body compatibility

[moparman336]

i have a 68 W200 with a real beat up body and i just picked a 69 D100 adventurer with a super good body for $100. they are both long box trucks. just want to know if i will encounter any problems with the complete body change over.

[712edf]

At some point around then I believe the steering column changed a bit. So I guess you'd have to change that too. I know of some differences between the two years, but as long as you swap the ENTIRE cab you should be good.

Bucky

[moparman336]

the 69 cab doesnt have a clutch setup so im gonna have to chop that out of my 68 and weld her in i guess.

[Trailmaster]

68 should have the juice clutch, 69 was linkage. Also the wiring through the firewall used a different setup, 69 used a regular bulkhead connector in the same spot as the clutch master cylinder is mounted on the 68. Dash boards will be different but I think they will interchange. Probably the easiest sollution for bolt up is to look into converitng to mechanical clutch and use the 69 wiring, but if you have the facilities to weld and paint you can probably cut the patches around the area of the firewall that are different out of the 68 and weld them in the 69 cab.

[soopernaut]

I guess it depends on how much of the 68 you want to incorporate into the 69 body. Even though they have the same dimensions for almost everything there were a lot of small changes that required things to be done differently. If you are going to make the truck appear as a 69 and you don't care about using anything from the 68 it will make things a lot easier.

As mentioned the clutch design is completely different and as far as I know is not easily swapped. The steering column is different but the box is in the same location so they might be interchangable. The dash is different and won't swap in without some modifications. The corners were incorporated into the cab on the 69-71 and were part of the dash on the 61-68 trucks. The dash will have to be cut to fit if you want to use the 68 dash. All the switches and controls were changed but may also be interchangable. The frame was actually different too where the transmission mounts but I don't think you'll have to worry about that.

[runcharger]

Have you thought about swapping the 4X4 axles and transfer case into the 69 truck?

Sheldon

[moparman336]

i wanna keep the hydraulic clutch so i guess i will have to relocate the electrical bulkhead. i think im gonna go for the ford box and crossover steering so the column shouldnt be a problem. i am fine with using the 69 dash as its in mint shape except for a tiny crack in the pad. there is only one tear in the seat and the doors close like they are brand new. i cant believe my find, used to belong to the guys dad who had passed on. said it has sat for the last good 30 to 35 years.
i dont think i would wanna put my axles under the 2wd as my 4 speed wouldnt like the auto crossmembers. the frames may be different thickness as well, not sure.
i just need to weld in some new rockers so hopefully the supply isnt dried up, better order some up soon.
thanks for the heads up

[RussRoth]

i dont think i would wanna put my axles under the 2wd as my 4 speed wouldnt like the auto crossmembers. the frames may be different thickness as well, not sure.

That is a concern as I have a rig with a thinner frame thickness. It's pretty obvious if you look at it close. I had thought I might make it into a 4x4 until I saw that.

[BOOMERS69]

Hey, take into consideration that the cab was used from 61 to 71 and the dash comes out completely. As for pedal arrangements and other assemblies, use a drill/cutter and butt weld fill plates. It'll be a sweet truck when yer done!!

[soopernaut]

Hey, take into consideration that the cab was used from 61 to 71 and the dash comes out completely.

But it's not quite the same even though to the untrained eye it appears to be. Part of what is the dash on a 61-68 truck is part of the cab on a 69-71 truck. The door strikers and latches are completely different from 66 to 67. This doesn't apply here but is a major difference that requires cutting.

It sounds like the original poster has the tools and the ability to cut, fabricate and weld so this shouldn't be that difficult.

[Hobcobble]

Hey, take into consideration that the cab was used from 61 to 71 and the dash comes out completely. As for pedal arrangements and other assemblies, use a drill/cutter and butt weld fill plates. It'll be a sweet truck when yer done!!

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

2)The entire clutch/brake pedal hanger was very different when the
hydraulic clutch system changed to mechanical beginning in '69. The
pedals, shafts, bushings, etc. all underwent a change.

3)Steering column and column hole in the floorboard changed in '69
as did the connectors for the column harness. [Note: the entire
dash harness was changed in '69 as well]

4)Firewall layout changed in '69 when the wiring harness was updated.
Instead of 3 smaller harness plug holes, there was one larger hole
which is located on the firewall where the hydraulic clutch master
cylinder was located.

5)Mounting for the new style '69-'71 dashboard is different than the
earlier '61-'68 dashboards. I saw this in person just yesterday during
a visit with a fellow Sweptliner. I should have snapped some pics

6)Mounting holes for the gas tanks changed in '69/'70 when the tank capacity
and size increased.

7)smaller issues like seat belt/shoulder belt mounts, dome light switches
[door vs socket], etc.

I've probably missed some .... others can fill in the blanks. This whole thread has
good information to anyone who is looking to replace a rusty cab with something
nicer. Depending on one's skill levels, some of the above issues can present
a big road block in their project.
John

[Trailmaster]

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

Clarify here as I'm confused. The 67 I stripped and took to the crusher had the old style fridge door handles and looked to me like it was the same strikes and latches as the 66 back. Could that perhaps be one of those mid year changes like the 4 headlight to 2 headlight mid year 65 change?

[Hobcobble]

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

Clarify here as I'm confused. The 67 I stripped and took to the crusher had the old style fridge door handles and looked to me like it was the same strikes and latches as the 66 back. Could that perhaps be one of those mid year changes like the 4 headlight to 2 headlight mid year 65 change?

Both '66 & '67 used the same style door latch handle and window crank. The difference
between these two years is the latch/striker/star wheel set up in the door jamb. The '67
was the only year in which the late latch/striker/star wheel set up and the early door latch
handle and window crank were used.
John

[soopernaut]

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

Clarify here as I'm confused. The 67 I stripped and took to the crusher had the old style fridge door handles and looked to me like it was the same strikes and latches as the 66 back. Could that perhaps be one of those mid year changes like the 4 headlight to 2 headlight mid year 65 change?

A 67 would have had push button door handles. Perhaps it wasn't a 67.

[RussRoth]

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

Clarify here as I'm confused. The 67 I stripped and took to the crusher had the old style fridge door handles and looked to me like it was the same strikes and latches as the 66 back. Could that perhaps be one of those mid year changes like the 4 headlight to 2 headlight mid year 65 change?

A 67 would have had push button door handles. Perhaps it wasn't a 67.

I saw a rig in the JY a few years back that had the black dash and crash pad along with the fridge door handles. The only one I have seen like that but it did show there was some overlap on parts during changeovers. I am not sure if it was tagged a '66 or '67.

[Hobcobble]

Some significant changes to note:
1)Door latches/strikers changed for the '67 year model

Clarify here as I'm confused. The 67 I stripped and took to the crusher had the old style fridge door handles and looked to me like it was the same strikes and latches as the 66 back. Could that perhaps be one of those mid year changes like the 4 headlight to 2 headlight mid year 65 change?

Most likely "overlap" if everything is as you've stated.
The "official" '67 door would have the new latch/striker
set up, push button exterior door handle and early style
inner door latch handle, window crank and stamped metal
door panel.
John