•••1977 Ford F-250 4x4 •••?

Gotta friend whose Dad in law is selling his 77 ford f250 4x4, four speed manual trans, with a 390 in it. He asking around $1500.
I have not seen it.
What were the main problems with these trucks/motors?
Thanks

Rust and just general deterioration. If the body is in good shape it is worth 1,500 with no motor or trans, ifs its in decent shape and runs it is a great deal.

Yep, rust.

Nice lookin motor!
If the fords in decent shape, wondering if it be worth selling my 2003 dodge dakota quad cab 4x4

I may try that. My doge has 210,000 on the 4.7L. That ford probably gets 8-10 mpg in the city i reckon

I've had a few Fords of that vintage, never had a 250 though. Had 390, 360, and 302. The 302 is the best in my opinion, better mpg and pretty spunky.

Wrong it gets 8-10 every where, you should just about be able to step on the gas and watch the gas gauge go down as fast as the speed goes up.
Great trucks and I'd buy it in a second if it was in good shape but more for sentimental reasons then to drive everyday

Won't have to worry about it being stolen if its a 4 speed

I agree about buying it for a daily driver.....not if you put many miles on because you won't drive past many gas stations without stopping in.

Why do you all got to be so practical? I once had a 1979 Short Box Reg Cab Ford 4x4 small lift 33" tires, with a 429 and 750 Holley on a high-rise Edelbrock intake. Doubt if I got 10 mpg ever... wish I still had it!!!

I had a 77 f150 with a 300 6 in it my first truck , 4 speed creeper great truck good gas mileage

I had a '72 Ford F250 two wheel drive with the 390 Big Block growing up and I just loved that beast!! Painted a house in trade for it. Got married and had to move and ended up having to sell the truck. Looking back I should have kept the truck as the wife is long gone, LOL.

I had my gas guzzlers back then too. But, has was under a dollar then too! Lol

I had the same truck in a 1976 version. It was a screamer. My first truck too.

Sure but you could buy a lot more with that dollar then than you can now with 3 dollars.

True

Thinking back on those days, I remember thinking about buying a certain car and asked my boss at the time his thoughts on it.

He said; wouldn't buy that car, they're pretty much wore out when they get that many miles on them.

The car in question had just under 100k on it. Lol and, they were pretty much wore out at that mileage back then.

If it is in any kind of shape and runs I would jump on that.

My first truck was a 67 ford 3/4 ton 4x4 with a 352 in it still had the oil bath air cleaner in 1986 and 74000 miles. wish I still had that one

My F-I-L just gave me his 67 f250 camper special. 4-speed with a 390. He had it all redone many years ago and it has set it his garage ever since. Can't wait to get it on the road. I do need to find the stock gears though. He swapped them out for more friendly highway gears.

If it's got the factory carburetor the velocity pump on the front of it can get a pin hole in it making it run rough so I kept a extra one handy.
Other than that they are tough to beat, they have a great approach for busting through deep snow or drifts

My 96 with the 302 5 speed manual. I get quite a few compliments on this truck looking the way it does in this part of the country. Average anywhere from 14 to 17 mpg

I suppose we are showing off our old fords now. Here’s my 79. Everything’s original except the paint. No cracks in the dash or seats and 79k original miles. It’s got the 400.

Nice lookin trucks!

This would be a trapping, hunting, "use only sometimes" truck

Mine looked just like this one...



Great, now I may have to start looking around, thanks a lot TBS!!!

It was an unexpected gift to me as part of an estate from a friend of my family. It came with all the documentation from the time it was purchased.

My '78 F-250 went to crap at 61K miles, 1K after the warranty expired.

ADC, your're welcome!

Well, finally got around to looking at this truck. It is a '74 (not a 77) highboy with a 360(not 390). Pretty rough shape. Hasnt run for 4 or 5 years. Drum brakes all around. Needs a gas tank and tires for sure. Does bave a four barrel holley. Winch on the front(not sure if works).
Worth spending $1000 ?

Theres a garage by me that fixes them up and sets them out front for sale. There's half a dozen out front now and a dozen or more in the back waiting to get done.

Would you be able to post the name of that garage if possible ? I'm looking for one for my son and don't mind traveling to get it. Thank you.

Beautiful trucks on here. I'll show off my old Ford. 1989 F150, 4wd. Repowered with a 4cyl Cummins diesel about 60k miles ago. I bought it from a retired diesel mechanic about 40k and 3 years ago, he did the repower. I painted her and finished a few loose ends from the swap. Been a great truck.

In all honesty I wouldn't give that much for it unless the front differential is good and tight it should have a solid front axle and floating rear axles which if it's rough that what you're buying is a headache or parts to fix something you already have while you get them fixed to put on one you already have for extras so to speak.
Chances are it's just a worn out lawn ornament but if you really want it offer him $ 3 - 400.00 and be willing to turn and walk away .
Unless you need a money pit to put a bunch of time , money and parts into in hopes it will work at some point in time.
Allan

Here are some pics

Doesn't really look all that bad. I don't see the deal breaker, rust holes. The stuff down there is alot better than up here in the land of salt and snow.

Personally I'd fix it up mechanically and drive it from there. The most I'd do to the outsides is give it a couple coats of clear over the existing paint after a good cleaning and light scuffing up.

