how do the interior cab dimensions compare on a 67-72 f250 4x4 and a 73-76 f250 4x4? how about a 78 f250 4x4?

i've got a 78 f250 4x4 now but have been looking for a highboy for over a year. i thought i'd heard that highboys were narrower. i haven't measured any, but when i've been driving the them they do feel narrower, which i kind of like.

but i just checked out a 72 f250 4x4 this weekend and it seemed a LOT shorter. i just read another post that said ford added 4" to the cab length in 73. is that true?

i guess what i really want to know is are the cabs on 67-72 standard cab highboys shorter that on 73-76?

i'm only about 6'-1", but i felt like i couldn't get the seat far enough back. it seemed like the seat wouldn't catch in the farthest back position, like it kept slipping up to the next one, so that could have been the problem. which reminds me, can i bench seat from a 78 f250 4x4 fit in in a 72 f250 4x4?

thanks

 

they did add four inches in length to the 73 and up. the width is the same. the floor pan up to 79 is also the same with the exception of the added 4 inches at the back of the cab.

 

Steve is correct, the cabs are basically the same width but 4" longer starting in 73. The chassis mounts aren't a problem either. The Hi boy is a term picked up because them boys are high off the ground, and nothing else.

John

 

thanks you guys. i think i'm clear on the dimensions, although i'm still not sure about the bench seat. will the bench seat from my 78 bolt directly into a 72 without having to swap the rails or anything?

also, i was just wondering, is the whole truck 4" shorter than the 73 up trucks? or did they take that 4" from the bed?

 

The seats will exchange, since the 4" was added to the rear of the cab (middle of the truck) the chassis is 4" longer.

hope this helps

John

 

In 77 1/2 Ford widened the frame by about 4". I have both trucks, a '72 F-250 and a '79 F-260. The room in the cab of the '79 is a lot roomier. No gas tank behind the seat and there is more head room to. I feel like I'm sitting pretty close to the steering wheel in the '72 but plenty of room in the '79.

I don't know how a tall person would drive a '72 Ford PU.

 

i have to say that makes me feel better, cause someone snuck in and bought the '72 while i was making up my mind! it was a beauty. i'm going to try to tell myself that it was too small and keep looking for a '73-76. i sure do like those '67-72's though. your's is really nice.

 

Thanks unwound, I have only had the 72 for about a month, owned the 79 since it was new. It is "rough", LOL.

 

Hey Rub, That aint quite right on the 77 1/2 that I am aware of. Ford made changes in 73 in the chassis but I don't know of any in 77.

Should you have a reference please post it.

John

 

77 1/2 Ford made quite a few changes when they dropped the divorced transfercase in the 4-wd (high-boy style 4-wd that was basically an "add-on" 4-wd) "power assist" ps in the 4-wd and dropped the 360-390s and switched to the 351-400m engines. Some early '77s with the narrow (old) frames did come with 351/400m engines.

I was aware of that change back when Ford made the change. Before I posted that I walked outside and measured the outside frame width on my 1972 F-250 and my 79 F-260 to see just what the difference was. The 72 measured close to 33" and my 79 measured close to 37".

When you buy parts for these trucks and they want to know the serial number, thats why, pre '77 1/2 and post '77 1/2. Ford made lots of changes mid year 1977.

I thought everyone knew that.

 

I actually think that 77 1/2 to 79 should be in their own catagory.

 

quoted from plowpusher in the 73-79 forum in the " 79 F250 Camper Special- Just bought one - Really a 3/4 ton?" thread.

"look inside the drivers door on the post is a tag it will tell you the original gvwr of your truck as for the rear springs they are still available new. If I need something I will shop around for it. I got complete new spring sets front and rear for my truck for less than 250 a set. 77.5 -79 f250 4x4s have a completly different suspension than a "highboy" you can not compare the two it's apples and oranges

Back in 1977 one of my best friends bought an early 77 1/2 because of the major changes they made over the 77s. No divorced transfercase gave the truck a lower center of gravity and more ground clearance and the same time. No more "power assist" which translated into no leaking power steering control valve and rams as they now had power steering gear boxes instead.

We never cared for the high-boys. Another friend bought a '78 and three of us bought '79s.

Like I said before, I think the 77.5-79 should have their own forum.

 

Rub, Can I ask you to add a specific notation to your post on that issue? Please refer it to 4X4 trucks. Your post says indicates all pickups.

It would help us slower guys keep up tp speed.

John

 

?????

I am not quite sure what you want clarified.

If it is the frame width, the 2-wd and 4-wd from 77.5-79 were the same. I only figure it that way because my best friend had a '78 4x4 and bought a 79 2-wd and swapped bodies, no drilling or adapting.

Only the 4x4 got different ps, the 2-wd already had a PS "gear".

Not trying to be dificult.

 

I am not up on the 4Xs like the 2wd, but it was 73 that the chassis was widened in the rear on the 2wd. It could be 77 as you describe for the 4X4, I'm not sure.

Your post as written would cause a newbe to believe thay were all changed in 77.

That is what I'm asking.

thanks

John