What makes a Highboy?
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: Halifax, NS
yeah, my 76 HB is open knuckle, disc brakes up front.
I was under the impression also that it's a 1 ton frame.. beyond it being a ladder frame that doesnt flare out behind the cab like the 1/2 ton and post 77.5 f250's..
i do know that last year i replaced a cross member on my frame with one from an 85 F350 2WD .....
my truck is currently stripped down to the frame now. I am very impressed with how solid and thick it is, and am completely confident that it will have a half-life of about 25,000 years... heheh
I was under the impression also that it's a 1 ton frame.. beyond it being a ladder frame that doesnt flare out behind the cab like the 1/2 ton and post 77.5 f250's..
i do know that last year i replaced a cross member on my frame with one from an 85 F350 2WD .....
my truck is currently stripped down to the frame now. I am very impressed with how solid and thick it is, and am completely confident that it will have a half-life of about 25,000 years... heheh
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,110
Likes: 32
From: southwest pa
i like to think of the frame rails on my hi-boy as similar to c-channels. the frame under these trucks is beafy. also, something that not many people mention is that the highboy with the np435/np205 combo is the transmission that is used in the 2wd version of the f250. just thought that could be added since i haven't seen it on here yet. when i get my hb done, im gonna drive it through the front door of the restaurant i work at and out the other side
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: Apple Valley CA USA
Originally Posted by 76highboy4x4
Check the VIN. If it starts with F26 then It came stock from the factory as a Highboy. If it starts with F25 then It came stock from the factory as a regular old truck.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
76highboy4x4
Highboy
Check the VIN. If it starts with F26 then It came stock from the factory as a Highboy. If it starts with F25 then It came stock from the factory as a regular old truck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please read post #8 on this thread.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=102632
Some forums on FTE have READ FIRST: threads.
We would like every user who visits these forums to PLEASE read these threads.
That's why we post them in Red ,they are important
Highboy
Check the VIN. If it starts with F26 then It came stock from the factory as a Highboy. If it starts with F25 then It came stock from the factory as a regular old truck.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please read post #8 on this thread.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=102632
Some forums on FTE have READ FIRST: threads.
We would like every user who visits these forums to PLEASE read these threads.
That's why we post them in Red ,they are important
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
There is no regular truck,all 4x4 f250`s till 77 1/2 are highboys.There was no Highboy option and the term Highboy was not even given to them untill well after the design change.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: Halifax, NS
Well I certainly don't mean to split hairs on it, but the term highboy was around from the very beginning.
After WW2, when interest grew in having four wheel drive on a big 3 truck, the big 3 responded.
They originally subbed out the work to convert the trucks to 4 wheel drive, and they ALL had a 'divorced' transfer case setup, and had to have some lift in order to provide clearance for the driveshafts and tcase.
The term 'highboy' was coined then.. suddenely in the 50's, you see, these trucks were running the roads a lot taller than their 2 wheel drive versions.
I *don't think* however, that the big 3 ever used this term themselves to market the trucks. (??) I know Ford didn't in the seventies, at least..
I DO agree that people shouldn't expect anyone at the Ford Dealer or at a parts store to necessarily know what a 'highboy' is.
Did this make anything any clearer?? ahahahahahahaha
After WW2, when interest grew in having four wheel drive on a big 3 truck, the big 3 responded.
They originally subbed out the work to convert the trucks to 4 wheel drive, and they ALL had a 'divorced' transfer case setup, and had to have some lift in order to provide clearance for the driveshafts and tcase.
The term 'highboy' was coined then.. suddenely in the 50's, you see, these trucks were running the roads a lot taller than their 2 wheel drive versions.
I *don't think* however, that the big 3 ever used this term themselves to market the trucks. (??) I know Ford didn't in the seventies, at least..
I DO agree that people shouldn't expect anyone at the Ford Dealer or at a parts store to necessarily know what a 'highboy' is.
Did this make anything any clearer?? ahahahahahahaha
Last edited by Craigwell; Mar 10, 2006 at 11:45 PM.
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: Halifax, NS
I can tell you that it this point, my highboy has been reassembled, and I crossed Canada with it 1 year ago March 11th.
I now have a problem with the earlier mentioned power assist steering.. anyone have experience rebuilding the pitman-arm mounted valve? mine is now leaking, and seems to only divert fluid pressure to extending the piston, (right turns) and not retracting it. odd stuff.
and no, i wont be converting it to power steering... I happen to prefer the feel and response of the power assist, and dont have any problems with the rest of it.. high pressure hoses, rebuilt cylinder, etc..
any advice is most appreciated!
I now have a problem with the earlier mentioned power assist steering.. anyone have experience rebuilding the pitman-arm mounted valve? mine is now leaking, and seems to only divert fluid pressure to extending the piston, (right turns) and not retracting it. odd stuff.
and no, i wont be converting it to power steering... I happen to prefer the feel and response of the power assist, and dont have any problems with the rest of it.. high pressure hoses, rebuilt cylinder, etc..
any advice is most appreciated!
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
Likes: 24
Actually Craig, The original Highboy term was given to a 32 Ford Roadster that was fenderless.
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0508sr_hall/
http://www.streetrodderweb.com/features/0508sr_hall/
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 705
Likes: 2
From: Halifax, NS
Hey Mil1ion, good to see your still around here, I respect your knowledge of Ford-dom.. :-)
That was an interesting ride on that link, and indeed, I didn't realize the 'highboy' term applied to old roadsters as well...
My main point, was that the term isn't a recent one.. certainly not looking to mislead anyone!
I cannot find the source of the info that indicated to me the term 'highboy' was used informally to describe early 4x4's.. I had read it somewhere online, and cannot find the article again.
All of this has me thinking a 'Historical' facts and info forum would be a nice addition to the site here..
But then again, I study history and I'm a little biased :-)
Cheers,
Jason
That was an interesting ride on that link, and indeed, I didn't realize the 'highboy' term applied to old roadsters as well...
My main point, was that the term isn't a recent one.. certainly not looking to mislead anyone!
I cannot find the source of the info that indicated to me the term 'highboy' was used informally to describe early 4x4's.. I had read it somewhere online, and cannot find the article again.
All of this has me thinking a 'Historical' facts and info forum would be a nice addition to the site here..
But then again, I study history and I'm a little biased :-)
Cheers,
Jason
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: Mass.
Reguarding hot rods the term "highboy" has nothing to do with being fenderless though many were.It means that the body sat up on top of the frame as oppossed to the channeled cars the the body was lowered down over the frame.Most fenderless rods of the day were highboys and that is where the confusion in terms comes in.