About 15 years ago I built a 66 F100 (started with a truck pulled out of a field and added a 5.0 FI w/AOD out of a Mustang GT, PS, PDB, tilt, 3 point seat belts, relocated the gas tank to between frame rails, etc., etc.) and was never more proud of what I had done when it was finished. Drove it for 12 years (about 40K miles) and was never sadder than about 5 minutes after it got loaded on the hauler to go to it's new owner. I fondly remember driving mine around the neighborhood with out doors or seats or a bed on it's "maiden voyage" -- it took days to wipe the smile from my face so I really get your "Happy Days" comment. Carry on -- I look forward to whatever you do next.
Great video Nathan. I also share the same idea and passion for modern and old. You just can't beat these swaps .Its doesn't matter what make of vehicle you do a chassis swap on its always a learning experience and improving the driving ,performance,comfort quality is always a gain.
Nicely done and very well explained . That truck is awesome , when I was a kid and drove a 69 long box it was a great truck but it was missing performance and attitude and that is what you have given to this truck . Again well done . Thank god I'm on the other side of the county and can't stop over to take a closer look at it .
You are an awesome dude. I am jelly of that truck. Hummmm.....I have an 81 F-100 short bed and a Crown Vic, but the crown is a driver and besides, I don't quite have the skills to pull off the miracle that you did. Congratulations man, super cool ride you've created.
Nat nice job on the truck , on the next one you want to leave the E.G.R. Valve it keeps the engine from pinging on Hard acceleration , It lower Nox Out put so it makes the cats job easier to keep the air clean , also it will turn on the check engine light , and the engine could run fixed timing / fuel trim If the computer is not reflashed to run with out the E.G.R system .. Ford spent millions perfecting there E.G.R systems and 35 years of trial and error .....sorry for the lecture take no a fence I enjoy the videos very much Pete M
Very nice, real British ingenuity and engineering there coming together to make a really usable, adult truck. I love the work on combining the period feel of the interior with the functionality of the Crown Vic and keeping the better driving position of the original truck compared to the orange truck. Somehow $10k doesn't seem a lot for all the work that goes into a project like that...
And we now have Nathan's Garage #002 on the block for sale.....lol. You know I'm going to keep numbering them until you start putting serial number stickers on them like a Saleen Mustang. Joking aside, I vote that you hold your ground on that price. It's very much worth every penny. I've been looking for my next truck for weeks now and they are getting harder and harder to find. Found the perfect one and the guy is giving me the runaround....I'm gonna keep on him, though. Great job on the truck!
Nathan-I wondered if the Crown Vic perimeter frame depended on the body for strength. Good you have identified the need to add structure to the sedan frame.
you REALLY should put it on wheelwell.com and send it over to Matt Farah at TheSmokingTire on youtube for him to give it a full review! I'd be very impressed to see that, and I've followed these builds you've been doing from the beginning! Great work! Keep it up!
Hi Nathan I’m wondering if you build these kind of trucks if someone brought you the donor vehicles? And would you have to shorten a step side bed off a short wheelbase truck?
Love this ride. Question - I have just mounted my cab on the frame. When I put a level on the cab, I'm like 5/16 higher in the back . I didn't know if you recalled or not where you were at with this one. Thanks for the inspiration my friend.
J P I made it level with the frame. You have to trim the back of the cab and trim the crossmember underneath as well. Check through the videos it’s covered mid way-ish through the build.
Just binge watched your F71. Loved it. Wish you still had it for sale. Love the premise. Was wondering though, could you take a shell of a classic like a '65 Galaxie and do a CV swap? So frame, engine, even interior is CV with just the shell '65 Galaxie.
You'd have to check wheelbases (Vic is 115") unless you want to chop the frame. Anything's do-able, I just can't lift a car body as I work on my own. There's a guy somewhere putting a Vic frame under a Charger or Challenger.
Nathan, I really enjoy your videos. Thanks! You mention that you stiffened up the chassis through a heavy cab mount that ties in the bed (without bolting the bed to the cab). I looked through your videos and couldn't find any information on this part of the build. Did I miss it? Have you posted it somewhere? I'm learning a lot from your projects. Thanks again!
