Crown Vic front end swap question

[Cipher43]

Hello all. I have a 64 f100 long bed that I am starting to work on to make a driver out of it. This truck was my grandpas truck that was passed to an uncle and now to me. It has a 352 4bbl in it that I want to keep but the front end must go. I have seen lots of info on 04 and newer cv swaps in 67-72 fords since I own one of those too but the steering column is different. Has anyone used the 04 and newer cv front end and kept the stock steering column? If so how hard was it to hook up.

Here is a pic

[orangeRcode]

I've seen more of the Slicks with the CV swap. You want an 03-11 so it will bolt in. There are several of those projects on here with alot of pics. Alot of folks will go with the Cop cars because they don't have the PATS systems on them.

Welcome to the forum. Great story of being your g'pa truck. Would have loved to have my g'pa 63 long bed but was at a time of my life I had no way to do it. Take lots of pics and keep us updated on the progress of the build.

[bruceandersson]

The 64 and older steering shaft is one piece from the steering wheel through the helical gear inside the box. The end of the column itself connects to the steering box as well. In order to use it for the CV front end, you'll have to cut the shaft and do some work to make it fit safely to a borgensen joint. You'll also have to cut the column cover metal shorter and retrofit some type of bearing on the end to support the shaft inside the column. You could probably use the end parts from a 65 and later column to provide the support on the end.

[Cipher43]

I've seen more of the Slicks with the CV swap. You want an 03-11 so it will bolt in. There are several of those projects on here with alot of pics. Alot of folks will go with the Cop cars because they don't have the PATS systems on them.

Welcome to the forum. Great story of being your g'pa truck. Would have loved to have my g'pa 63 long bed but was at a time of my life I had no way to do it. Take lots of pics and keep us updated on the progress of the build.

I have found a lot of Slicks with the CV swap but it seems like most do a full frame swap instead.

I am really glad both were still of some use or they would have been parked in the woods to rot away with some of the other old rides they had. I did update my signature to include the project pages on both the 69 and 64 even though its been awhile since I posted on either of those due to a few changes that have happened over the last 2.5 years. I'm super happy to get back to it.

I am still not sure if the CV is the way to go or get the straight axle fixed up. I am guessing the straight axle will be cheaper but the CV will have better handling and braking. Thanks for the info again. I will be posting to my project update soon I hope