https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...247387&width=2

Today we start the 1967 Mercury Highboy clone / restomod by tearing apart the '75 Highboy, aka The Organ Donor (pictured above). I will chronicle the process start to finish for everyone if interested. Many big plans for this ambitious effort. The old roached Organ donor will provide the frame, NP435 tranny, NP 205 trans case, Dana 60 rear. I will be converting to 78/9 F250 4x4 style power steering setup, and then swapping my cherry 1970 F250 4x2 body from California over once we have blasted and restored the frame. I have secured a more user friendly low pinon '76 big lockout / disc brake Dana 44 to replace the old drum Dana 44 factory setup. Once the swap has occured I will add a 67 grille, (pics of Merc trim in my album) Mercury hood letters, M250 cowl emblems, and a beautiful Canadian MERCURY stamped tailgate salvaged from a '67 M100 in Alberta, Canada. Tailgate is not here in Arkansas yet - will post pics when I get it. Power will be supplied by the freshened 390 4v currently in the old '70 F250. After the old girl is driveable and 100% functional, I will strip the body back off the frame for paint and cosmetic resto. If you are in the neighborhood near Searcy, give me a shout. Would enjoy visitors!

Stu

76 Highboy "Sunshine"
70 F250 4x2 "Cali"
75 Highboy aka "The Organ Donor"
soon to be 67 M250 Highboy....

 

Looking forward to the build!! Mainly want to see what the Mercury parts are like.



Dont scrap the '75, Im always looking out for decent of better sheetmetal & spare parts.

 

Nice. I look forward to the day I have time and or money to put the old 79 back in service.

 

You stole my idea...lol, I am actually planning on putting a 67 ford body on a 80-96 frame, preferably one with a 460 in it, I would like to go 87-91 because the front clip is not very good looking so i wouldn't have to worry about taking apart a good looking truck, but mainly to get a 5 speed trans, and fuel injection, make it a little more driver friendly...but I have so many damn project ideas, I need to pick out a few.

 

Come by for a look sometime. I am keeping the doors, tailgate and a few other parts within the cab and underhood. We can talk about it then or PM me sometime.

 

[quote=401477534;11391059]You stole my idea...lol, I am actually planning on putting a 67 ford body on a 80-96 frame, preferably one with a 460 in it, I would like to go 87-91 because the front clip is not very good looking so i wouldn't have to worry about taking apart a good looking truck,

The body and frame matching up will be an issue between a '67 and the '80-'91 series.
I chose to use the 1970 F250 body because I already had the trim from a 67-68 Mercury. I have a 67 grille I have been dragging around for 20 years...Mercury parts for 10 years.....literally. The most important reason though is that the 70 body will be a direct bolt on to the '75 high boy frame. Bed mounting points are the same for '73-'77 highboys and all '67-'72 bodies (long beds). One minor mod that has to be made on the rear two cab mounting points but it is easily resovled to where it doesnt look like a hack job. I will have a rolling F250 4x2 chasis when I am finished. It will make a good replacement frame for someone down the road...any takers on a possible future commodity?

 

I might be interested in that. I have several bump side Fords hanging around my place. There wouldn't happen to be disk brakes on that F250 would there?

 

Will,
Message me sometime and we can discuss. I will make you a great deal on the chasis. New power steering box, 3.73 Dana 60, and yes, brakes have fewer than 5000 miles on them, redone in 2008 and this old chasis just happens to have disc (power) brakes on the front!!
It will be a very desireable frame if a donor is needed.

 

Thanks, I'll get with you when I have more time.

 

Will,
It will be mid summer when I start removing the body. I will make it worth your while on the frame, I will PM you soon with a phone number so we can chat. I am north of Searcy (AR) 16 miles in Providence.

 

Hey that would be great.