Very nice job. Great to follow the progress. Is the wiring all from memory and trial, or do you have a printable plan?? That's what I need on my 58 f100 to P71.
I never actually found wiring diagram that I could either understand or was actually right. When I back traced both vehicles I labelled very well. Then I fitted the Vic wiring back to the truck, powered it up and from the Vic under dash fuse box I then probed for ignition & constant lives to solder the truck wiring harness to.
I just found your channel, you may have more videos on this truck, I haven't searched ¥et. But I was wondering if you had to modify the crown vic frame to fit the wheel base for the truck. If you have a video on this, and don't mind posting a link I would appreciate it.
is it titled as the truck or the vic now? I have 2 p71's ... the ol lady drives the 2010 and I have a 07 parked in backyard that I havnt drove in years.... really thinking about doing this. I have those bullitt 18" rims and everything... just need the truck. What would you say total cost was besides the p71 and donor truck? Thought about doing this with an old ford galaxy but bet that would be alot more difficult
I don't touch the title. The stay as the truck. That's for my convenience, lack of smog & I advise to read up and see what route you & your state wants you to take. Join Frame Swap Faction on Facebook. Answer the questions (so I know you're not a robot) & settle down for a good read. There's a Galaxy being built over there right now.
Hey Nathan, would you happen to know where I could get some new body mounts to put on the frame of my 62 Uni? I have looked and looked and have had absolutely zero luck. Thanks for any help
For the original truck frame? I would assume LMC, NPD or something like that. If you're using a Vic frame there aren't any suppliers, you gotta make your own.
WHAT?!? No happy days tagline at the end of the vid? C'mon!! Not to intrude but does the state of CA think you're driving a Crown Vic or a F100 when they run the VIN/Plates?
Its usually what it looks like since the vin number is on the dash and its against the law to mess with a vin so CA knows its a F-100 and don't care about the drivetrain or motor. But on the older F-100 Nathan is working on now the vin tag is inside the glovebox lid. But if its a vehicle that must be checked out by the state after its done they may want to see the vin number on the frame, that might mean you have to report that the frame is different. If I have any of this wrong for CA then please tell me if you can, thanks Nat. Not sure what happens if you used a crown vic dash in a truck that has the vic vin number that can't be removed on the dash panel.
With the bodywork resources I have I couldn't make a panel, paint it and fill it to look invisible. The caps are sealed with black permatex so totally water tight.
The original shifter didn't have a provision for O/D like the Vic shifter so with my limited electrical knowledge that was the best solution that I came up with.
Nathan's Garage I just spent the last week watching all the videos related to this truck. It is an amazing truck. I'm looking forward to watching the Betty videos next. Too bad I missed out on the F71.
About 15 years ago I built a 66 F100 (started with a truck pulled out of a field and added a 5.0 FI w/AOD out of a Mustang GT, PS, PDB, tilt, 3 point seat belts, relocated the gas tank to between frame rails, etc., etc.) and was never more proud of what I had done when it was finished. Drove it for 12 years (about 40K miles) and was never sadder than about 5 minutes after it got loaded on the hauler to go to it's new owner. I fondly remember driving mine around the neighborhood with out doors or seats or a bed on it's "maiden voyage" -- it took days to wipe the smile from my face so I really get your "Happy Days" comment. Carry on -- I look forward to whatever you do next.
I just watched the entire F71 series. Great work! It makes me want to give it a try myself...
Great video Nathan. I also share the same idea and passion for modern and old. You just can't beat these swaps .Its doesn't matter what make of vehicle you do a chassis swap on its always a learning experience and improving the driving ,performance,comfort quality is always a gain.
YOU FINISHED LOOKS GREAT GOOD JOB
we need to get you on t.v. with your own show good job mate
I like the sound of that! :)
Nicely done and very well explained . That truck is awesome , when I was a kid and drove a 69 long box it was a great truck but it was missing performance and attitude and that is what you have given to this truck . Again well done . Thank god I'm on the other side of the county and can't stop over to take a closer look at it .
