half a '69

[VonsF100]

I came into a '69 F100 4x4 a couple weeks ago. I've also had an old '85 2wd. for the past 10+ years. I have over $1600.00 tied up in the '85...mostly chassis work and ignition system. Everything except the body is brand new chassis wise. ( eng. trans, rear axle & brakes front to back, etc etc. )

The '85 has volunteered to be a donor for the '69. I'll be taking the rear brakes off the 85 and using them on the '9. If the drums don't fit on the 9's rear end, I'll just pull the whole axle assembly from the 85 and use that; just plumb the 'new rear end and away it goes. That'd be one way to recover the investment in the rear end on the '85 that I have never really used.
( the '85 got parked shorlty after the new rear was installed...grrr)

I'm kicking the idea around yet of building a skirted flatbed for the '9 A true flat bed. As in no wheel well "bumps" in the bed. However, the skirt would keep the same cutout around the wheels like a normal truck box does. In the mean time, I need a truck with a working box. I do have some stuff to haul around until the flatbed is done. So, after looking at it I had one of those AHA! moments:

Since I'm going to pull the leaf springs off the '85 to replace the broke ones in the '9...why not pull the bed off the '85? And why not just swap the bed onto the '9? The box on the '9 is shot. I don't even know how it doesn't blow off in a stiff wind right now.

At first, I kinda thought it would look to gawdy. But I messed around with some photo software and came up with a rough, really rough, mockup. I'm goin to try adding a pick to this post. If the pic fails I'll link it to a host site.

The lower bevels on the box and cab certainly do not match. But if I add running boards and a custom body kit to the bottom of the box & cab, I can make it look a bit better. The pic doesn't show the body kit as it will be a one-off specialy made thing.

What do you all think? How sick am I for tryin this? ( and does anyone in MN have a decent '68-72' box to save me all this work?)

[knightfire83]

There was a bump running around town in that exact configuration.

Just my opinion but,

The bed supports must not work to great on a bump frame, the bed had rake, but the rest of the truck did not.

But you gotta do what ya gotta do.

Check the spring perch spacing on the '85 rear end. It will likely be wider than the bump's. You may have to cut and weld them to the proper locations in order to get it to fit.

[VonsF100]

ya, I'm not real settled on using the box from the '85. It was just one of those moments of creativity at the wrong time kinda thing. A neighbor down the road has a bumpside box trailer. Looks like it's in good shape. I'll have to stop in and see if they'd part with it or not.

For the springs, I'm going to take and split the leaves apart on the '85...one I get them out of the truck that is. Then I can use the good leafs from the 85 to replace the missing/broken ones on the '69. I'll be picking up new shackles for the '69's leafs anyway. In this way, I won't be needing to weld or relocate the spring perches.

[OldRedFord]

I would just get another bed. I think the 85 bed will never look right.