The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop stovebolt diesel body swap

Hello again guys. I've been away from the site for a bit trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my 1959 gmc 2.5 stovebolt. I tried to get the rearend fixed but that failed. A few of you have helped me with answers to repair questions. Thank you.
I have found a good deal on a 2000 ford f250 extended cab superduty 7.3 powerstroke diesel. I found the truck on a salvage yard with no engine or trans. Picked it up foor $100. I have a friend of mine who happens to have his own business and ford diesels are his specialty. He has everything else I need, plus the use of his shop. I picked up a low mileage 7.3 powerstroke and a 4r100 auto trans for $1000. He is giving me anything else I need. My plan is to do a body swap, 59 on the 2000 f250. The wheel base on both trucks is 156.5". The chassis on the 59 is 34" OS to OS and the ford is 37" OS to OS.

I have pulled everything I think I will need from the donor. Wiring harness, lots of wiring on the ford. A few miscellaneous items. I have started by pulling the body off the ford and I'm prepping the chassis now. I have also started prepping the 59 to remove the body. I have found chassis to body mounts at art Morrison fabricators that will have to be cut to fit for the cab and welded into place on the chassis.

http://www.artmorrison.com/store/media/products/components/p71a.gif

I will have to replace the rearend in the ford as its only a srw axle. I believe the f250 chassis and springs are the same on the f250 and f350, so once I get the dual axle from an f350 it will be a 1 ton truck.

I'm pulling all circuits I don't need from the ford wiring harness, there is a bunch of them. Never felt older trying to read schematics for hours at a time. I know have a magnified lamp to help.

I will be reusing the abs from the ford and mounting the hydro brake booster from the ford to the firewall of my 59. Right now my biggest concern is where the 7.3 is going to line up in the 59 engine bay. I know it will fit without any modification but I'm not sure if its going to line up front to back just right.

What do you guys think? Opinions and things to look for or look out for would be great. By the way does anyone need anything off my 59 rolling chassis? Rearend is no good.

Here are some pictures to show you were I'm at now.

Sounds like your BIG Bolt is becoming a Small Bolt!

You might ask the Moderator to move this thread to the HiPo section, you may get help from guys that don't hang out in the big bolt section.

Mike B

Moderator could you move this to the Hipo section? Thanks

Done. That's a neat set of pictures you've got in the Photobucket album.

I have seen a 7.3 power stroke used to drag disabled (loaded) roll-offs back to the yard more than once. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Interesting project. I have a '99 F250 with a 7.3. I've often wondered how an AD 2-ton cab and front end would fit on it. Looking forward to seeing where this leads.

Well its been awhile since ive updated this. My 59 gmc is at home on the f350 chassis. Took quite a bit of work making the custom mounts and getting them lined up in the right place and welded in. I will have the 7.3 engine and auto trans in the truck in a few days. I will have a ton of wiring to get thru before it will be driving down the road. I will have to get my new pics up so you can see the updated truck. I have a set of 8" exhaust stacks that I will install. After I have the truck fully mocked up the body will go to the paint shop and the chassis will go to get step notched, 4 link, and bagged.

Great project, good sense using heavy enough chassis for the engine.

Ed