F100 vs F250 Chassis Strength

[velo_junkie]

Hello all,

First post, been lurking around for a while. I learned to drive in my Dad's '69 F100 on fire roads before I was legal to drive on "real" roads, so I've liked bump sides most of my life. Looking to get one of my own, the bronco is too small for truck duties. I did some searching and couldn't find much info on my question.

Is there a difference in frame strength between an F100 longbed 4x4, and an F250 longbed 4x4? I've looked at the line drawings in the body building section but they don't give dimensions for the F250 chassis I think it was. I see the difference between the LB and SB drawings. Since the bodies are all the same, and I'm going to be replacing most/all of the drivetrain, that just leaves the frame. I'd like the nicer ride of coils up front, but if the F250 frame is stronger, I can just build coil buckets at some point. My Dad always said they are all the same frame, so just curious if he is correct.

Thanks,
John

[basketcase0302]

John,
It's here somewhere, I just can't seem to be able to put my finger on it right now...
I do remember that Keith had documented the F-350 frame being of thicker steel-but I'm not sure of the F-250.
And please stop by the welcome mat when you get a chance and say hi to everybody:
http://www.fordification.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

[velo_junkie]

Is there a better forum section to post this question in? I've never seen an F-350 4x4 in these model years. 2WD trucks are available all day, but I don't want to mess with converting to 4WD. I suppose if someone was industrious enough to go out and measure their chassis rail height, width and material thickness I'd be forever grateful. Or I can just buy an F100 and be done with it.

[hazelnut]

I know the frame is thicker on a F250 4x4 than it is on a 4x2 F100. I did a body swap and could see the differance with the bodys off. I've never checked to see how thick a F100 4x4 frame is but a guy i hunted with had one and it flexed way easyer than my 250 4x4 dose. So off of that i would say it is IMO.

[averagef250]

There's a lot less steel in the frame of an F-100 4x4 compared to the 250 4x4. The 250 4x4 frame is stouter than the 2wd 250 and the F-350 2wd frame is almost identical to the F-250 4x4 frame, atleast the outer rails are anyway.

[velo_junkie]

Thanks for the replys guys. I suppose it would make sense that the frames are beefier, but wanted to verify. Now to find myself an F-250! Preferably without rust holes or stupid PO mods and with an original black and yellow plate.

[HighboyHugger]

There is a difference between f100 and f250 4x4 frames...the f250 4x4 frames were Fords chassis cab frames. So the main frame rail is 7 inches tall and narrows down to about 5 and 3/4 over the rear axle and is almost 1/4 inch thick. The f100 4x4 frames and the f250 2wd frames have a 6 inch main frame rail which narrows down to about 4.5 inches over the rear axle...I can grab a couple pics I have and upload a comparison later. But as far as f100 2wd/4wd and f250 2wds go they have the same frame, But the f250 4x4s are alot heavier duty.