The big advantage to that is its relatively simple, manual trans, crank windows, no A/C. Not alot of all the added crap that you see on "modern" trucks.

Its true working vehicle.

For $1000 I'd have no problem, Even if you have to sink a couple more grand in to it, say you've got $4000-$5000 total when done and its in great mechanical condition what else can you get for that amount of money thats as simple and easy to keep and maintain?

I had the same exact truck as pictured by blak spot. Only it was a crew cab with I think a 300 6 in it. Cant remember, 74,75 or 76? Wished I still had it. I always liked the 1st generation broncos too. If I was swimming in money I would consider a new one that is just out.

Well, put some juice to the battery, dumped some gas in the carb and it cranked up an ran till the gas gave out.

To top it all off, 5 of my kids pooled their money and surprised me by buying it for me for an early fathers day/birthday gift!! Not ashamed to say i had some leakage around the eyes...

Very nice! I'd say you did a good job of raising them if they think that much of the old man!

Hope to get it home this next week. My son just finished rebuilding the 4 barrel holley. Plan to get it on and go from there.
Those front drum brakes may drive me nuts. Thoughts of rotor conversion may not be to far off for the future

That should have a low pinion Dana 44 front end. It’s not worth wasting the time on to do disc brakes. You will want to find a front axle out of a 76-79 to get the high pinion and a snowfigter Dana 60 would be even better. I tuned up my 390s with a petronix electric ignition kit to get rid of the points, and replace the vacuum advance while your at it. Once they are dialed in they usually run good for a good long time.

Thanks Rammer, i'll check into that!

Got the brakes bled, son rebuilt carb, different temporary tires, oil and filter change, new battery, and filled up the radiator. All i need now is new fuel pump and a gas tank.
Was thinking an ag sprayer tank migh work to hold gas?

Are you gonna give her a new coat of paint?
Or maybe a good buffing and it would look pretty good as is?

My oldest son wants to paint it ford blue and keep the top and wheel rims white. May keep the black side stripe also. Thinking i might go that route.

Anyone know if thats a factory winch? No brand name on it.

It goes without saying we need pictures when you are done with this project!

I'll do my best!

Dirtydog, thanks for the info on the petronix, and nice lookin truck and cat!

Fyi: for those still interested.
Finally got some more work done on the truck.
Found a better hood with hinges for $65.
Rear sliding window for $35
New Rear wheel cylinders installed.
Son-in-law gave me a 30 gallon fuel cell that i installed.
Still runs a little rough. When i get more time i'll tinker with that 4v Holley carb(1850-2). Or maybe get an edelbrock
I cut out the rusted clogged mufflers.
I found out the winch is an 8k Warn that comes as a factory option

Still trying to decide edelbrock or holley(it has an edelbrock intake)

Also lookin at that Hot-Spark set up to replace points and that petronix(wallet is cringing lol)

Those old distributors would wear inside and the shaft would move around. Check to see if is side play on the shaft. That one will change the gap on the points and make it run ragged.

Thanks, i'll check that out

that warn winch is one of the best winches ever made and sought after. don't throw it away or replace it with a cheap chinese newer one. you can still get parts for them or at least make parts work for them. i'd rebuild it before i swapped it with anything else.

warn still makes that general style of winch, or the last i knew they did. check out the price of those winches.

Im late to this, but being from the rust belt...nothing. For a lil elbow grease, flip it if nothing else. Im a chevy guy but if you can get any old square body anything, grab it. Youll move it if you want. Thats a steal. Wheres it from? If its Arkansas i wouldnt worry about rust. Thats surface crap. Buy now. Part and profit if nothing else

Ill have to read the rest i spose for other responses. Good luck however you roll.

I plan to get it working again.

Furstoker, it was bought here in arkansas, but was built in a canada factory(ontario)

Something interesting that i found out. From 68-79(iirc)Ford never put a 390 into a f250 4x4.(or Highboy, as they were sometimes called).
My vin says mine came with a 360 and 2 barrel carb. Somewhere in time, it was changed to a edelbrock intake and 4 barrel holley(single pump).
Mine has a dana 60 rear with 4.10's, NP435 4 speed, and divorced NP205 tcase.

Own a 86 f150 short bed 300 ci 6, 1 barrel carb.New jasper motor w rv cam,4 speed w granny gear.Its a working project! getting about 17-19mpg. Desmoged it and using efi manifold(exhaust) true dual exhaust .Sounds like a boat with a inboard motor.

Cool!

Here's a pic with other hood installed. I was checking blue paint color.

The whole thing would look pretty cool in that blue!

Slowly gettin there. Edelbrock carb runs tons better!(the old holley kept leaking). Rims gettin painted. New exhaust.

Nice! Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Closer

Great looking truck, ide be proud of that one.

I have a 1983 Dodge W350 with only 96,000 actual mileage. It loves gas. But, the biggest problem I have is that it's starts poorly, always has. I've had a number of vehicles over the years and they were poor starting due to carburation instead of EFI. I won't buy a vehicle unless it's EFI.

Let me know if you want to sell the Dodge

Gotta few other minor things to do on the Ford, like another side mirror, tailgate, etc. My son is using it now until he gets another truck

Put a pertronix Ignitor 2 electronic ignition in it. Huge difference on starting.

Yeah the pertronix is on the list