Now that the 75 F100 4x4 is out of reach, what are your thoughts on three options I have found on craigslist.

1. 1979 F150 for $1,000. Has the sluggard 400.

2. 1976 F100 4x4 w/390 and 4 speed. Body is rough. $2,500

3. 1976 F100 w/302 and 3 speed. Very good body and $2500. One owner.

1976 ford f100

1976 Ford F-100 4x4 on 33" BF Goodrich all-terrains

1979 f150 ranger reduced till christmas

 

If it's a 4x4 ya want then the choice is pretty easy.

If yer OK with a 2WD, I'd go for the 76 because of an apparently better body (you're in MI, right?). However, the negative about the 76 is that it only has a 302 and, in my opinion, is underpowered.

 

I had a 79 with 302 and 3 speed. I would smoke the tires off and was a blast.
But as not good for towing or hauling heavy. Empty though she was like a sports car.

 

I'm in eastern North Carolina. Warm climate. Virtually no snow and little to no salt on roads. Right to work state (anti labor union).

 

I think the 1976 2wd with the 302 is the best of the bunch providing you don't mind doing some rust repair. Looks pretty clean and those small block Windsor motors can be built to make a lot of power.

If you want a 4x4, I would keep looking....

 

I wouldn't say it is "anti-union". I'd say that makes NC down-right American.

 

i disagree hio. my dad use to work for spokane international airport in the 70s and 80s he was in a union and he had great pay and benefits. then when regean busted up the airport unions in 82 his pay dropped like 40% and he lost half his benefits so i dont think thats very American at all

 

To disagree is OK.... I was expressing my opinion as you have also done.

 

My cousin in KY was an air traffic controller back when Reagan fired them all. Actually, he bitterly disagreed with the union's position back then. Reagan's position was that a work walkout that jeapordized the safety of Americans was unacceptable. Striking auto workers is one thing but striking air traffic controllers is in a different league.

 

Keep looking. The 76 2wd is the best of the bunch, but still overpriced for its condition. The other ones are barely parts trucks.

 

REALLY???? What exactly do you expect to get for around a grand to 2500? The only one that really seems to be overpriced to me, and really that would depend on the condition of the trim work that the guy says he has. Would be that 76 4x4. But if it runs as good as he says and the trim is complete and as nice as he says then I would offer about 1500-2k for it. Barring no other unexpected surprises. Mechanically that thing would have to be solid. The 76 2wd I think is fair. 1 thing to keep in mind with it is it's a short bed and in pretty decent shape. The weakest link on that truck is the 3 on the tree. The transmissions weren't meant to be wooped on and the shift collars and linkage are known to break regularly. The 302's 351m's and 400's in my opinion have a bad reputation for being weak, lazy, and under powered. I've had a couple of each and I love em. They have never let me down, never once could they not do want I needed of them and always begged for more. The engines that never impressed me was the 300's and the 460's. And yet they are both very good engines. But I have never wished I had a 460 in place of my 351 or 400. Nor did I wish I had a 300 instead of the 302. And lets face it, what vehicle in the late 70's- mid 00's weren't under powered. My old man had a 77 150 with the 302 3 on the tree. And he was always hauling loads of 1.5-2 ton on that truck. And as I mentioned earlier the only issue he ever had with it was the 3 speed. And in 86 he swapped in a N.P. 435 4speed. And that really woke that truck up.

 

To o.p. I would say it really comes down to what are your plans for the truck you vs. the options listed. To me the 76 seems to be as described and pictured to be the most solid. Short beds are hot right now. Customizers and hot rodders are going crazy with trucks like this. And this one is perfect fro them. Being that it's fairly solid, basic and nothing special so the purists aren't going to want to kill them for cutting it up. The 79 would make a good restoration or dare I say resto mod project, or even just easy fixer upper driver/work truck. And the 4x4 has even more potential. It could be a simple fixer/driver, restoration, resto moder, or simply a trail runnin woods beater. The possibilities are endless for all 3 trucks. So really it depends on what are you looking to want to do with it.

 

I think the 76 2wd is a long bed. Paredneck33, did you think it was a shortbed?

 

I would pass on all three and save your money until you can buy a truck that you want.



If low wages and benefits are the American way then you are correct.

 

Pass on all 3, they are all rusted out pieces of junk. I spent 2,500 for my rust free f250 1 owner. You just need to wait like i did and a truck will come along.