Peter Hatch, that is so true we need to get him on T.V he needs to have his own show, awesome job on build of the VicTruck !!!
A guy with a British accent living in cali. With an old school Ford truck. Welcome to America friend!
You are an awesome dude. I am jelly of that truck.
Hummmm.....I have an 81 F-100 short bed and a Crown Vic, but the crown is a driver and besides, I don't quite have the skills to pull off the miracle that you did. Congratulations man, super cool ride you've created.
If I had the 10K available I'd be flying to Cali & driving her back to Indiana! awesome build!
Looks and sounds great, proper job, well done.I couldn't part with it.
Fantastic Nathan, she's a looker!
Very nice Nathan. Hopefully someday I will get a chance to try this swap. F71, I like it!
Nat nice job on the truck , on the next one you want to leave the E.G.R. Valve it keeps the engine from pinging on Hard acceleration , It lower Nox Out put so it makes the cats job easier to keep the air clean , also it will turn on the check engine light , and the engine could run fixed timing / fuel trim If the computer is not reflashed to run with out the E.G.R system .. Ford spent millions perfecting there E.G.R systems and 35 years of trial and error .....sorry for the lecture take no a fence I enjoy the videos very much Pete M
Well said.
congratulations, Beautiful mix. looking forward to big betty...
Just waiting on some repair panels & her donor...decisions...decisions...
Awesome work. Please keep it up. Binge-watching all of your videos has been a bright silver lining to a couple of sick days I've had stuck at home.
Glad I could help :)
Very nice, real British ingenuity and engineering there coming together to make a really usable, adult truck. I love the work on combining the period feel of the interior with the functionality of the Crown Vic and keeping the better driving position of the original truck compared to the orange truck. Somehow $10k doesn't seem a lot for all the work that goes into a project like that...
most shows over show it you straight to the point and you dont make a big deal about what youare doing mate
Wow I really like it really nice work congrats keep doing videos gracias 🙏
beautiful truck Nathan.
And we now have Nathan's Garage #002 on the block for sale.....lol. You know I'm going to keep numbering them until you start putting serial number stickers on them like a Saleen Mustang. Joking aside, I vote that you hold your ground on that price. It's very much worth every penny. I've been looking for my next truck for weeks now and they are getting harder and harder to find. Found the perfect one and the guy is giving me the runaround....I'm gonna keep on him, though. Great job on the truck!
Wayne Waldrep maybe a plaque?! 😀
I'm working on something for you right now...may take a few days but I think you will like it. :)
Nice work man and thanks for the videos and information.
Very nice. "Fat Betty" is in for a nice update.
I had the same 3 seat setup in my lowered 95 F150 regular cab 5.0 automatic. I still miss that truck, and the comfort of that seat
Nathan-I wondered if the Crown Vic perimeter frame depended on the body for strength. Good you have identified the need to add structure to the sedan frame.
Yeah In my opinion it needs strength putting into it. It definitely draws strength from having a single piece Vic on top of it.
love the Truck Great Work
THis build much better than the first one!
I'm thinking to make a full swap, using a toyota hilux, we don't have crow vic here in brazil lol
ahahaha very nice to see you happy at the end of the video!
Great work love your videos
you REALLY should put it on wheelwell.com and send it over to Matt Farah at TheSmokingTire on youtube for him to give it a full review! I'd be very impressed to see that, and I've followed these builds you've been doing from the beginning! Great work! Keep it up!
Thanks! Yeah I'd love Matt Farah to drive next one. I post a little bit on wheelwell...I'll have to keep up with it.
Looks great!
Cool! Would be perfect with black steelies!
Totally agree!
Hi Nathan I’m wondering if you build these kind of trucks if someone brought you the donor vehicles? And would you have to shorten a step side bed off a short wheelbase truck?
No burnout!? Great build!!!
