I'm picking up a 77 f-250 4x4 460 stick $300. needs cab floors & rocker panels etc. and I was going to get a skyjacker kit. Their asking if its a highboy or lowboy. the truck may have had a lift done earlier but not sure. How do I I.D the truck to see if its a highboy or lowboy and did ford make a 150 4x4 highboy in 77 cause I think Ive got one 400 cid HD stock but sits pretty tall. thanx for any help. This forum has helped me alot on my 79 f-250 460 INDY 500 truck I'm very greatful thanx everyone.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 07-Jan-03 AT 02:30 PM (EST)] A couple of quick checks are:
You know you have a Highboy if....
it has a divorced transfer case (of course this could have been replaced by a previous owner)....
front leaf springs that look like a smile from the side (negative arch).....
a frame that is pretty much the same width between the frame rails from front to back....
power assist steering vice real power steering (of course they may have also been upgraded)....
the respect of all people driving those small imports

Sparky

edit
ps
F150's were never considered "hiboys" only the F250's

 

Another way to know is gas tank location. I believe all high boys had gas tanks behind seat in cab. Also look for large external locking hubs, provided it had the heavy duty front axle option.

Mike
66 Bronco
00 F150 Supercab

 

whooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaa some of this info is wrong!!!!!!!!
first the frame width is narrow in the back of a highboy it has a f-350 frame a f-150 and f-250 the frame widens after the cab the lock out doesn't mean heaveir axels they are just exteral lock out these hub will fit on any dana 44 ford front as long as you use the axles how do I know didit
here are some good ways to tell if it is a true HIGHBOY

1.under the front bumber there should be a metal strip between the frame rail (usally bent from a chain being hooked to it)

2.the steering box will look funny unless it has bee changed the box arms goes through the frame

3. the rear will have a factory block between the frame and rearend that has eyelets fot the u-bolts to go through
'
4. while looking at the rearend look above the springs the fram will only have a very slite bump unlike you regular 250 the have a larger hump

5. if the origal drive is in it it will have 3 drive shafts if this has been changed and not done correctly the frontdrive shaft will have a bad angle see reason 6

6. most highboys had a regular cut dana 44 most regular f-250 had reverse cut dana 44.

7. most high boys had a external locking hub this does not mean itt a dana 60

8. I have never seen a highboy with a tank in the back like a 79 f-250 because the frame rails are closer together back

9. in factory height the higboy was about 4 inches taller than normal trucks can fit 35 with out mods
any other questions Ill be glad to measure my high boy and my regular f-250 for you

2 79 f-250's
2 75-77 highboys
this are fact I know for fact since I have been highboy hunting for the last ten years I own 2 myself and know where 4 parts trucks are..FORDS always look better when pulling a CHEVY

 

>>I have never seen a highboy with a tank in the back like a 79 f-250 because the frame rails are closer together back<<

Well you need to see my 75 F250 High Boy then

 

The early 77s are the Highboys, somewhere on this site, I have seen the serial # cutoff for the later 77, which is similar to the 78 & 79.
There were no f-150 Highboys, only f-150s with lift kits.
Have a look at my 77 f-250 it is a Highboy with the big lockouts. I have seen many with other lockouts too. My truck is basically stock, with an aftermarket box. The truck was ordered from Ford as a chassis cab, and had a utility box with a fire pumper in the back. The truck was also originally yellow. I will scan some pics from the Fire dept. of my truck before it was painted red, and post them soon.
My fuel tank is behind the seat.
I have the miserable power assist steering, steers like an f-600

Greg58, 77 F-250 Highboy

 

429460freak,
I only mentioned the hub thing to illustrate the fact that this is the only truck ford ever offered those hubs on. In fact, it is the only truck since 1967 that ford offered external locking hubs on. Everything else is internal, even dana 60's. I'm jealous, 2 high boys? They are getting hard to find.
Mike
66 Bronco
00 F150 Supercab

 

Broncomann66 did't mean to come off as a smart **** yeah I got two highboys one with a wreker bed the other is a complete truck but it just for parts was a airport truck had a plow and a salt rig on the back so the truck has a little rust whoops I mean a little body left on it plus I know where two more are going to get them soon want to know the sad part I paid $500 for my expensive HIGHBOYS and drove it home.

just for the rest of you highboys guys a chevy external locking lockout will fit your ford that is where I got my warn all alumin lock out at I got two sets of them chevy axles like that


FORDS always look better when pulling a CHEVY

 

> >>I have never seen a highboy with a tank in the back like
>a 79 f-250 because the frame rails are closer together
>back<<
>
>Well you need to see my 75 F250 High Boy then

please post some pics like to see that like I said I never seen one yet I'm from missouri the show me state I wish I could figure this site out on posting pics and I would post some of my highboys and my regular f-250's


FORDS always look better when pulling a CHEVY

 

Another way to tell is the rear spring on a early 77 are 2 1/4 inchs wide as late 77's are 3 inchs wide. That's if they haven't been changed out or up-graded. Some guy's swap out the high-boy spring hanger, shackle and springs for the better 78-79 F250 set up. My early 77 has the rear tank as well as the one in the cab. I believe all early 77 came with low pinion HD 44 front axles with 8 lugs and external lock outs.


77 F250 Highboy 4X4
"The Money Pit"

"If it wasn't for Chevy's my tools would rust"
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=10344&.jpg

 

highboy is just a nickname for the pre77.5 f-250 4x4.....they sat a bit high. They all had the divorced t-case. 2 1/4 rear springs, 3 inch fronts. Most had crappy steering. Theres not a pre 77.5 f-250 that is not a highboy....its just a nickname

 

I dont think its just a nickname cauz all the lift co. ask you to specify highboy or not.:-staun

 

that is because of the spring differnces. Well was it a highboy let us know or post some pics.

FORDS always look better when pulling a CHEVY

 

WELL so far its got the tank behind the seat, divorsed transfer ,smile arch frt leaf springs, huge frt hubs, the sucky power assist steering, could put 35's easy , and at the frt frame horns a square crossmember no pics yet getting truck this week.