CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE WHEELBASE IS ON A 1978 F-150 SWB 4X4 PICKUP? ALSO, DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A SOURCE THAT LIST THE WHEELBASE AND WIDTH (DRUM TO DRUM OR ROTOR TO ROTOR) FOR VARIOUS FORD PICKUPS?

 

Randy get a tape measure and measure from center of the front hub to the center of the rear.
It makes no difference what kind of brakes it has.

John

 

John,
I am aware of how you measure wheelbase, but I don't have a '78 swb to measure. I have a
'49 F-1 Ford that I am going to install on a 4x4 chassis; therefore, the distance between the brakes does make a difference. I am trying to gather information on which chassis would be best to install my '49 body on.

Randy

 

I don't know a source but I can tell you the rear on a '73-'79 is about 4" wider than a '67-'72, and at risk of sounding like a smart *** find the one you want to get the dimensions off of and ask the owner if you can measure it.

Trail Rider

 

Why didn't you say so in the first place. I'd wager some good money that it doesn't matter, because you will have to cut a chassis and make it work.

John

 

According to my 79 brochure all shortboxes were 117" and longboxes were 133". 67-72's were 115 and 131. mike

 

John

Ok, one more time real slow! If I had a spec sheet to see what the vital measurements are on various models of ford pickups then I could start with the one best suited for my application! See, a very simple concept!

Randy

 

Let's make this real simple - Whenever you attempt to mate 2 or more components that were never designed to be put together you have to modify one or both of the existing components to make them work together. So as in the above posts it doesn't matter what running gear you start with it is still going to have to be torn apart and rebuilt to make it fit the body you intend to put on top of it. Get out your tape, use some common sense, and quit whining if you don't like the advice YOU asked for.

Trail Rider

 

1) I did not ask for advice, I asked for specifications. 2) I don't whine.
3)Anyone that would start a project without making sure they had as closely matched components as are readily available would be a damn idiot.
4)The only useful information I got from here was from Mike and I appreciate it.
5)I posted the same request for SPECIFICATIONS on a different website today and had the exact SPECIFICATIONS that I asked for four hours later!!!!! I won't be back here for any more of your "ADVICE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Gosh Randy, don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split ya, on your way out.

Take care now,

John

 

I wonder if this guy has any idea that the 49 had a wheel base of 114 inches which isn't too far off (within an inch) from many later model F100s. But heck, don't worry about the most important thing, the track width. Without paying attention to the width of the axles, he could end up narrowing alot of steering and running gear (tough and pricey) as opposed to shortening a frame and driveshaft ( not as bad). Maybe he is building a plastic model for his older brother for Xmas. Oh well, I hate the chat room format; hope he ends up on that crappy classic truck bb.