75 Highboy Resto-Mod Build
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 3
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
An interesting detail i just noticed after looking at all 10 pages, my 77 Highboy appears to have the very same front leaf springs as your build project, 3 leaf with a pretty fair arch. My 76 has the typical 5 or 6 leaf pack normal to the highboys.....Both have had integral power steering added, and the 77 was modded by a previous owner with a 460 replacing its stock 400, its incab fuel tank was removed, and the filler hole was patched, filled, painted to give it a later look, front end changed to 78-79, has the 90's style mirrors you went with........It is however a Highboy, its got the divorced T-case. Whoever did the work on the 77 did it pretty well, the guy i bought it from got it in the condition that i did, so im not sure when it was modified, although the fading and clear coat failure lead me to believe it was done quite some time back
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
I alien sky'd it to see if I was for sure going to like it and it turned out cool lol I don't have them on or hooked up yet since I found another dent in my roof that I think will interfere with proper install. Have to get that fixed first, but I'm pulling the rad tomorrow to get it fixed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 3
From: Grants Pass, Oregon
You will learn more from the ones that need fixing........and by the time virtually ANY vehicle is 30-40 years old, something has been modified.......In the case of the Highboys, they were such a great 4x4 under really poor road or truly off road situations, that many have been modified to address there weakest points, the drum brakes and primitive power steering. in many locations, a highboy is still one of the most common firewood trucks you will see.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
I already have a rear disk conversion in my plans, what can be done about the power steering on a late 77-79 setup?
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
So I've sourced a 429 for the truck, due to the weather and some extenuating circumstances the 460 didn't get done over break. But after finding out I have DOVE C heads on it, I've decided I'm going to buy the 429 my uncle has in his shop, go thought it completely, flat tops, a cam, and have the DOVE heads worked over and swap them and the intake over to it. From what I've read it'll be a super strong motor, and seems to be the right direction to go right now
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Since its a 77 chassis mine has disks now too lol I just have to he the rears swapped over.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 394
Likes: 1
From: Arkansas
Took the bed rails off today and threw in my new husky toolbox. Also inquired about a tailgate, still waiting to hear back. Tomorrow it's back on the trailer and back to school though, Tuesday the bed comes off and the cab corners are getting tackled.
