77 Restoration
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
77 Restoration
Hi, new to the forum, thought I'd post a question. So I bought a 77 F-250 XLT Highboy and. I'm doing some light restoration on it. It's in pretty good shape, most of the work is cosmetic. I'm getting ready to add the chrome back to the outside of it, and need the clips that hold it in place. Any good sources for those? Also, I'm not sure about what to do with the chrome. Some of the pieces are in excellent condition, but some are in bad shape. I was thinking about shooting them with plasti-dip, high gloss black, or leaving them the way they are. The truck is repainted dodge viper yellow (not my doing) and sits on 37" tires with an 8" body lift. What are your thoughts on the appearance, and which option do you think would be best for resale? Thanks
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
8-inch body lift? That's frickin crazy and prolly looks equally bad. Post some pics!!
Your call on the trim. Slowly replace the bad ones or delete them all. However, it'll be left with holes and pins and it just got painted. I'd go with the former.
Clips.. contact Dennis Carpenter, Mac's Antique Auto Parts, or LMC Truck.
Oh, I'll end this with the ubiquitous "Welcome to FTE".
Your call on the trim. Slowly replace the bad ones or delete them all. However, it'll be left with holes and pins and it just got painted. I'd go with the former.
Clips.. contact Dennis Carpenter, Mac's Antique Auto Parts, or LMC Truck.
Oh, I'll end this with the ubiquitous "Welcome to FTE".
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 7
From: PA
Holy body lift big bird lol that's dangerous as can be got any pics showing the frame and cab gap and the body lift itself where the body sits on the blocks? Does it have a divorced or married t case mid way through 77 they stopped making the (highboy) just a nickname these trucks were given. Truck isn't to bad looking I like it besides the body lift if it was mine I'd go with a suspension lift and take off the body lift nice truck though are you thinking of selling it or just want a ballpark figure if you ever go to sell it if it will bring more money with or without the trim?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
Seriously, that's nice looking rig.
Hmmmm. It doesn't appear to have an 8-inch body lift per se. If it did, I'm confident we'd be able to see the frame rails under the cab. Second, there doesn't appear to be front bumper brackets that would line it up in the stock position relative to the front fenders. So, I think you need to really figure out where the lift is actually coming from.
Hmmmm. It doesn't appear to have an 8-inch body lift per se. If it did, I'm confident we'd be able to see the frame rails under the cab. Second, there doesn't appear to be front bumper brackets that would line it up in the stock position relative to the front fenders. So, I think you need to really figure out where the lift is actually coming from.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
If you guys say its not a body lift then your probably right, honestly this is the first truck I've worked on, all hot rods before this, but I'm down to one vehicle so I got a hod rod I could take hunting. Lift came from the previous owner, and I thought it was body, again, I'm new to this. To answer your question @crazed87bronco, it is the Highboy. @HIO Silver, I defer to you on the nature of the lift, I'll get more pics up when it stops raining so you guys can take a look and give me some idea of where that lift is. I do plan on selling the truck once its fully fixed up, thats why my question was specific to resale value. As to the original question though, whats the consensus, replace it all original?
Trending Topics
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,456
Likes: 6
Doesn't look like an 8" body lift to me either....and IMHO I would go as close to stock as possible.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
OK I agree with y'all its not an 8" body. 
Like I said first time with this kind of truck. There's no way those tires fit under there without some kind of lift though. Could be suspension as HIO pointed out. I'll get pics up that show undercarriage detail as soon as I can, then maybe yall can help me figure ot what it IS. We've got a bit of a monsoon going on in central VA at the moment. Thanks for everyone's input.
Like I said first time with this kind of truck. There's no way those tires fit under there without some kind of lift though. Could be suspension as HIO pointed out. I'll get pics up that show undercarriage detail as soon as I can, then maybe yall can help me figure ot what it IS. We've got a bit of a monsoon going on in central VA at the moment. Thanks for everyone's input.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 990
Likes: 4
From: Tamaroa, IL
Looks like a 4" suspension to me, but it's hard to tell without seeing it in person. Highboys are pretty tall from the factory (hence Highboy) Some people are able to fit 37s without any lift, and 35s all day long.
Post Fiend
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 14,724
Likes: 0
From: Gods Country, Kansas
It has something on top of the Highboy lift. I have 36" tires on my highboy and they are in the wheel wells. On here there is plenty of room between the tire and the top of the fender. I would say its a factory 4in lift and a 3in body or just a straight up 8in lift.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 990
Likes: 4
From: Tamaroa, IL
I agree, I think it's probably 4" suspension on top of the highboy "lift". Looking at the front cross member (which I can't see well) it looks to be in the stock location which would lead me to believe there is no body lift, all suspension.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
Likes: 15
From: Big Sky Country
A more accurate measurement would be to measure between the bumpstop and spring pack, anything over 3" is aftermarket lift.