That black one looks like the best of the lot as presented here so far, to me. I missed the asking figure.

Be careful with how anxious you get to find / buy one. If you get anxious to buy, the seller is half way there. I've found that my most satisfying vehicle purchases were ones I just happened upon, something that just caught my eye. Back in the late '70s I got anxious for a short bed 4x4 once, it had a lift, big tires, was a 4 speed, I think was a 302, was an earlier Dent, blue ..... I owned it overnight. I woke up sick the next day ... sick at the thought of it being mine. I was happy as all get out when the fellow let me sell it back to him, even at a slight loss.

Lessons have value.

Lot like how I found my Wife in '78. I wasdoing my field training, about 1.5 hours away from where I mostly grew up. I had never met her before,I just saw her through plate glass at DMV as we drove by one day. I walked in, chatted, ice cream after supper that night, I was hooked, soon be 45 years. I was starting a new career, I had basic school ahead of me, likely I was gonna graduate and then be assigned far away, I was not in any way "wife shopping", I knew a bunch of girls back at home, some since 1st grade or longer. She just caught my eye and my FTO and his wife knew her and her parents. There was another one running around in a red T/A that seemed to always show up when I was at the local DQ or other place for a quick meal, my FTO warned me about that one.

2009 I had looked at a few near new trucks, was thinking of selling the '77. I had verbally let a local dealer prep a nice maroon '08 Lariat. Was gonna pick it up in a few days, but I had not signed anything as what they were doing needed doing anyway, for anybody. Just driving through Christiansburg later, not looking for a truck then .... and I saw a strange looking new truck, was a '09 orange Raptor. I pulled in just to look at it and Wife said "There" loudly. She was pointing to the used lot across 5 lanes of traffic at a red Flareside. I had not yet then noticed it as I had been distracted by the Raptor, was a '07 FX4, 24,xxx miles. Before we went home an hour away, it was ours after a test drive. Next day I called that other dealer with the Lariat ... Salesman came on, said "Mr.**** , we have your truck almost ready" to which I said "It's a nice truck you have, but it's just not my truck". He took it OK, even had another buyer already wanting it.

I know. I'm done.

 

Yeah, my anxiousness is wearing off and out of all that I have looked at the Black one keeps coming back around. I may have to put some money into it but if the body is good then I'm ok with that. The asking price 9k I think I can get him down to 8k maybe.

 

I'd keep looking.

Ridiculous lift kit, garbage wheels and no attention to detail. the missing emblems and the fact they didn't care enough to paint the interior for the color change means if there was ever any rust it was probably a hack repair. interior is a disaster and you can bet the drive train is too.

 

On which one are you referring to?

 

the black short box. actually none of what you've found would get me to go look.

I'm sure some areas don't have the supply other areas have but have you looked on facebook as well as craigslist? it seems hard to imagine you can't find something interesting in the distances you're looking.

 

You probably know this but before driving long distance for "the one" ask lots of questions about the title.
Who's name is on the title. No third party titles.
Is there a lien
Does it match the serial number on the truck and the correct year.
This could be a game changer. Be careful.

 

I have honestly been looking on everything and nothing "great" is popping out at all.

 

Absolutely! I have been asking all kinds of questions to include title questions. The guy with the Black one said he got the truck in Georgia and the title is signed but he never registered it. That being said, from I understand about our rules here in Alabama you only need a bill of sale for anything over 25 years old in order to register the vehicle.

 

I forgot there was two black ones. I meant the very first one but even it's gonna take some $$$. Maybe it was here, I forget, but I have no love for lifts (I never met one that did anything good) (and maybe why I felt sick that long ago morning). There may well be people out there feel that way about me lowering mine 2" in back (2" at axle, but a little more at the tailgate), but @ 70 ... "I care." I can hardly believe the prices asked now though. If you get it for 8, you'll have 20 in it pretty quick these days and 14 miles round trip ain't gonna be cheap (says a guy whom walked to and from work every day for over 31 years).

Guys desiring one now .... is like me living in the '70s wanting a '30 Ford I guess, so I get it. I bought my '77 in 1986, it had 35,000 miles, had sat under a tree for too long, owner passed, it got repainted and put on a car lot where I saw it. The new paint maybe lured me. Turned out the guy "flipping it" was a local LEO moonlighting as a shyster, but he took my offer on the phone.

 

Headed down to look the Black 77 over. I offered 8k he accepted so far. It is the most unmolested one I have found within 7 to 12 hours from me and if, IF it is as solid as he says then I think I am going to be ok. I have 8k to spend and another 8k to invest into it.
I would like to put a 460 in it at some point but my focus for now will be the AC/Heat, fender, trim, paint.

 

Before dropping 8K on it, know for sure the rules.

Just .... and only .... to illustrate ... here (Virginia) law requires that a title to be transferred through DMV, tags or no tags. In other words, if I buy a truck from Joe, and he just signs the title as seller without filling in my information in the assign section first, that's an "open title" he just created (a violation "on him" by signing it unassigned). Before I can lawfully sell to Bob, I'm required to obtain a new title in my name and pay that fee (if I keep an open title in my possession, I'm in violation just possessing it .... and it's not valid "open" and anyone finding that title can put their name/address on it and fraudulently title it in their name, because I was fraudulently jumping title fees), then I fill in Bob's info before I sign it. In no way can I register a vehicle for use on a highway with just an open title, I must have a clear title in my name for me to register (tag/insure) and use the vehicle on the road.

Good luck, I hope it works out well for you.

 

I would pass on both, neither seem worth buying. A couple weeks ago I bought a 79 F150 short box 4x4, 400 with 86K documented original miles and zero rust. AZ truck. It had a lifter tick until I ran a quart of motor medic through it. Quiet now. Lariat with cruise, air, and tilt. $9500. Again pass on both.

 

Well folks, I ended up getting the Black one for 8k, original asking was 9500 and do I think it was worth the 8k? Yes and No, the body is good with the exception of the front drivers fender (could be hammered out, the dent is not that bad) but I will replace it as I found a guy locally to me parting out his 77 and offered me his fender for 80 bucks.

The upper dent trim needs some attention (can get it from Dennis Carpenter)
The engine is strong and runs nice, its automatic and shifts good (drove it 2.5 hours home)

Issues
Due to age and the length of the drive (mostly highway at 70) I did end up with some leaks.
1. leaking oil behind the oil pan (either the gasket or a main seal)
2. Steering box leaking
3. Driver rear brake drum leaking (I have replaced this one so far) but, the brakes aren't working properly
4. Exhaust leak on the passenger side at the manifold somewhere (I can hear it)

Going to start a new thread of the build.

 

Does your truck have a decal on the valve cover or on the inside of the hood like this....

 

I have not seen a decal like this on my truck