I recently bought a 78 F250 4x4 and need some help identifying the transfer case, trans and axles. Its a 4sp. 8 lug wheels. drum brakes all around. 390 v8. I have some pics I took of these items if that would help. I have a feeling this truck has been pieced together. The vin is actually for a 78 F150 2wd truck. Any ideas or thoughts? Its actually a nice old truck. Thanks

 

You suspect right on the pieced together part, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Pics would be easiest.

 

Thanks for the help. Here are a few photos I took this afternoon. I hope they help.

Rear End


Transfer Case


4sp Trans - Probably not such a good photo


Front End

 

looks like dana 60 rear, dana 44 front, np 205 transfer case (see the 3 bolt cover in the middle) and the trans looks like a np435, check the top gear shift housing if its alum its the np435 if its cast steel its a t18.

 

Thanks Kingford.

 

'73-'75 highboy chassis with a later cab/bed swap.

 

Did they have the 390 in '78 or had they gone completely to the M blocks 302,351,400?

 

Nice so I may have ended up with a highboy afterall. I was told the 390good was put in in the 90s.

 

Good Eyes, MT!

At first I thought "How did he know it wasn't a '76 or early '77"? but after studying the photos I could just make out the closed knuckles on the front axle.

To the OP,

That truck never came from Ford with a 390. The only V8 offered during the '73-'75 F-250 4x4 era was the 360. Externally you can't tell the difference, and many a seller has "magically upgraded" the engine to a 390. The only way to be sure is to measure the stroke of the engine.

 

This probably explains the gas tank being in the cab. Thanks for all your help.

The only way to really know what year it is is to find the VIN on the frame right? Now if I find it should I try and get the title changed? Any pros or cons to doing that? Is there a number on the engine that might confirm its a 390 or a 360?

 

Can someone explain what closed knuckles means?

As I posted in a new post today...I'm having some issues and am trying to learn as much as I can to start working on it. Thanks.

 

I just found the answer to my question in one of the tech links about the closed vs open knuckle.

Would it be better for me to try and find an open knuckle axle locally?
How would I identify what the gear ratios are in the front and rear?
They should be the same correct?

Thanks. TJ