Hey Guys, as I explore the market, trying to find a truck...I found this one on Ebay...but i noticed that this truck, as nice as it is, is priced cheaper than its F250 counterparts? Is it only because it is a 2 wheel drive vehicle? Or are the F250's worth a bit more than the 1 ton trucks?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Ford-F...aa31%7Ciid%3A1


Thanks,

Jim

 

This is an F350 Regular Cab Camper Special on the 140" wheelbase. 1973/76's were known as 'Super' Camper Specials, Ford dropped 'Super' after 1976. All are 2WD

The rear axle is set back further than on other trucks, the spare tire is located behind a door on the right quarter panel, in front of the rear wheel.

No such thing as a Custom Ranger, it's either one or the other. Also available was the Ranger XLT and for 1978/79, Lariat.

This by appearances is a Ranger, but has an upper tailgate finish panel only available on Ranger XLT's and Lariats. Rangers did not come with wide upper body side mouldings w/black vinyl inserts.

Ranger upper body side mouldings were narrow. The horizontal front bumper pads were rarely seen on Rangers.

Truck looks like it's been "enhanced" with things added it never came with originally...aftermarket step bumper and wheels...for examples.

Seller failed to post the VIN or a pic of the Warranty Plate, so there's no way to prove what size the original engine was, or if it was a 4 speed or C6 originally.

Despite what the seller claims, this is not a rare "special order" truck. And...there's no such thing as a 400M, it's just plain 'ol 400.

 

Oh that's some great information. So if i read this correctly, the truck may be priced a little high?

 

It's only worth what people are willing to pay for it.

This is a HUGE truck w/a 10000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, has heavier duty springs/shocks than other trucks, it's on the looong 140" wheelbase, so it parks EZ in a city block.

MPG will be poor, to say the least. If it gets 10 MPG city, it's a miracle. The hwy MPG might be 15 if you drive no faster than Tricky Dick's 'Double Nickel' (55 MPH).

 

Price seems fair to me, it's in great condition and has been restored somewhat.

I have a 79 F350 140 inch wheelbase but I have a 460 engine. I get about 7-8 mpg in town and 10-11 highway lol.

 

I honestly was looking for the 460...that is the motor I want. BUT it's increasingly difficult to find one with a 4 speed in a good condition. I mean the truck is clean AF, I just like getting the opinions of those who own them.

 

4 speed not available with 460 until 1983, neither was 4WD .. All 460's in: 1968/78 Passenger Cars, 1973/79 F100/350's, 1975/82 E250/350's came with the C6.

460 not available in: F100's after 1976, Passenger Cars after 1978, F150's after 1979. Not available in 1980/82 F250/350. 460 reintroduced in 1983 F250/350.

 

Well that would be why they are so hard to find lol

 

That's a nice looking truck and the price seems fair. However there are a few little things about this truck you might want to know before a possible purchase. First is the front bumper isn't the correct style for this model year. That style is for the 1977 and older trucks. Not a big deal. But not correct either. The fact that it has the black rub strips and bumper guards has nothing to do with the trim level of the truck. It has more to do with the option group the truck came with. I.E. if the truck came with the protection group it would have came with these items and more as part of that group. Some other options that were part of the protection group are, but not limited to the bumper guards and black rub strips on the front bumper (as seen), stainless door edge guards, locking interior hood latch, and locking glove box door are a list of items that come to mind. It's also worth noting that there were different packages of certain groups that could have been purchased with the truck. So you can't just easily say that because a truck came the protection group that it would have all of these options. For example a truck with a lower level option group of the protection group package may not have came with the black rub strips on the front bumper, but may have came with the bumper guards. Also this particular truck would have originally had a red dash pad and not a black one, the side mirrors aren't correct either. They are either from a 1980my and newer truck or aftermarket replacements. The correct type 9 mirrors for these trucks mount completely above the side molding/style line. Not with the drop down arm mounted below the style line. All of these things are minor things, but to a purist can be a reason not to purchase, or at the very least negotiation items. Just like the aftermarket rear step bumper. Also the upper side molding with the black rub strips could be had on any trim level of truck. Including a custom model truck. It was just an option that you would have had to pay additional money to get.

 

Not my truck. But rather a picture I found from a simple Bing search. However this picture shows what the correct style front bumper is for the 78/79MY trucks should have.

 

The early 1978's used the older front bumpers. 1978 serial number range: AE0,001-CK9,999

D3TZ-17757-A .. Chrome Front Bumper - Use with Horizontal Bumper Pads / Obsolete

1973/77 F100/350, 1978 F100/350 before serial number AG0,001.
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C4TZ-17757-C Painted & C4TZ-17757-D Chrome .. Front Bumpers / Reproduced

1964/77 F100/350, 1978 F100/350 before serial number AG0,001.