First project
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New User
Joined: Jul 2015
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First project
I am planning a project I would like to do. I would like to restore and customize a 1976 f350. I would like to create it to the following specs so far:
Crew cab
8 foot bed
Dually
4x4.
I have not decided whether to put a 460 or a desiel yet.
I know it will take a lot of work and time so I am prepared to spend a while (and over time, a lot of money) on this project. I figure finding the frame would be the first step. Which alteration would be easier? 4x4, or dually? By the way, I'm open to any tips or ideas. Thanks in advance!
Crew cab
8 foot bed
Dually
4x4.
I have not decided whether to put a 460 or a desiel yet.
I know it will take a lot of work and time so I am prepared to spend a while (and over time, a lot of money) on this project. I figure finding the frame would be the first step. Which alteration would be easier? 4x4, or dually? By the way, I'm open to any tips or ideas. Thanks in advance!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,895
Likes: 32
Welcome to fte..
Sounds like you have a nice truck in mind. A few questions
Do you have a truck yet?
Do you have a budget?(If going diesel there will be an steep budget unless you are an excellent fabricator)
What are your intentions with the truck? Daily driver?(would be hard to afford a 460 as a DD unless you went diesel, then 25mpg is possible)
You will be better off locating a 77+ f250 crew cab..
There was no f350 4x4 until 79 and the pre 77 f250 4x4's were plauged with power steering issues.
Locate a solid west coast truck to avoid the dreaded roof rot of a crew
Sounds like you have a nice truck in mind. A few questions
Do you have a truck yet?
Do you have a budget?(If going diesel there will be an steep budget unless you are an excellent fabricator)
What are your intentions with the truck? Daily driver?(would be hard to afford a 460 as a DD unless you went diesel, then 25mpg is possible)
You will be better off locating a 77+ f250 crew cab..
There was no f350 4x4 until 79 and the pre 77 f250 4x4's were plauged with power steering issues.
Locate a solid west coast truck to avoid the dreaded roof rot of a crew
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,096
Likes: 5,757
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Like James just said you will be much better off and it might/will be way easier to find a F250 CC that is already 4x4. The dually conversion is the easy part compared to a 2wd to 4wd. IMO
Gas to diesel only takes money, which you will probably not have much left of after luckily finding a 4x4 F250 CC that some one is willing to sale. Which most folks are NOT these days due to how everyone is all gaga over a diesel dually 4x4 CC....
I do not mean to rain on your plan, but I am just being honest. Having a plan is the 1st step to properly building a money pit. lol Locate it, buy it, build it, build it again even better, make it a diesel, then drive the hell outa it.
Look here yet? Old Ford Crew Cab Community | Old Ford Crew Cab Community, Pre 1980 Ford Crew Cab owners community and information source.
A 4x4 F250 SC (Super Cab) commonly called or confused with an "extended cab" these days, are all over the place and way cheaper. Especially in Tx...
Here is a price idea for you 1979 f 250 4x4 crew cab
See..FYI they are not that rare...1978 ford f250 4x4 4 speed
Gas to diesel only takes money, which you will probably not have much left of after luckily finding a 4x4 F250 CC that some one is willing to sale. Which most folks are NOT these days due to how everyone is all gaga over a diesel dually 4x4 CC....
I do not mean to rain on your plan, but I am just being honest. Having a plan is the 1st step to properly building a money pit. lol Locate it, buy it, build it, build it again even better, make it a diesel, then drive the hell outa it.
Look here yet? Old Ford Crew Cab Community | Old Ford Crew Cab Community, Pre 1980 Ford Crew Cab owners community and information source.
A 4x4 F250 SC (Super Cab) commonly called or confused with an "extended cab" these days, are all over the place and way cheaper. Especially in Tx...
Here is a price idea for you 1979 f 250 4x4 crew cab
See..FYI they are not that rare...1978 ford f250 4x4 4 speed
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New User
Joined: Jul 2015
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I don't have a truck yet. I am looking at taking 1 to 5 years on this project. It will just be a weekend and special event driver and occasional towing (which is why the one ton dually) and off-roading. I hope to drive it for many years. I have been studying on 4x4 conversions on these trucks for a year now and know many welders and fabricators who could help me do it properly. I've not been able to find much on creating a dually yet. By the way, did the 70's trucks share cabs like in the 50's or do they have different size cabs?
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
You might flip through this thread for some dually ideas: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ly-thread.html
On the sharing cabs question ... not sure exactly what you're asking, but there were three cab sizes: regular cab, super cab (starting '74 - longer w/o back doors), and crew cab (w/ back doors). '73-'79 are all basically interchangeable there. F-100 through F-350 were identical; the heavier medium-duty trucks used the same basic cab with different fenders/hood, different doors (interchangeable, but the handles are different), etc.
On the sharing cabs question ... not sure exactly what you're asking, but there were three cab sizes: regular cab, super cab (starting '74 - longer w/o back doors), and crew cab (w/ back doors). '73-'79 are all basically interchangeable there. F-100 through F-350 were identical; the heavier medium-duty trucks used the same basic cab with different fenders/hood, different doors (interchangeable, but the handles are different), etc.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 877
Likes: 248
In that case, with your goals, I'd go find a crew cab (just a cab, don't worry about the rest), and find a newer truck, wrecked, rolled, whatever, and fit your crew cab to it. From there you can add whatever front clip suits your fancy.
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I found a 1 ton super cab with nice trim and a 460 so if I got it, I could extend the frame 11 inches while I work on it and either extend the cab or swap the cab and transfer some of the trim. I have seen some 1/2 and 3/4 ton trucks with crew cabs but none in very good shape yet so if anyone knows of one near Houston, let me know.
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Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,096
Likes: 5,757
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Here is a local to you, see what I mean on the price?....you can do this madness too.
1979 Ford F-350 Crew Cab 2 wheel drive, Long Bed "NICE"
1979 Ford F-350 Crew Cab 2 wheel drive, Long Bed "NICE"
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 647
Likes: 10
From: SOUTHBURY CT
this is a fully restored 76. crew cab 4x4 with 16inch frame added for 8ft bed
has a 427 under the hood. 5 speed manual with overdrive and a dane 70 dually.
been in this garage from the 80`s i couldnt get side pics because the old timer that built it is using t to hold up a few sheets of plywood. used to pull 8 ski doo`s and friends to main in the winter. also has 4 gas tanks 1 in the bed for 120gallons of gas. with a cap. a true beast!
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New User
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Wow! What a beauty! I found a '76 f250 crew cab no engine, no transmission that had the roof repaired already. Is anyone near Houston looking for a '76 f250 2x4 crew cab frame that might want to split some of the price? I just want the cab but not the bed and frame.
Last edited by A/C fixer; Jul 15, 2015 at 10:01 AM. Reason: Clicked submit too soon
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 2
From: Santa Fe Tx
It's a 76!