The first order of business was to strip the truck of its tired 351 and the entire front clip. Solutions range from 5×5.5 to 5×4.5 wheel adapters on the rear to keep the wheels the same, redrilling the rear axles and drums for 5×4.5, installing the wider ’80-’83 F-100 9-inch with the 5×4.5 pattern, using an Explorer 8.8-inch axle (narrower than the too-wide Crown Vic 8.8), or having a custom axle made. Also keep in mind that the Crown Vic has a 5×4.5 bolt-pattern, while the Bumpsides came stock with a 5×5.5-inch bolt pattern.
Purists should note that the larger brakes limit the smallest wheel diameter to 16 inches. We’ve seen everything from stock Mustang wheels to custom, one-off rims filling the fenders. The Crown Victoria setup is several inches wider from hub-to-hub over a stock F-100 with I-beams, but because of the big wheelwells, the trucks can swallow up the extra width easily with the right wheel and tire package. Once you locate a good assembly, the next problem that will have to be solved is in regards to wheels and stance. In fact, the frontend for this swap came off of a Mercury Grand Marquis that had less than 100K miles on the clock, driven by a little old man in Arizona. Keeping in mind that that these are used components, your best bet, as always, is with a relatively low-mileage car. If you have to have a PI with the stiffer spring rate, find one that served as the Chief or Watch Commander’s car. Also shy away from high-mileage PIs and taxis that are more likely to have served a much tougher life. Keep in mind that while pre-’03 Crown Vics have a similar body style, the suspension is different and won’t work. If you decide to go looking on your own, make sure the seller includes the entire hub-to-hub assembly, all 10 mounting bolts, uncut brake lines, calipers, discs, sway bar and bolts, and the rack with all of its lines, also uncut. Also shy away from any donor cars that were in a frontend collision. Local junkyards and Craigslist are other places where these can be sourced, but watch out for ones that came off of cars that have been driven hard and put away wet, as the beefy aluminum crossmember can develop stress cracks. Prices have been steadily going up over the past couple years, however, finding one has never been easier, as sellers have popped up on eBay who specialize in finding good assemblies and sometimes even include shipping.
Best of all, the whole hub-to-hub assembly unbolts from the donor vehicle with just 10 bolts and all of the serviceable parts are readily available at any auto parts store.ĭonor cars with the correct suspension for this swap are the 2003-2009 Crown Vics, Mercury Grand Marquis, and Lincoln Town Cars, as well as 2003-2011 P71s (Police Interceptors) and can be had for around $400-$750, depending on condition and location.
Swapping to a Crown Vic frontend nets the project vehicle coilover shocks, 12-inch vented disc brakes with twin-piston calipers, sway bar, rack-and-pinion steering, better handling than what could have ever been imagined with the old twin I-beam suspension, and an approximately 4- to 5-inch drop. Thanks to the shared 34-inch framerail spacing, the Crown Vic assembly is easily adapted to the 1967 Ford F-100 and is an affordable alternative for those on a tight budget. One of the most popular swaps going these days is underpinning various classic trucks with the front suspension off of the venerable Ford Crown Victoria, including the 1967-1972 Ford F-100.
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