1970 Ford F100 SWB

[bickgibbs]

I bought my truck 2 years ago. It was a 1970 F100 SWB. Since then I have picked up 2 other trucks to use for parts on this build. One was a 1968 LWB truck and the other was a 1973 SWB. I had done a little work on it and then stopped to restore my Dune Buggy I had built 11 years ago. It is very close to finished.

Here's the Dune buggy. Still needs a windshield which will be coming soon.


Here's the 70 when i first got it.


This is what it looks like as of now.


I am using the rear end from the 73 and took it apart last weekend.


Looking forward to a great time building this truck and learning a lot of new things.

Thanks to all of you that have posted questions and replies so that the rest of us can learn.

More pics coming soon.

[Fordnatic]

I believe the 73-79 rear end is a few inches wider?

[bickgibbs]

It is. It moves the rear wheels out 2 inches on each side so they track the same as the front wheels.

[cole71]

Liking the truck! I'm swapping a 78 rear end under mine after I paint it. To me it's worth the effort to get rid of the narrow rear end from the factory. Oh and what's been done to achieve the stance?

[bickgibbs]

It has dream beams on the front and the rear has the spring shackles flipped.

[Fordnatic]

I like the narrower rear. Gives room for more tire. Many people spend a lot of money to narrow rears for just that reason. Depends on what your needs are, I guess.

[dantheman71]

Did you have to move the spring perches or did the rear end bolt right up?

Narrow rear ends are cool but I put a set of 1993-95 Ford Lightning wheels on my truck when I first got it and the tires rubbed on the inside of the wheel tubs. Best part of going newer is you get the 31 spline so it will take more abuse!!

[bickgibbs]

The spring perches will have to be moved in. I am hoping to get that done next week during spring break.

[Fordnatic]

Best part of going newer is you get the 31 spline so it will take more abuse!!

You can actually find 31 spline axles for the narrower 67-72 rears. They were on heavier duty models with what was called 9 3/8" rears. I found sets for both my 68 4x4 and 70 4x2 pickups in the junk yard. It has been several years now though, not sure how available they still are. There used to be a Hollander exchange number for them. The 31 spline axles are certainly MUCH stronger!

[cole71]

It has dream beams on the front and the rear has the spring shackles flipped.

You mean the front hanger that the springs go into?

[bickgibbs]

Yes the front hanger can be flipped. I'm not sure if it was flipped or if they used the kit from DJM. All that was done before I bought the truck.

[bickgibbs]

Last year I sandblasted the bottom of the cab from the '68 and painted it with POR-15. It's been sitting waiting for more work.







I built a dolly for the cab to sit on

[cole71]

Oh ok thanks.

[bickgibbs]

Saturday my Dad and I finished building a set of ramps so we can drive our vehicles on and work underneath. We borrowed the idea from restorationramps.co.uk except we made them a little longer and a little heavier and added a winch on the front to pull vehicles up the ramp.







Put the truck on the ramp and pulled the transmission to have it rebuilt.

[papabug71]

The trucks look good. Can't wait to see what you do with it.

I also like the ramp idea. I just happen to have a mess of heavy angle iron out back. Hmmm.