I got a line on a 76 ford courier and wanted to know if it would be a good donor frame. I would love to do a raodster but not sure if the front is going to "look" right. I mean I don't mind ugly just not down right ugly. If anyone has a pic of the front of a courier frame ans some specs on the length, etc of a courier frame I would appreciate it. Thanks George PS Thinking of putting a 49 IH cab on it.
1976 Ford Courier Frame
- Thread starter SpineDoc
- Start date
Help Support Rat Rods Rule:
anvil
Well-known member
weld on some frame horns and add a streight axel looks good to me
Unkl Ian
Allergic to Idiots
Seriously NEEDS fenders.
PA41
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 872
I have a shot of an 80 Mazda frame I have that might be the same as the The little Ford --they were later--. The Z up is sharper than a D-50 and the frame narrows more and quicker. It is stronger than the D-50 too, so not a bad choice. I like the round pockets for the body bisquits on the nose--make good headlight mounts 
The D-50 frame is the second pic.
The D-50 cab is about a 90 model I think if you see any.
You gonna chop the roof off the Binder? I think you mentioned a Roadster.. I need a binder roof--have one thats smashed in. Heres a pick of one chopped down with a Ford grill--Grill needs worked to fit, but a fun idea.
The IFS is not as desireable as a straight axle front, but you could build with the notion that it can be removed later as an axle becomes available. Just keep the idea in mind as you layout the frame/engine /body so the straight axle can be positioned easily and look right later.
Builds are an ongoing/neverending process--they tend to take on a life of their own over the years. Just go with the flow and use what comes to you. It gets really Zen..
PA41
The D-50 frame is the second pic.The D-50 cab is about a 90 model I think if you see any.
You gonna chop the roof off the Binder? I think you mentioned a Roadster.. I need a binder roof--have one thats smashed in. Heres a pick of one chopped down with a Ford grill--Grill needs worked to fit, but a fun idea.
The IFS is not as desireable as a straight axle front, but you could build with the notion that it can be removed later as an axle becomes available. Just keep the idea in mind as you layout the frame/engine /body so the straight axle can be positioned easily and look right later.
Builds are an ongoing/neverending process--they tend to take on a life of their own over the years. Just go with the flow and use what comes to you. It gets really Zen..
PA41
Attachments
Last edited:
BigIrish
Well-known member
That little D50 frame looks much cleaner to me - frame rails more square & straight. If I had to go with modifying a factory frame, thats about the best I've seen. Those trucks were also sold as Mitsubishi "Mighty Max" too, if that helps with the junkyard search.
PA41
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2008
- Messages
- 872
That's way too much for crusher junk donors. To make it work reasonable you'll need to get in front of the JYs and buy from the individuals. Look in back yards for trucks sitting and stop and ask--works pretty often. A non runner D-50 is worth appx $50 at the crusher now. A $100 offer would be doing them a favor. I bought 6 of them a couple years back for $25 each and put them in the woods behind the house.
$300-800 will get you a pretty nice 'store bought' frame at most welding shops around my part of the country (we're poor). I'd do that before I'd pay that much to a JY for a $100 truck.
PA41
$300-800 will get you a pretty nice 'store bought' frame at most welding shops around my part of the country (we're poor). I'd do that before I'd pay that much to a JY for a $100 truck.
PA41
