Bronco638 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 This time my question is regarding the frame cross member for trucks with a rear fuel tank. The cross member in question is the one above and just behind the rear axle. But, I also found this image: of an '80 F-150 Flare Side 4X4. That truck has a different cross member and does not appear to have a rear tank. My '80 F-150 Flare Side 2WD is in storage so I cannot easily check it. If an F Series truck that does not have a rear tank, then it does not have the cross member as shown in the first image? It also appears that the frame is bent upwards, just aft of that x-member, as well. Since that cross member bolts in, is there a separate part number for it? What I'd like to do is remove the side/mid tank and replace it with a rear tank(only). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Dave - What you are wanting to do has been done, but not by the factory. The Flareside trucks came with the midship tank but not the rear tank. However, Dave/Fuzzface2 has added a rear tank to his Flareside, and I do mean "added" as he kept the midship tank as well. So he's the guy to ask the question of, and I've tagged him to come to help you. Said another way, I cannot answer your question as all I know I learned from the documentation and since Ford never did it there is no documentation on it. But I know Dave can, so let's await his arrival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco638 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Dave - What you are wanting to do has been done, but not by the factory. The Flareside trucks came with the midship tank but not the rear tank. However, Dave/Fuzzface2 has added a rear tank to his Flareside, and I do mean "added" as he kept the midship tank as well. So he's the guy to ask the question of, and I've tagged him to come to help you. Said another way, I cannot answer your question as all I know I learned from the documentation and since Ford never did it there is no documentation on it. But I know Dave can, so let's await his arrival. Dave and I have been going back-and-forth over on FTE, too. Not having my truck in the garage, for reference, is a bit of a PITA right now because I have so many thoughts/ideas of what I'd like to do with it. Dave had the benefit of having a parts truck with the rear tank. So, he just unbolted that cross member, from the parts truck, and installed it into his flare side frame. Another inmate on FTE fabbed up his own cross member using 3" C channel. I don't know how to weld but I can use his idea and make it work for me. It would be nice to have the Ford cross member but if I can't source one locally, I may have to make one. Being in northern Illinois, these trucks are few and far between. So, if there was a Ford part number, at least I could search the internet to see if anything popped up. Appreciate the reply/help Gary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Dave - What you are wanting to do has been done, but not by the factory. The Flareside trucks came with the midship tank but not the rear tank. However, Dave/Fuzzface2 has added a rear tank to his Flareside, and I do mean "added" as he kept the midship tank as well. So he's the guy to ask the question of, and I've tagged him to come to help you. Said another way, I cannot answer your question as all I know I learned from the documentation and since Ford never did it there is no documentation on it. But I know Dave can, so let's await his arrival. Dave is in the house Dave has a thread going over on the other Ford truck forum and thought I answered the questions but he dose bring up something. That bolt in cross member that sits in front of the rear tank I know is different on trucks with and with out a rear tank. With a rear tank it has the slots and holes for the straps that hold the tank in place where the non-tank truck do not have them. I also cant remember if the shape is different? They both bolt in. That something brought up - dose the 2 different cross members have apart number being they are different and bolt in? Also would the rear tank cross member for the 87> truck use the same cross member? Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Dave and I have been going back-and-forth over on FTE, too. Not having my truck in the garage, for reference, is a bit of a PITA right now because I have so many thoughts/ideas of what I'd like to do with it. Dave had the benefit of having a parts truck with the rear tank. So, he just unbolted that cross member, from the parts truck, and installed it into his flare side frame. Another inmate on FTE fabbed up his own cross member using 3" C channel. I don't know how to weld but I can use his idea and make it work for me. It would be nice to have the Ford cross member but if I can't source one locally, I may have to make one. Being in northern Illinois, these trucks are few and far between. So, if there was a Ford part number, at least I could search the internet to see if anything popped up. Appreciate the reply/help Gary! I just checked my build pictures and the non-rear tank cross member is a little thing of a cross member like the one on the truck in the 2nd picture and looks to bolt to the bottom of the frame rail. The rear tank cross member is beefer to support the weight of a full gas tank and bolts to the top& bottom of the rail. Still like to know if the 87> rear tank cross member could be used on the <86 trucks. I think it can as I dont see why not? I used all factory parts to mount the rear tank, cross member, top & bottom straps but that is where it ends for a flare side. Filler neck and door on the fender will have to be made from parts gotten. I also said the door has to be from a flare side because of the size and shape to fit the contour of the fender. I posted pictures on FTE post he started. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1744451-gas-tank-swap-side-for-rear.html Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I just checked my build pictures and the non-rear tank cross member is a little thing of a cross member like the one on the truck in the 2nd picture and looks to bolt to the bottom of the frame rail. The rear tank cross member is beefer to support the weight of a full gas tank and bolts to the top& bottom of the rail. Still like to know if the 87> rear tank cross member could be used on the <86 trucks. I think it can as I dont see why not? I used all factory parts to mount the rear tank, cross member, top & bottom straps but that is where it ends for a flare side. Filler neck and door on the fender will have to be made from parts gotten. I also said the door has to be from a flare side because of the size and shape to fit the contour of the fender. I posted pictures on FTE post he started. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1744451-gas-tank-swap-side-for-rear.html Dave ---- Dave/FF2 - What crossmember did you use? More specifically, what wheelbase truck was it off of? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Dave/FF2 - What crossmember did you use? More specifically, what wheelbase truck was it off of? By the way, I think 1987 parts can be used in most cases. In the listing below from our page on crossmembers you'll see that the MPC says things like "80/". That means 1980 through at least the end of the catalog's range, which was 1989. So with the exception of the F100's and some of the F350's the parts should swap. (And they may well swap for the F100's except that they disappeared after 1983 so they are shown for just the 80/83 years.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco638 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 By the way, I think 1987 parts can be used in most cases. In the listing below from our page on crossmembers you'll see that the MPC says things like "80/". That means 1980 through at least the end of the catalog's range, which was 1989. So with the exception of the F100's and some of the F350's the parts should swap. (And they may well swap for the F100's except that they disappeared after 1983 so they are shown for just the 80/83 years.) Gary, I'm having a hard time understanding that MPC chart. Which Parts List No. number is in question? I've seen images from the MPC that show how the cross members are numbered but without that, there doesn't seem to be any context. My truck is an '80 F-150 2WD Flare Side. According to the chart, that should be cross member #12, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 Gary, I'm having a hard time understanding that MPC chart. Which Parts List No. number is in question? I've seen images from the MPC that show how the cross members are numbered but without that, there doesn't seem to be any context. My truck is an '80 F-150 2WD Flare Side. According to the chart, that should be cross member #12, right? Not "cross member #12" but "Parts List No 12". And yes, that appears to be the right parts list for your truck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronco638 Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Gary, I'm having a hard time understanding that MPC chart. Which Parts List No. number is in question? I've seen images from the MPC that show how the cross members are numbered but without that, there doesn't seem to be any context. My truck is an '80 F-150 2WD Flare Side. According to the chart, that should be cross member #12, right? Not "cross member #12" but "Parts List No 12". And yes, that appears to be the right parts list for your truck. Any chance you could post an image of Parts List No. 12? I'd like to see what it illustrates. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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