frame
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1977-1979 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=10768
Printed Date: 18-April-2024 at 11:03AM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: frame
Posted By: fordpower
Subject: frame
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 1:56AM
| will 77-79 frame work on 73 Torino. |
Replies:
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 4:11AM
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Yes, the 1977, 1978 and 1979 Ford thunderbird and LTDII frame will fit on a 1973 torino. And the 1977, 1978 and 1979 mercury cougar frame will fit on a 1973 torino (they are the same frames). You just have to match the 2 door frames with the 2 door cars, and you have to match the four door frames with the four door cars. and you have to match the station wagon frames with the station wagon cars. and you have to match the ranchero frames with the ranchero cars. The only thing that i am not sure about, is the holes in the frame where you mount the car body to the frame. I do not know if the holes in the frame (that you mount the car body to) are in the same exact places (they probably are though). You might have to do some drilling. But they are all definetley the same exact frames. Maybe one of the other members will have more information.
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Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 12:48PM
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How about the rear bumper differences? Does this change the rear of the frame? ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 1:35PM
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good point on the bumpers, the 72 and 73 the rear bumper is way up as part of the rear of the car compared to like my 74 that has the energy absorbing things slid inside the frame, i would assume the newer frames are like that as well the 72/73 may have brackets that bolt to the frame i'm not sure ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 1:55PM
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The rear bumper on the 1972 and 1973 is bolted to the body not the frame, I had forgot about that. Maybe one of the other members can give more information. You might have to do some cutting, drilling and possibly some welding, to install a 1973 rear bumper onto a 1977 through 1979 frame. Or maybe there is a thread that shows where someone had installed a 1972 or 1973 rear bumper onto a 1974 through 1976 model? There is a picture below of a 1972/1973 model, it shows where the rear bumper mounts to the body. As you know, the rear bumper brackets on the 1974 through 1979 models mount into the rear of the frame, (where the rear valence is installed on this black car). There have been several people who had installed a 1972 gran torino front bumper onto a 1973 gran torino model, by cutting the front frame horns off of the 1972 models and welding them onto the front of the 1973 frame, and they used the front bumper brackets and hardware from the 1972 models to install the 1972 bumper onto the 1973 gran torino. So, installing the 1973 torino rear bumper onto a 1977 through 1979 frame might involve a lot of work and fabrication. It might cost more money than if you buy a 1973 torino frame. The shipping cost of a 1973 torino frame could be quite high especially if it is far away, unless you can find one for sale near you locally and go and pick it up.  |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 2:39PM
Here are two more pictures of the rear frame of a 1972 torino/montego. As you can see you will have to do some cutting, welding and drilling to install a 1973 torino rear bumper onto a 1977, 1978 or 1979 frame.   |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 2:58PM
Here are two pictures of a 1974 frame, as you can see the rear bumper brackets slide into the rear of the frame. It also appears that the 1974 through 1979 rear frames were "Boxed Square" (welded) to install the rear bumper brackets inside of the frame.   |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 02-May-2014 at 5:02PM
wow, didn't know that the 73's weren't boxed all the way! nice pics of the 74! wonder who's that is?  ...  ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 5:55AM
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If it's all hidden under the car and the 73 bumper bolts to the body, does it matter? ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 7:51AM
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also with 1973 being a 'one off' year for the frame, a correct year frame may not be easy to find in good shape or feasibly close ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 1:35PM
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I am not an expert on this subject, so please forgive me if i am wrong. But I think it can easily be done, because the rear bumper of the '73 torino attaches to the body not the frame. But if it were the opposite of this and you had to install a 1977, 1978 or 1979 thunderbird, LTD II or cougar body onto a 1973 torino frame, then you would have to box the rear of the torino frame square (which is Welding, measuring and cutting steel) and drill all of the holes in the rear of the torino frame for the rear bumper brackets, then it would be much more difficult.
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Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 2:04PM
| Well my question has gotten some real though.Thats what makes this site so good. does one off mean only that yr. or will a 78 work with out much work. |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 2:15PM
| I think he meant to say that a 1973 torino has the large 5 MPH front bumper which was brand new for 1973 (first year with the new larger front bumper), and a rear bumper that bolts to the body and not the frame. So it's a one year only frame "one off frame." |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 2:16PM
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'one off' in this case is that the front uses bumper shocks & the rear doesn't 1972 uses a solid bumper mount in the front and the same as 1973 in the rear 1974 uses bumper shocks front & rear 1973 is a unique frame, but any other correct wheelbase frame besides a 1972 should be able to work with little or no issue ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: unlovedford
Date Posted: 03-May-2014 at 2:40PM
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1972 and 1973 are single year frames. 1972 is unique, 1973 is unique, 1974-1976 are alike. 1977-1979 are probably like 1974-1976 versions. When the time comes for my '76 build, I am going with a '72 boxed frame and converting the body to a '72, most likely. It is sad to erase the great memories I had in that big-bumpered beast, but I like the looks of a '72 formal better. Besides, I won't be selling it, since I've had it sooo long. ------------- Joe 1972 Mom's Squire Wagon 1972 Torino Wagon 1976 Torino 1968 Cougar XR7-First batch 1972 Torino 460 1989 BroncoII/Jeeps/Titanimous Popeye and Brutus (Rams) |
Posted By: fordpower
Date Posted: 04-May-2014 at 3:53AM
| Need someone in Ohio 937 area code to look at that 73 with the bent frame.Owner has sent 2 videos and 20+ pic.but I am not sure of the floors etc.Just a crazy idea at present pace probably not good idea.Thanks for the in put.That car is doable at 1500 to 1800 as he came down to 1800 right off the bat. |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 04-May-2014 at 9:09AM
Here is a Map of the Area Codes in Ohio. |
Posted By: dave302
Date Posted: 04-May-2014 at 9:47AM
Here is another map of the area codes in ohio and the five surrounding states. |