Im learning more everyday about my latest truck, a 77 Highboy thats had quite a few modifications done to it......First off, its clearly a highboy since it has the divorced T-case, but a bunch of other things arent stock. Cab appears to be proper cab, while it doesnt have an incab fuel tank, if you peek inside the cab corner, a metal patch panel was welded in, and bodywork and paint was done to give it a later style look. its got a 79 Grille assy, with square headlights, and F250 badges were removed from sides, holes filled and body painted. A previous owner swapped in a 460, cut and boxed a cross member to fit what appears to be a later model steering box, and the p/s pump is clearly later model, with a plastic twist off cap and integrated dipstick. Engine bay has the same electronic ignition module on the drivers side, outboard of the brake master cylinder as my 76, 390 powered rig. The 77 has 3 leaf, 3" wide front springs, heavily arched, while the 76 has the typical 3" wide, 6 leaf pack. Unfortunately, while the PO of the 77 knew it had a 460, he didnt know any particulars of how it was built, or what components were used. I need to clean up the engine but it has D3VE A2A heads, and a D0VE intake manifold, i havent been able to read the block casting code yet, but it has the low profile HEI type dist cap, and "Power by Ford" valve covers.....Everytime i buy a Highboy, its like a forensics experiment, as all the ones ive owned have had at least some mods done to engines, or power steering equipment by previous owners.......

 

1965/77's use a P/S pump with a steel reservoir, could have either a metal dipstick with a crooked handle or a plastic dipstick first used on some pumps beginning in 1971.

1978: Ford changed the P/S pump on everything except Econolines and cars with Hydro-Boost (both use the Saginaw pump). This new pump is a different shape and has a plastic reservoir.

The P/S pressure hose has a straight tube with an o-ring on the pump end, connects to the pump w/a qwik connect fitting. P/S pressure hose threads onto 1965/77 steel reservoir pumps.

1974/79 F100/350's: FIVE possible DuraSpark ignition modules. 1974 is 1974 only; 1975 is 1975 only. Three possibles for 1976/79, modules identified by colored plastic square above where wire feed out.

Red = 1976/79 some sold new in CA vehicles only. It was a POS since day one, STAY AWAY! / Yellow (replaced brown): 1978/79's sold in high altitudes (5,000-15,000 ft) only / Blue: Everything else.

Block casting number D1VE-AB -AB1 -AB2: 1971/73 429, 1971/78 and some 1979 460's, internally balanced.

Block casting number: D9TE-AB: Some 1979 460's, 1980/97 460's, externally balanced, has a weighted crank spacer.

1983: First year 460 available with M/T & 4WD. All 1968/82 460's came with C6's.

 

That's why I giggle when people are confused with vin and warranty tags. After 30+ years, there's just no telling what's happened to these trucks along the way. My truck left the factory as an F100 2wd. Now it's an F150 4x4. After the next upgrade, it'll be a '79 2/3 ton. (coil sprung Dana 44 with 3/4 ton outers and a Dana 60 rear with 3/4 ton springs) with a 390 under the hood.

Good luck sorting your truck out. As long as the mods were done correctly, I have no problem with stuff that was changed.

 

The VIN and warranty tags are fun to read and decode, and thats about it! Several of my trucks, the only thing that hadnt changed was the brand.......FORD.....Hell, the sorting it all out is half the fun.......And thanks ND for the specifics of various components

 

You already have a '77 highboy and '76 highboy, why not add this '75 highboy to your fleet....it's right in your backyard.

1975 Ford Highboy

 

i was fortunate enough that when i bought my 78 f250 ranger xlt sno-fighter that is was all original bud sadly after 20+ years of living in new York the only thing left that is original is the frame and axles. I've sinced did a 460 engine swap, replaced both the tranny and tranfer case, both drive shafts added a 4" suspension lift and just picked up a 78 f250 custom 2wd body for it.

 

If the Midwest/Northeast states didn't use road salt in the winter there would be a ton of these rigs still surviving today.

 

yeah, and unbolting things would be so much easier. i picked up a donor cab and clip from southern Pennsylvania and every bolt just spun out ... not so easy to do on an old rusty truck.

 

Montana, $3000 is what i paid for BOTH my Highboys........the 77 came with a chrome Warn bumper, a go-rhino axle truss/skidplate, excellent tront tires, fairly decent rears, bucket seats w/convertible console/center seat, alloy rims, extra 16.5 rims........the 76 has a massive Koenig PTO winch, both have clean bodies, both run and drive well. Both currently registered, $1600 cash for the 76, and $1400 for the 77....both have been converted to integral power steering by previous owners