few odd things like that on the crew and super cabs in those years.


On edit: You are using the SD frame?
 

Dzchey21

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Good project!! Mines still sitting there. If you need any help with anything or any questions on what I did to that crew cab let me know

Yeah don't worry i will be picking your brain

I've been dying to do this kind of swap too for at least 5yrs.

Very cool project. You may find that the bed holes on your 76, will be to wide for the supercab frame.

They did a few odd things like that on the crew and super cabs in those years.


On edit: You are using the SD frame?

Yeah im sure that either the mounts will need welded on the frame for the bed or re-drilling the bed.

Yes, the reason for cutting the floor and firewall out is to easily set the cab on the superduty frame, I want to leave as much of the factory safety features in tact. Like anti lock brakes, push button 4WD, heater and A/C, cruise control ect.

I've been kicking around the same idea

This has been in the works for me forever, The copper truck was my first Car i ever bought when i was 15, fixed it up and painted it right after high school. Drove it for a year. Just wasnt happy with the power, fuel mileage or the brakes. I tried to put a hydroboost set up from a 460 LTD but that didnt work out very well. THen the rear end went out so i gave up.

Been sitting for about 7 years and now i found the perfect set up to make this happen. This is where its been for a long time. Next to my other project lol

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here is the mess in the cab of wiring, i was a little surprised on how much of the wiring is behind the dash.

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going to clean the frame really well before i get too much further.

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Frame is going to be way too long so i am going to have to cut it for sure but thats ok.

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This poor ole 79 lived much of its life on a farm. This surprisingly didnt push the fan into the radiator LOL. The truck i was told didnt run but i drove it in the shop LOL

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but its one of the most rust free trucks i have ever seen. No rust on the rear fenders, no rust on the cab corners and no rust on the lower parts of the fenders and doors. Pretty cool

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Sorry for all the pictures, i generally do not take enough but i am going to change that this time.

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This is what the orange truck looked like right after i painted it. Far from perfect but not bad for my first complete "restoration" paint job i guess.

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pullandpray

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Windshield wipers kicked my ass You'll have to move them under the cowl on the extieror so all the dash and crap will fit.(Mine was an outlaw so it had a bunch of ****) use the factory 79 posts, custom make the linkages. I used the sd motor and the very right side of the cowl and cut an access door
 

Dzchey21

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did you use the new dash? I am kinda leaning twords using the old school dash and the new steering wheel for cruise.
 

pullandpray

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I went new school on the dash not a big fan on 79s I was thinking of maybe going pre 73 on the dash. All the wires are crazy huh. Once you get the cab mounted and the electrical done and that thing starts your gonna feel the world lift off your shoulders
 

Dzchey21

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Yeah for sure i am feeling overwhelmed at this point. I have had to step back and re-organize my parts and such so i can feel back under control.

The 72 dashes are cool
 

pullandpray

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Your at the hardest part. Well transferring cabs and floorboards is a bitch specially in a driveway lol. Your gonna be amazed once it starts rolling the majority of the measurements from 79 to super duty are going to be very close. What was crazy Is when you measure widths the 79 is actually wider overall
 

Dzchey21

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Yeah i took some measurements and i was surprised. Another concern was using the radiator and everything and making it fit behind the grill but again surprisingly i think its going to fit.
 

strokethis_06

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Do you have to use the new instrument cluster for it to run? I am in the process of converting my 79 rclb to 6.0 zf6. I want to use the 79 dash.
 

Dzchey21

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Do you have to use the new instrument cluster for it to run? I am in the process of converting my 79 rclb to 6.0 zf6. I want to use the 79 dash.

No, thats the main reason that i decided that i wanted to use a 6.0 instead of a 6.4. The 6.4 does require one to run.
 

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