I had my '77 F250 highboy stolen xmas morning and just recovered it a couple days ago. They put a '78-'79 F350 cab and front end on it as well as a flatbed. The rest of the rig appears to be my highboy! The body is trashed so I would like to replace it. Can I put a 2 wheel drive body on the highboy chassis and what years will work? Thanks for your time and advice!

 

First of all that sucks. For bodies anything from 73-79 will work the only differents in 2wd and 4wdis the trans tunnel

 

Sounds like it's much easier to swap a 2 wheel drive body onto my highboy rather than swapping my running gear onto a 2 wheel drive body. Thanks for the help!

 

Has anyone swapped a '78 F250 4x4 body onto a '77 F250 4x4 Highboy running gear? What troubles should I watch out for?

 

Sorry to hear about getting stolen, hope the scum bags rot in hell. As far a body swap, yes 2wd body to 4x4 chassis all day long, and yes on the tunnel height, no big deal. But 4x4 running gear to 2wd chassis forget it, it is NOT a simple bolt and go.

73-79 will swap, one question, do you have an older 73-77 truck HB with a different/older steering box set up, a divorced xfer case and where is your fuel tank, in the cab. Or do you have a late model 77.5 with it in the aft axle position?

I ask cause if you have a pre 77.5 and in cab fuel tank, the wiring is going to be a little different on the 78. But not nothing you can't get worked out.

Remember the title go's with the frame vin and not the door mounted warranty tag....Troubles...lube the bed hdwr a lot and have some one stand BIG on the bolt head, so it does not come out of the lock square and then you stip it with a big impact driving the nut off.

Insp the cab front mounts for rust condition in general. If you have a 73-77.5 HB the frame is going to be narrower, I believe in the rear, so new bed mount holes will have to be drilled.

And maybe???? a rear cab cross member difference/issue but use the one off the 78 chassis????

If you have a 77.5 the 78 will swap right over. While you are doing the cab swap looking to installing some elec cutoff key lock out device under the dash. A cable steering wheel lock like HUMVEE's (it will only slow down a well prepared thief). And a viper alarm system is talked about on here sometimes.

Also 73-77 safety neutral switch is on the steering column under that dash and 78-79 is on the trans if its and auto.

I will gladly accept any corrections to my statements with a "I believe" or a ??? after them because I am not sure.

 

Any cab 65-79 will fit.

 

i think you also have to redrill the rear cab mounts if your going from a 78/79 to a highboy but im not for sure.

 

I really appreciate the info guys. The '77 Highboy is the later year since it came from the factory with the gas tank under the bed so hopefully swapping the '78 F250 body over should go a little easier. Will the steering componets from the '78 bolt up to the '77 chassis?

 

Steering gear yes and i think the 4wd came with a different pitman arm

 

It sounds like a lowboy, a late year 77 and has a married (connected to the transmission) xfer case then, so yes you should have no trouble making that swap.

 

Not sure what you mean by "lowboy", it came from the factory with the standard 4" highboy lift and overload springs. It's sitting on 37" super swampers with no additional lift and has never rubbed or given clearance issues. Either way, sounds like I will go ahead and purchase the '78 F250 4x4 and begin the transformation. The transfer case is married to the 4 speed by the way.

 

"Lowboy" is a nickname like "Highboy". If your 77 has a xfer case married (connected) to the transmission, you do not have a highboy, HB xfer cases are divorced and you will have a 3 separate d/s set up.

Married xfer case you have 2 d/s only, unless it a SC then you have 3, but the rear is a 2 piece with a carrier bearing.

Yes maybe you have HB springs, swapped in?? But I bet the truck is a 77.5 or after year build date. Read the tag by the door striker, it will have a month and year like 10/77 that is a oct 1977 build date.

Over loads can be ordered on anything, even up to a 79, so overloads are not a HB only set up.

Its no big deal, the body of the 78 should go right on, no problems what so ever. Post some pic and really glad to hear you got it back, shame they swapped the cabs and trashed it.

They could of just swapped the warranty plate on the door and I am sure the DVM would of never known the difference.

 

Man, that sucks. Yeah, you can swap a '78/'79 cab and bed onto your frame and it'll be a direct bolt on and go. No worries about anything. The only cab that's different is a 2wd automatic cab. They had a solid trans tunnel. Any other truck would have a bolt on trans tunnel cover. You can still use it, you just have to cut out the trans tunnel and find a bolt on cover to back on. Easy stuff.

Glad you got it back, and keep us posted on the progress.