Love this ride. Question - I have just mounted my cab on the frame. When I put a level on the cab, I'm like 5/16 higher in the back . I didn't know if you recalled or not where you were at with this one. Thanks for the inspiration my friend.
J P I made it level with the frame. You have to trim the back of the cab and trim the crossmember underneath as well. Check through the videos it’s covered mid way-ish through the build.
Excellent! Well one man.
Hi thanks .. great job .. I been looking all your videos .. but how do u keep more higher the white truck .. ?
Nice truck. Why Two different door mirrors? 😁
Just binge watched your F71. Loved it. Wish you still had it for sale. Love the premise.
Was wondering though, could you take a shell of a classic like a '65 Galaxie and do a CV swap? So frame, engine, even interior is CV with just the shell '65 Galaxie.
You'd have to check wheelbases (Vic is 115") unless you want to chop the frame. Anything's do-able, I just can't lift a car body as I work on my own. There's a guy somewhere putting a Vic frame under a Charger or Challenger.
if you ever make another F71, I'm a buyer.
It'll be all over UA-cam if I build another :)
I'm using a 2006 aviator frame on a 68 Galaxy so probably
Great idea! Older full size cars are still around and needing work.
Por 15 will break down in sunlight so you need to topcoat it.
Nathan, I really enjoy your videos. Thanks! You mention that you stiffened up the chassis through a heavy cab mount that ties in the bed (without bolting the bed to the cab). I looked through your videos and couldn't find any information on this part of the build. Did I miss it? Have you posted it somewhere? I'm learning a lot from your projects. Thanks again!
Episode 6 at 2.23 is the first time you see the bracing & then I talk about it randomly until the end.
I'll check back to E6. I'm looking to get a visual, so thanks for the hint. Keep the projects coming!
Episode 8 at 6.15 you can see the bracing
I have no idea how I missed E6. Very good visual. It looks like you used the center section from the F100 frame. Quite creative. Thanks!
Remember though...it's not an F100 frame it's a Crown Vic frame.
Can you do a crown vic frame on without the gas tank in the back taking up the bed of the truck? If not what are you options for a frame on?
Very nice job. Great to follow the progress. Is the wiring all from memory and trial, or do you have a printable plan??
That's what I need on my 58 f100 to P71.
I never actually found wiring diagram that I could either understand or was actually right. When I back traced both vehicles I labelled very well. Then I fitted the Vic wiring back to the truck, powered it up and from the Vic under dash fuse box I then probed for ignition & constant lives to solder the truck wiring harness to.
I just found your channel, you may have more videos on this truck, I haven't searched ¥et.
But I was wondering if you had to modify the crown vic frame to fit the wheel base for the truck.
If you have a video on this, and don't mind posting a link I would appreciate it.
It's all stock. SWB truck is 115" & a Crown Vic is a touch under 115"
Do you think you could run the crown Vic A/C system in the factory truck dash if you mocked the system up to fit?
I have a 2010 Lincoln with 60k I'd like to so the same with, see how it feels with air ride!
is it titled as the truck or the vic now?
I have 2 p71's ... the ol lady drives the 2010 and I have a 07 parked in backyard that I havnt drove in years.... really thinking about doing this.
I have those bullitt 18" rims and everything... just need the truck.
What would you say total cost was besides the p71 and donor truck?
Thought about doing this with an old ford galaxy but bet that would be alot more difficult
I don't touch the title. The stay as the truck. That's for my convenience, lack of smog & I advise to read up and see what route you & your state wants you to take. Join Frame Swap Faction on Facebook. Answer the questions (so I know you're not a robot) & settle down for a good read. There's a Galaxy being built over there right now.
Love it! Great job. Are you keeping this one or selling it too? If selling, could you send me the ebay link?
No eBay link on this one. I'm having good interest so far. My asking price is $10K obo.
losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5997057993.html
Really enjoyed your build series , congrats!!
But..... Will it do a burnout???
