As the title says, I got a f250. Not new though, far from it actually. It is a 1978 "lowboy" 4x4, and needs love. But the price was right from my pa in law, it cost me "you actually want it?? it's yours if you let me use it to haul wood once a year".
So. What to do? He thinks the tranny (c6) is slipping. How hard are they to rebuild or should I just service it and see how it goes? Something I could do myself?
Also, I think it's gunna need a lift, what lift should go under it? what's the best/most economical way to get it about 4-6" higher in the air?

I Plan to make it a "budget build" truck for work/play, not a daily driver by any means. So any input on ideas for the ol girl would be greatly appreciated. I am a college student and new dad so I need to keep cost as low as I can for awhile. I want to see some ideas on utilizing what I have/finding good budget ideas to make this into a fun truck!
Thanks in advance and i'll get a pic up soon!

 

C6's aint bad to rebuild. Fluid flush, new vac mod, band adjustment, see how it is. Run type F in it, it'll shift firmer.

Spring lift.

A lunchbox locker will be cheap and make it fun!

 

Thanks for the quick repsonse! Did the 300 6cyl ever get paired with the c6? I love the old straight 6's, and would be cool to have one in there. I have a lead on one out of a 79 that runs great for $350. yay or nay?

 

A little lift, some bigger cheap used tires, maybe a little Sawzall work to the fenderwells. Seriously what shape is it in, is it anything remotely rare or in cherry shape....or is it a well used, abused and beat up old work truck? And what do you want to do with it? cut a seasons firewood, make home improvement/dump runs or fix it up and make it the envy of other old truck lovers?........Add-a-leaf's on the front, and either those or taller blocks on the rear, or both, a little taller tires and a little adjustment of the fenderwells will get you a couple inches, and cheaply.....Or go for an actual spring lift( might be tough to find one as these trucks are getting rather old) which will gain you more clearance

 

Shackle flip in the rear, lots of labor but zero dollars (minus the hardware)

Add-a-leaf up front (80 bucks)

Net result....2-3" of lift for very little money.

 

I'll have to look into the shackle flip.. Would it be cheaper/easier to put blocks in the rear? I found a lift block kit for about $80. What would I need to lift the front 3-4 inches? 1 or 2 leafs? I'm from big sky country as well, maybe you'll see me toolin' around in the old beast

 

Where abouts are you....i'm up in the northwest corner in the Kootenai valley....

You can also toss in a set of highboy springs up front, they'll yield 3-4" of lift.....

 

what engines will mate to the c6 in this year?

 

It depends what engine you have in there now. The FE has a different pattern to small block ford.

 

If stock, a 78 4x4 F250 should have a 351M or 400.....

 

thanks for the info. I was told it "had" a 390 and now has a 400 in it, but I'm not too sure about that. Are the 400's worth rebuilding? I've read some mixed stuff about them, esp compared to the 390. I'll get under it and read the tranny tags. I would love to have a 300 in there but not sure how it would bolt up

 

If it has either a 390 or a 400 you will need a different transmission to bolt up to a 300. The 300 uses the 'small block or Windsor' bolt pattern (289, 300, 302, 351W). The 390 uses the FE bolt pattern (352, 360, 390). The 400 would use the 'big block' or 335/385 series bolt pattern (351m, 400, 429, 460).