F-250 Ranger XLT Packs Big Power for Hauling the Crew
F-250 crew cab refurb’d and modded off the frame, Ford Racing 514 V8 crate engine moves the 37-inch tires (and family) around the road.
If you were to look out on the road today, you’d see plenty of Ford trucks with crew cabs going everywhere. And why not? You’ve got a bed for all your needs. You can tow a boat with ease. And you can bring the whole family along to see the trees through the optional panoramic sunroof. Throw in a big V8, diesel, or turbo-six, pump up the luxury, and you’ve got the total package.
It wasn’t always like this, though. Way back in the day, trucks like this 1978 F-250 Ranger XLT we found on Bring a Trailer hauled workers to the job site, and nothing more. They certainly were a rare sight, too. This one, however, would have no problem fitting in with the new crew cabs.
The F-250 underwent an off-the-frame refurbishment with its current owner. The body received a new coat of black paint, the bed is protected with spray-in bed liner, and the whole thing rides upon a four-inch lift. The acres of chrome break up the darkness, making this Ford stand above the competition.
Under the hood, a big surprise awaits. The biggest motor the F-250 could’ve had back in the day would’ve been the 460 with up to 239 horses. Here, it’s a Ford Racing 514 V8 feeding the power to the rear or all corners through a three-speed auto. Though output is not listed, one example found at CNC-Motorsports makes over 660 horses on pump gas alone.
The inside, too, received a total refreshment. The F-250’s bench seats were reupholstered in black vinyl, and the dash was refurbed, as well. A set of aftermarket gauges reside under the otherwise stock dash, whose odometer shows 15,000 miles travelled. Total mileages is unknown, though this ride’s likely got thousands of miles and stories to tell.
This is one hell of an F-250. There aren’t too many crew cabs from this era around, let alone ones like this. We’re happy such a workhorse is on the road today, looking better than ever.
Photos: Bring a Trailer
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