Maybe you'll have to go to Frame Swap Faction on Facebook & ask the new owner :)
Hey Nathan, would you happen to know where I could get some new body mounts to put on the frame of my 62 Uni? I have looked and looked and have had absolutely zero luck. Thanks for any help
For the original truck frame? I would assume LMC, NPD or something like that. If you're using a Vic frame there aren't any suppliers, you gotta make your own.
How does one get ahold of you? I live local and would love to buy you lunch and ask you a few questions.
Hi Bodie! and airplane.....Why did you block off the EGR?
I just felt like it, it removed something complicated that didn't really need to be there anymore.
If it's EFI and with catalytic converters, it needs the EGR system to perform well and prevent the cats from overheating and plug up.
Awesome
Why won't you do a 89 or 90 my boy now
did you ever figure out the A/C?? I want to do this but I live in florida and A/C is a must
I didn't put A/C in this truck but a couple of guys have used systems like Vintage air etc. They're in the Facebook group Frame Swap Faction.
How do you get on with registering the truck Nathan? . .Do you just fit the Vic plates as it has a Vic chassis as you would here in the UK?
I was actually wondering the same thing. I’m in the US and see that the VIN for my truck is on frame.
Oh yeah awesome videos Nathan.
Cool .....so is this registered as a crown vic or truck?
john smith truck.
how did you deal with the turn signal indicators on the instrument cluster
Just found the turn signal input wires on the top of the cluster & wired them in.
Nathan's Garage cool thanks for reply love your videos watched them a couple times over
is the truck still available?
WHAT?!? No happy days tagline at the end of the vid? C'mon!! Not to intrude but does the state of CA think you're driving a Crown Vic or a F100 when they run the VIN/Plates?
It's a 71 F100 ;) & damn it...I won't forget "Happy Days" next time...:)
Its usually what it looks like since the vin number is on the dash and its against the law to mess with a vin so CA knows its a F-100 and don't care about the drivetrain or motor. But on the older F-100 Nathan is working on now the vin tag is inside the glovebox lid. But if its a vehicle that must be checked out by the state after its done they may want to see the vin number on the frame, that might mean you have to report that the frame is different. If I have any of this wrong for CA then please tell me if you can, thanks Nat. Not sure what happens if you used a crown vic dash in a truck that has the vic vin number that can't be removed on the dash panel.
How long did it take from start to finish? What day did you start and when did you end?
I actually don't know. If you follow the dates of the video series thats the approximate amount of time it took.
why didn't you fill the cab gas cap?
With the bodywork resources I have I couldn't make a panel, paint it and fill it to look invisible. The caps are sealed with black permatex so totally water tight.
what did it cost to get this done please reply
Where are you from? please I live in Mexico. Do you speak spanish?
Sporty👍
How does the weight compare to the original car and truck?
It's around 200lbs lighter than a Vic.
Why is the overdrive on a toggle switch?
The original shifter didn't have a provision for O/D like the Vic shifter so with my limited electrical knowledge that was the best solution that I came up with.
I'd put the bench seat back
What's ur cost if I supply crown Vic and a 56 f100 to do my conversion?
I just build my own stuff right now. Head over to Frame Swap Faction on Facebook & you may be able to find a local builder who will do it for you.
Why use Crown victoria and not use f-150 newer??? Why you do all soooo complicated???
I know this was completed a few more than ago. Is it still for sale or has someone already picked it up?
It sold about a year ago.
Nathan's Garage I just spent the last week watching all the videos related to this truck. It is an amazing truck. I'm looking forward to watching the Betty videos next. Too bad I missed out on the F71.
How much does a swap like this run
If you join Frame Swap Faction on Facebook...you'll get the high & low of build costs.
Is it for sale? Asking price?
Yeah it's for sale. $10K obo
According to his facebook page, ten grand. If you think about all the engineering and work that went into it, not a bad deal.
Did you sell the F71?
Yes...many moons ago :)
For sale?
How mych
How much is it?
It sold a while ago. I have a new build that'll be ready soon.
How much did you sell it for if I might ask?
I offered it For Sale at $10K
how much you selling it for.... phone number....???
This truck is sold. I'm building a 53 F250 right now which will be for sale soon.