Mild-mannered F-250 Is Really a Super-truck Under the Hood
When this Ford truck’s second owner wanted more towing power, he got it with a 429 Thunder Jet swap.
On the surface, this 1978 Ford F-250 currently up for grabs on eBay looks like your average, clean tow rig. A truck that’s survived the ills of time and looks no worse for wear. And indeed, it is a nice truck on the surface, wearing its dark brown and nectarine two-tone paint with pride. But underneath that innocuous looking exterior lies an interesting story, and a very interesting powerplant.
At some point in its life, the second owner of this Ford F-250 yanked the original 400 and replaced it with a 429 Thunder Jet D0VE-C engine. That’s a pretty nice upgrade, and one that makes this old truck quite the interesting conversation piece. Especially given it’s rather stock and understated exterior appearance, giant tow mirrors, and dog-dish hub caps. That tiny little tailpipe beneath the rear bumper further muddies things from the outside.
There are some nice options here for a ’78 Ford, too. Things like a tilt column, power steering, and power brakes. It’s no surprise that the previous owner reportedly used this F-250 to tow his horse trailer. Which might also explain why he chose to swap powertrains, too. And yet, the original paint and lack of rust make this truck look no worse for wear.
The lone restoration work here is an interior refresh, and the results are quite nice. Pretty much everything has been dyed, painted, or replaced, making this a very pleasant place to sit for hours at a time.
This clean old Ford is nice enough to warrant mentioning on its own accord, of course. But when you throw in a very unique engine swap, it just makes things that much more interesting!
Photos: eBay
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