1978 F150 Frame
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Livingston, WI
1978 F150 Frame
I live in Southwest Wisconsin and I am looking for a frame for my 78 F150 Regular Cab Short Box. If anyone knows a good place to find one without having to go every salvage yard throughout Wisconsin. Or if any frame from a different model year will work? Thanks for any help. I am an accountant not a real mechanic so you may have to dumb down some descriptions. Thanks.
April 2010 TOTM Winner
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 515
Likes: 3
From: Panama City, FL
The 1973-76 F-100 Regular Cab SWB Trucks are the same.
The 1977-79 F-150 Regular Cab SWB Trucks are the same.
I would say that; 1974-79 F-Series SWB Frames are the same.
Usually Ford had the holes in the frame for different Transmissions.
The Motor Mounts are different for the 300ci, 360ci, 351M/400M engines.
In 1977, Ford changed the design of the Steering Box on the frame,
this is the one you want; 1977-79 Steering Box.
The F-150 Tie Rods changed in 1978, these are the Tie Rods you want;
1978-79 Tie Rods with the 1978-79 Pitman Arm.
The 1977-79 Steering Box will bolt to the existing holes
on a 1974-up F-Series frame.
The 1973 F-100 had a different power steering setup,
it was a hydraulic ram that hung down under and in front of the straight axle.
You do not want this!
You may be better off buying a junk 1974-79 F-Series SWB truck
from someone's backyard that doesn't run anymore, just sayin...
2WD & 4WD F-Series Frames are the same,
but you may have to drill a hole or two...
It's 26 F this morning along the Gulf Coast in North Florida,
that's COLD to us!
Good Luck finding the frame!
The 1977-79 F-150 Regular Cab SWB Trucks are the same.
I would say that; 1974-79 F-Series SWB Frames are the same.
Usually Ford had the holes in the frame for different Transmissions.
The Motor Mounts are different for the 300ci, 360ci, 351M/400M engines.
In 1977, Ford changed the design of the Steering Box on the frame,
this is the one you want; 1977-79 Steering Box.
The F-150 Tie Rods changed in 1978, these are the Tie Rods you want;
1978-79 Tie Rods with the 1978-79 Pitman Arm.
The 1977-79 Steering Box will bolt to the existing holes
on a 1974-up F-Series frame.
The 1973 F-100 had a different power steering setup,
it was a hydraulic ram that hung down under and in front of the straight axle.
You do not want this!
You may be better off buying a junk 1974-79 F-Series SWB truck
from someone's backyard that doesn't run anymore, just sayin...
2WD & 4WD F-Series Frames are the same,
but you may have to drill a hole or two...
It's 26 F this morning along the Gulf Coast in North Florida,
that's COLD to us!
Good Luck finding the frame!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 4,658
Likes: 28
From: Henderson, NV.
The above member gave you plan "A".
Here is plan "B", fly to Vegas, I'll pick you up at the airport, bring you to my 1973 F250, hand you the keys and you drive back to Wisconsin. Check out the runner up for the 2008 November TOTM. You will be time, money and have a 38 year old truck with less mileage, damage and corrosion. Spend a week driving across our country instead of breaking knuckles on your spare time for a year.
Here is plan "B", fly to Vegas, I'll pick you up at the airport, bring you to my 1973 F250, hand you the keys and you drive back to Wisconsin. Check out the runner up for the 2008 November TOTM. You will be time, money and have a 38 year old truck with less mileage, damage and corrosion. Spend a week driving across our country instead of breaking knuckles on your spare time for a year.
