hello all

looking into purchasing a 4wd truck. originally i was looking for a toyota but the more i look the more i like the ford (esp. the '76). what sorts of configurations did these come in? i'm looking for a 4wd, 5 speed, that has enough power to cruise the highway at decent speed but is *very* reliable.

what are the most common engines in these? were there diesel models with standard/4wd combos?

what are the most common problems on these/things to look for? are there any webpages that detail the characteristics of this generation of trucks?

thanks!

josep

 

Hello, welcome to FTE!

Keep reading and searching this forum here for the best answers.

Diesels were not stock, there have been some conversions.

No 5 speeds stock, there have been some conversions.

Unless you are able to do all of the mechanical and electrical work necessary to keep a 25+ yr old truck running they will not be cost effective. Reliability without a lot of TLC is questionable also.

 

i can do TLC

the question is, how much? what kinds of things go wrong on these? i had VWs for years so i know what you mean but i'm sure there are particular weaknesses to these trucks. thanks

josep

 

Technically there is nothing commonly wrong with these trucks, as long as they have been taken care of. Which is also kinda rhetorical, as you pay quite a lot for a truck like this that has been taken care of.

Personally the 351M/400 ; 460 ; and 302 351W motors are better than the 360/390 motors. They are all quite powerful and can be made much more with little cost input.

Good luck, I think the best thing is too shop around for one with little rust, which means you might have to travel to pick up a nice one, they seem to be quite plentiful in the southwest and there are quite a few up here, but the rust is much more.

 

The electrical systems are a constant source of trouble unless you go thru the entire system and fix every crimp and connection. Rubber parts will ALL have to be replaced, some with Poly in the suspension. Plastic is brittle and cracks or crumbles. Corrosion, rust, wear, etc etc... Some parts are hard to find.

 

josep,
I have a 76 F-250 4x4 for a daily driver. It's real easy to work on but I'm always working on it! Little things like oil leaks or small wiring ploblems, power steering leaks, ect. I'm really getting sick of working on it all the time and I'm thinking about buying a newer F-250.

 

i gotta 76 f-150 4x4. like jevens said...there really easy to work on but ur always gonna work on it. u will learn alot tho. im always workin on mine and its not the best truck out there but its mine and its my baby. i think u should go for it, even if its not the best truck...im sure ull learn to love it.
great trucks, i think that the mid 70 models were the apitimy (spelling) of a true truck

 

Yes these 70's trucks are by far the toughest truck ford (and even the other manufacturers) ever built.

 

Dude Ive got 2 76 F-250 4x4s, 1 75 4x4 and a 79 4x2 I love em all cause they are tough enough to put up with me

 

I would have to argue the point about the FE blocks not being as good as the 351M,400,302, and 351w. You want a big block instead of the 302 and 351w. As for the 351M and the 400 I would say that the 400 is a bit better than the 351M but your going to have really argue your point well for me to believe that the 400 is better than the 390. The Fe blocks offer more flexability than the 400 offers. More performance parts are available and they can be stroked to 430 cubes. Its my opinion that the 400 was somewhat of an offbreed as far as high performance is concerned. So if it was me I would choose an Fe block or a 460 as the overall best powerhouse for the 73-79 trucks.

 

I would have to second the 390 it has some huevos, get up and go! None are gas friendly, so if you want to pick up gas mileage and have lots of money, some company in montana does those deisel conversions, think they even sell a kit but its like 100 man hours of work. Once you keep the old fords up and maintain them, you only have to put a part in it here and there, unless you really use and abuse her. I like the look of the 78 and 79 grill the best , but older than that gets you out of lots of emissions. GOOD LUCK

 

At age 17 I bought my first car ( a truck actually) it was a 1978 F100 short box 2wheel drive with a 300 inline 6 and a 3 on the tree .
Well I went through the truck and put in a new engine and a new 4 speed .
Then I fixed other problems electrical ,brakes and so on .
Since then I have owned a 1978 F150 4x4 that I also put a engine in ( swapped the 351 for a 400)
My old man now owns that truck and it is his daily driver that he has fixed up.
I now drive a 1975 F100 4x4 with the 360FE and a 4 speed .
I bought that truck and basically took it all apart and fixed most of everything that was broken,worn or rusted (body work) suspension ,electrical , exhaust , clutch and did a lot or engine work .
I now have a truck that I just ( well just about only drive not work on)
I think these older trucks are great daily drivers but they will need work .
My advice buy one and fix it up THEN drive it .
ANY ford engine in these trucks is a good engine provided you remember it is a truck not a nascar .
Most 4x4 truck have the 300 I6 ,the 360FE, or the 351M or 400.
The 2 wheel drive trucks have the same engines too but you will also find the 302,390,and the 460.
The 300I6,302 and the 460 were offered from the factory from 1973-1979.
The 360 was the only FE offered in the 4x4 trucks from the factory from '73-76 the 351-400 took over that spot in 1977-1979.
The 390 in a 2bbl carb or 4bbl carb form was offered from 1973-1976 in all 2wheel drive trucks only !
DO some research and decide which engine you would prefer/would meet your needs .
Transmissions were the C4 3speed automatic ( for light duty applications) the C6 3speed auto for heavy duty)
You will find a three speed on the colum for lightduty ( I would stay away from it - that and the 3+overdrive)
The 4 speed with the low first and reverse transmission is a good tranny ( the New Process 435 or the Borg Warner T-18).
I hope that is helpfull .

 

My old trucks are reliable. I only need to work on them on my own terms. Never have been stranded. Only have performed improvements and maintenance. I agree that if you buy the truck and fix any ailments, it'll be a good rig for you for a long time. (but what did you expect on the "Ford Truck Enthusiasts" site). If you can afford the gas, buy the 76!
Tim

 

thanks for the feedback all!

i really should be more specific as to why i'm looking for this type of vehicle.

in the fall, i hope to be going cross-crountry to start grad school somewhere on the east coast. all the unis i've applied to are in snow country (some more than others) and i want something 4WD that can handle the adverse weather. this seems like the perfect opportunity to buy myself the big ol truck i've always wanted.

i'd like to buy the truck soon and slowly rebuild it over the summer to get it as bulletproof as i can. i have an '85 toyota 4WD in line for the treatment but i've had those already and i was hoping for a change. yes, i was actively seeking out positive feedback on these trucks (if not here, then where?) 'cause it means such a change form what i've had in the past.

i can handle maintenance, i don't want a problem child. low gas mileage is ok but not 5 mpg. i know the rubber, plastic, etc is all from 1976 and that's fine. i've done enough restorations to know that the dried out plastic won't bother me. i may even leave a primered fender or two. i don't want a showpiece i want something that will go 80-90% of the time (with regular maintenance of course) without having to invest excessive cash (of which there will be little to begin with).

given all of that, how does it look? thanks again! i really appreciate your time with this.

josep

 

The '76 is a "GOOD" choice for your needs. It probably has the 360FE and the NP205...both are Bullit proof. Front axle is a Dana 44 and the rear a 9"...again both Bullit proof. With mild upgrades and improvements (engine and electronics)...you should really enjoy your "new" '76.

As original equipment...mine came with the 360 and I always got about 15-17mpg on the highway (mine has the 3.50 gears). That was before the 4" lift and 33" tires. Of course I have the powerful torque monster 390 now.

If you are going to use it as a daily driver...keep it stock in the suspension side of it. Use the original tire size and add no lift. These trucks will run forever...with the regular maint/love.

Good luck!