Several posts recently about 60's Ford F-100 Unibodies. At first I thought it was like a car unibody, but they have a normal ladder frame. THen I thought a one pece cab-and-bed, but they are normal that way too. What does Unibody mean then? Thanx
No. See these as Datinman says. Unibody: http://www.russoandsteele.com/vehicle-photo/Engine-Bay-Photo-Ford-F100-Unibody/6020/lg.jpg and not a unibody: http://image.automotive.com/f/featu...10clt_01_z+1960_ford_f100+front_side_view.jpg
I need to have my glasses aligned. That isn't a seam between the cab and bed, that is the back of the door. Sorry for the silly question.
Ford never called it a "unibody". In the service manual for '61-'63 Ford pick-ups it was refered as an "integral box", or model 66. I don't know when "unibody" was used to describe these trucks ,but it's easier to say "unibody" than "integral box".
I thought unibody mean "unitzed"... like all the Mustangs, Falcons and Camaros and Novas... I think the name just caught on with the trucks... But I think they still have a frame. Sam
Ford quit offering this type of construction when they found that extreme duty use resulted in warped body panels. This was a result of frame flex.
unibody = no separate chassis...closely linked with monocoque. Camaros are partial unibody but have a front sub-frame extending to fore of the rear wheels ,which carries the front susp and engine/trans.
The bed and cab are one piece. Yes, they have a frame just like all the other F-100s. The doors are different than the models that have the cabs separate from the bed, however. Sometimes if you have to ask...
Despite the truck deal, unibody essentially means no frame. The entire body shell is a welded unit and it is strong enough to attach the suspension and drive train directly to the unibody. Most modern cars you buy at the dealership are built this way. It is a mass produced vehicle that is built like a tubbed race car - with the important stuff bolted on it. I suspect they are also the reason race cars like those in NASCAR had to go to custom built frames, the factories stopped putting them on new cars! If you build a frame / cage inside a unibody (which is strong) its really great until you wreck it. Then it's expensive and difficult to repair. Gary
I think this is another case of hotrodders giving nick names to cars and trucks that caught on and have become accepted and part of our dictionary right or wrong. These trucks are very distinctive and recognizable but it has nothing to do with an integral frame and body as the original definition intended. Just a hotrodders nick name that everyone understands when mentioned with these year trucks.
That is correct! I also think it is the coolest truck ford ever made, but definately not the best truck they ever made
I still argue, the only reason the truck was developed was because - panel truck sales were in decline, and the tooling was already in production. It would be fairly easy to develop a pickup out of a panel. This would also explain using the 57-60 box on the other 61-63 pickups. Still regret selling my shortbox big window 61 unibody.
They are great trucks, but one downfall would be the single layer quarters. So when you throw something in the bed, it puts an outie in the friggin' bedside. They definately weren't meant for anything other than light duty for sure.
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