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

[JG F100]

The wheels are 20x10 w/3.75" bs and 20x8.5 w/5.25bs. 275/40s and 245/40s.  thanks

[JG F100]

Finally got around to notching the frame out back, went to a local steel supply and found a few plates of 3/16" cut to the right size in their scrap pile. paid about $15 bucks for a few of these...



I used one of the narrow pieces to bend the notch but I cheated a little, I cut shallow grooves in it to get a clean bend, I then threw a bead over it...


almost forgot to weld a nut in there for the bumpstops...




Boxing plates...



Other side tacked in...

[elgemcdlf]

I love you with all my heart but you broke my heart chopping your frame like that.

[JG F100]

I love you with all my heart but you broke my heart chopping your frame like that.

I hated to do it too but I needed more clearance, I had about an inch and half between the frame and axle. Without getting into the bed floor its a necessary evil.

[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.

[JG F100]

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.

[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



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





Upper mounts, I bolted these on vs welding. Just in case I need to move them later, I couldnt commit to welding



They hang a little lower than I wanted but its not that bad, I think my front crossmember is lower.


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.




Brake line re-routed




Also mounted up a late model spare tire carrier. Welded a lug nut on the end

[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 ?

[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.

[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?

[JG F100]

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

[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.

[JG F100]

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.

[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?

[JG F100]

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.