Hey gang - Somebody on here was asking me a few months back about converting their 65 or 66 (I think) 2 wheel drive into a 4 wheel drive. I am in the process of tearing down a late 77 F250 4X4 (not a highboy) and this frame will be available in various configurations and I can assist with your build if you want to put your truck body on this frame. Seacoast of New Hampshire. PM me for details.

 

The cab is a direct bolt on but the frame has to be drilled for the bed, the transmission tunnel will need to be cut out and replaced with the one from the 70's and you will have to use an 80's steering column with an adjustable shaft..

This is my build of the exact same thing
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...4x4-frame.html

 

Yep, thanks for that, knew about the mods for the bed etc. Also mine is a 77 F250 with leaf springs, looks like you and a 150 or 100 with cold spring front end. Thanks again, appreciate the look.

 

The frames are the exact same up front but your f250 will be a long bed correct? That'll be your only issue if you have a short bed on the 60's body.. I have seen some interesting 'filler' ideas for the extra 2 or so feet..

 

Hmmmmmm, I did not know that, thought all 4wds of that era were Hi-boys.

What happened?


John

 

The tranny and transfer case got all lovey-dovey and tied the knot and the rest of the drive train family had to accommodate.

 

also if you have the title for that truck keep it thats your legal title.

 

High Boy is an enthusiasts term, it's not FoMoCo terminology. High Boys have a divorced transfer case and an in-cab fuel tank.

Highboys: 1967/76 F250 4WD - 1977 F250 4WD before serial number Y20,001 (February 1977).

1977 F250 4WD's from serial number Y20,001, 1978/79 F250 4WD's are not High Boys.

These 4WD's have a married transfer case, no in-cab fuel tank. In-cab fuel tank cancelled from serial number Y20,001 along with the High Boys.

 

Actually it was some number after at least Y25,209.

 

Thanks guys, the gent who was interested in the conversion contacted me. And to interject along with the other facts, 73-79 body parts are mostly interchangeable such as fenders, hood, grilles etc. So you come across a lot of Highboy fakers who change the later 78 and 79 grilles to early 77 or before. Easiest way to spot a true highboy: Divorced transfer case, positive arc front springs (77-½ and later changed to 3" wide front springs which have almost a negative arc and sit almost flat). The highboy (as ND correctly points out not a Ford term) actually sat 4" higher than the later 77, 78 & 79 truck - hence....highboy. Also - I think - ND can confirm - you wont find a highboy with a 351M. I think up to that split year in 77 the highboys all had FE's?? I might be reaching on that one..

 

FE engines cancelled at the end of the 1976 model run.

1977/79 F150/250 4WD: 300 I-6; 351M/400 / 1979 F350 4WD: 351M/400.

1973/79 F100/350: The exterior sheet metal is the same except for the left quarter panel: 1973/76 Stylesides have exposed fuel caps, 1977/79's have fuel doors.

 

If you want to tell the difference when they are cruising down the road at 70 MPH in the opposite direction, you just have to look for the Highboy only front cross member right below the front bumper.



(pic stolen off Google - no affiliation whatsoever)



Also, While Highboys have a 4" block under the rear springs, this does not mean they sit 4" higher as "Lowboys" have a 2" block. Therefore the height difference is closer to 2".