1976 F250 Highboy advise on replacement parts

RedEyedRooster · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 07:46 PM

I bought a 1976 F250 to haul wood in and plow some snow. I was hauling some wood the other day and one of the leaf springs broke in the middle of the pack just behind the axle, could have been broke before and just fell out. I want to replace the rear leaf packs now but dont really know where to look. I also want to replace ring & pinion gears and put in lockers and need some advise on a whats good. Its got a dana 60 in the rear and HD44 in the front. Looking to go to 4.10 or 4.30 because original gear must be 3.50 to 3.73 just a real dog with 35" tires, which is what I want to run. Trucks got a 400 in it that replaced the original 360 and a C-6 tranny with NP205 with 196 ratio. Be pushing 8' Western snow plow and drive about 20 miles a day. Just looking for some advise form the people that know.

armstrongfordtrucks · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 08:06 PM

The local spring shop should have your rear leaf springs in stock, or they do here in Pa., I replaced mine with new. Out the door for 150.00 each side. They are the same up until I believe 1996 in the F-350 with dual wheels. If you have trouble finding them let me know, I'll get the part # off mine.

montana_highboy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 09:29 PM

You sure it's not 4.10's now, i've never come across a highboy that wasn't geared 4.10's from the factory, if it's 3.50/3.73 maybe a PO re-geared it for a highway truck, from my experience 4.10's and 35's are a pretty good match.

armstrongfordtrucks · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 07:44 AM

I had a 1976 with the 6 cyclinder that had 3.55's in it.

gnwalker · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 01:30 PM

4.56 or 4.88 gears would really wake it up, not the best for higher speeds though

jdv19 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-24-2009, 03:58 PM

Have you looked into Npd, Dennis Carpenter, Lmc or Bronco Graveyard? They seem to have solid products. I have the same axles in my 77 f250, the front d44 is 4.09 and the d60 is 4.10 ratio. I run 35's and i think it's great.

RedEyedRooster · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 06:13 AM

Check this out I was pulling my 1966 Chevy 4x4 stepside shortbed out of my barn the other day with this Highboy and as I was pulling got it on a hill side which made me start to slip so I put it in 4 lo and the only thing that turned was the front tires but not the back tires, so I put it in 4 hi and all 4 tires worked? what do you make of that?
Does anyone know if there is a Old Man Emu set of leafs for a 1976 F250 4x4?

zak8tac · #8 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 02:20 PM

I don't believe OME makes springs for the dents but procomp has sets. I was just looking at a 2" all inclusive pro-comp kit retails at 1600 and the 4" but I do not recall the price on that.