Ok, Here's the plan. Please let me know if it looks like there will be any major problems along the way.

I have a 77 F250 4x4 frame with axles and it happens to have the front axle with disk brakes and integral power-steering not the Ram Assist. Which I think that makes it a late 77.

I have the option to buy (as long as it is still there when I get home in a few weeks) an early 77 F250 Highboy with a trashed body and a non running 390 for about $750. This truck has a manual transmission, divorced T-Case, heavy duty front bumper and vehicle wiring that I plan on putting on the late 77 frame.

I also found a pretty clean 73 F100 2wd, running 390, automatic transmission for a decent price. I want to put the body off the 73 F100 on the late 77 F250 frame also, thus giving me a 73 F250 4x4 with power disk brakes, integral power steering, 390, manual transmission and a divorced t-case. This is exactly what I have wanted for years.

Some of the other parts off the 73 F100 will go to my 68 F100 project truck.

In my mind (which is very simple sometimes), I figure with these three trucks, I can get one nice 4x4 and supply some parts for my other project truck.

If I do get the other two trucks soon, this will be my winter project and unfortunately, I will not get to spend too much time sanding/scraping/blasting things to get them "prettied-up". I will just need to put it together and take care of the essetials; brakes, engine, transmission, electrical. I plan to put together a decent daily driver, nothing too fancy.

Please let me know if there is any problems mating all the stuff to a late 77 F250 4x4 frame.

Sorry for the long winded post

 

sounds like a nice winter project,....nothing seems to jump out at me when I read your post as far as any out of the ordinary problems one would encounter doing such a project,I'm sure there will be something...lol

 

It sounds pretty straight forward to me, but like 472 said there's always those little "issues" that seem to arise with a project like this, nothing you can't overcome though.

 

Thanks Guys. I have thought about some of the "little things" and I will have close to $1500 at my fingertips to hopefully cover most of the small stuff. I am hoping it will be fairly straight forward. For starters (before I get started) if it all works out, I plan on ordering a complete body bushing kit w/hardware for when the body gets re-mounted.

If it happens, I'll be sure and post pics along the way.....

 

hey ak ford post some pics!

 

Right now I'm at work, I'll be home on the 18th and can try and get some pics then. Currently the only part of this project that I own is the late 77 F250 chassis. The other two trucks I have not come to a price agreement and bought yet. Plus I got to convince my father-in-law to let me store and work on this in his shop this winter......
I will post pics for sure as I get them.

 

Well it looks like most of this project got delayed too long and I had to strip and sell off the parts of the 77 F250 frame with the D44HP and Intigral Power Steering, and most the other parts trucks have already gone to new homes. So, starting over. Here I go.

Good thing is the funding will be available next month to get started, but the funding amount has been lowered (go figure).

The 73 F100 2wd is still available and I might pick that up for the body and the engine.

One question I have that I searched for the answer and did not find a clear one is; to swap a 390, 4-speed manual and divorced NP205 into a (late) 77.5 to 79 F250 4x4 frame, will the Engine, Transmission & T-Case mounts from a 75 to (early) 77.5 F250 4x4 bolt up no problems or is there custom fab work that will have to be done.

 

I believe you will have to make the support and mounting holes for the T-case as the case for the 78/79 style is married.

 

yes u will need the t case bracket from pre 78 u will also need the bracket that attaches to the top of the drivers side frame rail for the clutch to bellhousing linkage if the frame u are using was not a standard

 

You need to use that new shop of yours!

 

Thanks for the imput guys, I have found a couple more parts trucks I need to look at when I get home next month.

Good to see some locals on here.

It's early and I haven't had enough coffee yet, which new shop are you referring to....

 

Will do once I get the project started.

 

Well, by your avatar I thought you might be someone I know. I haven't figured out how to "pm" someone on the site yet.

If you know, send me one.

The person I know just built this real nice shop last summer.

 

I only wish I had a new shop....

Must be someone else. But, you never know, we may know each other anyhow.

The avatar is of a training prop up here on the Slope, I'm part of the Fire Department when I'm up at work.

On this forum, I believe you have to have a certian post count before you have the capability to "PM". You can usually just click on a user name and it will be one of the options. I tried on your user name and the option is not there.

 

Ok, so I have had a few guys selling trucks up here that have 78-79 F250's, but all them have the 351M/400 engine in them and I was looking to use a 390. without dumping a bunch of money into an engine, which one would make a better daily driver. Keeping in mind, even a daily driver for me will not see that many miles per year because of my job. I have never driven a truck with either engine. All the 70's Ford Trucks I have driven were running 360's. The truck I am going to build / buy will be running 33" tires at the smallest and probably up to 36"-37" tires, if I find the right combo. What do you think would be a better engine for a truck with big tires and a manual transmission. We do have quite a few mountain passes up here that can be a killer too.