Wow I just joined your site and this is a lot of great information. I'm looking at buying a 1977 F250 4x4 but I'm not for sure what to look for. I was hoping you guys could give some helpful tips to a newbie in the restoration field. It'a a Hi-Boy with the 400 and a C-6 tranny. Is this a good combo? The body is in OK condition with no rust. Just wondering if there where any common failures to that model and tips on what to look for and what to ask the owner.....Thanks in advance
Jay

 

WElcome to FTE.
highboys are somewhat rare
400 and C6 in a good combo

 

check for rust in the floor boards.
early 77 was the last year for highboys
late 77 and up was lowboys,
lowboys sometimes become highboys when its time to sell. the best way to tell is frame width, maybe somebody can help you with that.
the 4th letter in the vin should S if its a 400, H is 351M

 

welcome, and f150 daniel is very correct! it is amazing how late 77's become highboys when it is time to sell! there are two indicators that will usually tell you if it is a highboy. the first and most obvious is the power steering. all later 77's have a full power steering box while highboys did not come with a power steering box (they had a linkage style power assist sytem). if the steering box is original and has hoses going to it then the truck is not a highboy! also, the highboys almost always have a divorced transfer case so there are three driveshafts. there are some very rare exceptions with full time 4 wheel drive but if it has three driveshafts (one to teh front, one to the back, and one between the trans and transfer case) then it IS a highboy! and as noted the highboy frame rails are closer together than the other trucks and an easy way to check this is to measure the distance between two bed mounting bolt (from the topside!) on a 2 wheel drive and then measure the same bolts on the truck you are looking at. since the frame rails are closer together on a highboy, if they are the same distance apart as a 2 wheel drive then it is a lowboy. now that all of this has been said, i have a 77 1/2 supercab 4X4 and i like them a lot better than the earlier highboys. and despite what many people may think, the lowboy is not much lower than a highboy, all F250 4X4's were high from teh factory! LOL hawkrod

 

Great info....are there any other vin #'s I should look for. I'm also concerned that it's been bored and I would hate to get something that has been bored say .60 over....The present owner bought it four years ago and said it was rebuilt right before he bought it...but thats all he knows...I'm a little nervous. Are there any things that I can look for visualy while I'm test driving it concerning the motor or tranny

 

Don't worry about it being bored, a 400 can safely be bored to .080" although thats custom piston territory. The truck is more valuable because its stock (400 & C6). I wouldn't worry about the Highboy part, the later ones, 77 1/2 - 79 are better, they had better brakes and better steering.

 

Good stuff....like I said I'm kinda new at this, so I'm a little nervous about making sure the motor and tranny are still in good shape.....thanks for all the info....you guys are cool....I thionk a restore is going to be easier having you guys around