8-2-2011: And after some more thinking ( yes I know that is dangerous for me!
) I have come to the conclusion that I'm not going to change the wheel base of the 78 F150 4x4. :hmmm: I've been looking over the frame on the 78. Sliding the axle forward just wasn't going to work. Due to the rear kick up and it's formed notches for shock clearance. So that would leave actually cutting out a chunk of the center of the frame. Since I don't have a welder that would handle welding the frame together I would have to buy or rent a bigger welder or pay someone else to weld the frame. And then I would still need to have the rear drive shaft shortened and correct the pinion angle on the rear diff. So that's what helped me decide to keep the wheelbase the way it is.
So that means I will have to make the body fit the frame. Instead of just making it a long box, I decided to make a change that will make the truck more comfortable to drive. I'm going to make it an extended cab. That will give me some more leg room and more clearance for my fat gut! :rolflmao: Plus I'll also have more room for storage and speakers!
I figure I can find another 53-55 cab and some rusty 53-55 doors fairly reasonable. It's going to take quite a bit of sheet metal work but I can handle that. And I'm pretty sure I can do it without having to change much of any of the floor work I've already got done. This will definitely be a one of kind truck! The difference in the chassis is 23". I'm also going to make one suicide rear door on the passenger side.
These pics were posted on another forum. This truck has a 2" chopped top too ( which I'm not going to do!! ) . But the pics give you the idea of what I have planned.
