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

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RCF100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by RCF100 »

i am currently starting the same swap I got the cv front from a 2010 state trooper car now I just need to get the rear end what year rears from a explorer will fit our trucks mine is a 72 longbed. I know someone who has a 2004 explorer 8.8 with disk and 3.73 will that fit what year range explorers do I need to look at. By the way good work on this truck.
72 F100 XLT ranger 390
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

RCF100 wrote:i am currently starting the same swap I got the cv front from a 2010 state trooper car now I just need to get the rear end what year rears from a explorer will fit our trucks mine is a 72 longbed. I know someone who has a 2004 explorer 8.8 with disk and 3.73 will that fit what year range explorers do I need to look at. By the way good work on this truck.
Starting with 2001 or 2002 explorers starting shipping with IRS, I used a solid axle 8.8. Which is what you want if you want to use leaf springs. Explorer rear ends are also fairly narrow, something you need to think about when buying wheels.
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

I spent some time looking for shocks and went with some 10 way adjustable mustang shocks from Strange Engineering. I read these worked pretty good on lowered Gen2 Ford Lightnings, they were also cheaper than QA1s, also looked at Rancho adjustables. $69 a piece from summit

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These were a little longer than I hoped for but I still made them work after a lot of measuring where and how to mount them, ended up fabbing up my own upper and lower mounts from 3/16 plate. Took a while as I cut these using only my angle grinder and belt sander...

Lower mounts
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Upper mounts, I bolted these on vs welding. Just in case I need to move them later, I couldnt commit to welding
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They hang a little lower than I wanted but its not that bad, I think my front crossmember is lower.
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I had to modify the mounts after I mounted the shocks, these shocks are fatter than expected and lower tube section would hit the mount with the suspension fully extended. You can kinda see where I had to cut and round off the ends a bit more.
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Brake line re-routed
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Also mounted up a late model spare tire carrier. Welded a lug nut on the end
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72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
junkyardbuilder69
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by junkyardbuilder69 »

Great job, the shock mounts look great along with the rest of the truck, what color you plan to paint it or is that something you still thinking on ?
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Coupe5oh
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by Coupe5oh »

Those did turn out nice. I've been thinking about what I want to do with my shocks too. I was thinking about slicing my stock upper mounts and bending/ rewelding them so the shock was straight inline with the frame and then building a lower. Hadn't thought about going to a shaft mount style shock. That looks really good.
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marvin2
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by marvin2 »

i like the spare tire carrier idea...I can't remember though, are you using a rear mounted gas tank instead of the stock in cab? If so, are there any clearance issues for the spare tire?
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

junkyardbuilder69 wrote:Great job, the shock mounts look great along with the rest of the truck, what color you plan to paint it or is that something you still thinking on ?
leaning towards gloss black with maroon interior, some day of course.
Those did turn out nice. I've been thinking about what I want to do with my shocks too. I was thinking about slicing my stock upper mounts and bending/ rewelding them so the shock was straight inline with the frame and then building a lower. Hadn't thought about going to a shaft mount style shock. That looks really good.
thats why I made the top mount a bolt-on, just a little more flexibility if I want to try a different shock.
i like the spare tire carrier idea...I can't remember though, are you using a rear mounted gas tank instead of the stock in cab? If so, are there any clearance issues for the spare tire?
I have the in cab tank, if I do move it I'll put it between the frame rails like the aux tanks.

thanks
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
ionlyswingping
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by ionlyswingping »

Great looking truck! I read over this and I know it has been quite a while since you cut 1.5 coils off the front to get your current height. Can you tell me if you noticed a lot stiffer ride and were you able to get a decent alignment as to not rip up tires with the camber issues?

Thank you.
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

ionlyswingping wrote:Great looking truck! I read over this and I know it has been quite a while since you cut 1.5 coils off the front to get your current height. Can you tell me if you noticed a lot stiffer ride and were you able to get a decent alignment as to not rip up tires with the camber issues?

Thank you.
I never drove it before cutting the coils and I havent got around to getting an alignment either.
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
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Bigblock514
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by Bigblock514 »

I picked up a short box today. So just how much did you have to cut out of the frame exactly? Are your rear wheels centered in the wheelwells?
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

Bigblock514 wrote:I picked up a short box today. So just how much did you have to cut out of the frame exactly? Are your rear wheels centered in the wheelwells?
I cut 16" behind the can and 4" after the rear wheels.
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
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tylerb43
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by tylerb43 »

JG F100 wrote:I cut 16" behind the can and 4" after the rear wheels.
JG, I know you know what you're doing, and I've watched and admired your truck since you started, but I believe the correct sections to remove are 16.2" and 3.8". I believe that's the reason you ended up having to trim your rear leaf spring bracket when you installed the bumper brackets. See link below. There's 20" total difference between lwb and swb bed dimensions, and the breakdown is 16.2"/3.8". (see dimensions L-5 and L-6)

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p143.jpg

Also - SWB (114.8" wheelbase)

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p04.gif

And LWB (131")

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p08.gif

(please don't be mad at me) :wink:
BlueOvalDave
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by BlueOvalDave »

I just checked on your project, that truck rocks it out. What brand of wheels are those?

I'm now committed to chopping the daughters longbed down.

Great looking truck
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

tylerb43 wrote:
JG F100 wrote:I cut 16" behind the can and 4" after the rear wheels.
JG, I know you know what you're doing, and I've watched and admired your truck since you started, but I believe the correct sections to remove are 16.2" and 3.8". I believe that's the reason you ended up having to trim your rear leaf spring bracket when you installed the bumper brackets. See link below. There's 20" total difference between lwb and swb bed dimensions, and the breakdown is 16.2"/3.8". (see dimensions L-5 and L-6)

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p143.jpg

Also - SWB (114.8" wheelbase)

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p04.gif

And LWB (131")

http://www.fordification.com/tech/images/bb70/p08.gif

(please don't be mad at me) :wink:
I ran into those diagrams after I cut it but its only .2" difference. The rear was strange as I used an existing hole, I should have kept the 4" piece I cut off to use as a template.
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
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JG F100
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Re: 72 F100 project, longbed to short conv, CV swap, 20s

Post by JG F100 »

BlueOvalDave wrote:I just checked on your project, that truck rocks it out. What brand of wheels are those?

I'm now committed to chopping the daughters longbed down.

Great looking truck
thanks, the wheels are Raceline Wheels.
72 F100 - SWB conversion w/05 crown vic IFS, 8.8 rear w/disc, 20s, 360FE w/overdrive
Project Page: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=37897
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