Highboy
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 19,402
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Highboy
Currently, I have a '90 F-150 2wd that I plan on using as my daily driver for a while. In the meantime, I want to get a serious off-road truck. I posted this in the offroad forum, and someone mentioned that a '73-'77 highboy would be a good choice as the lift would already be done and I could fit 35s under the wells.
What exactly is a highboy? Was it a factory lift package? I'm looking at one truck that has a highboy bed.. what might that mean? Did they just rip the bed off a real highboy and call it that?
Also, did all the 4x4's then come with solid Dana 44s, or was it a mix & match? And finally, are the axle codes stamped or tagged on the case? With a truck that old, I'm not too keen on trusting the door post (if there was such a thing then.)
Thanks for helping out the ignorant newbie! :-X11
What exactly is a highboy? Was it a factory lift package? I'm looking at one truck that has a highboy bed.. what might that mean? Did they just rip the bed off a real highboy and call it that?
Also, did all the 4x4's then come with solid Dana 44s, or was it a mix & match? And finally, are the axle codes stamped or tagged on the case? With a truck that old, I'm not too keen on trusting the door post (if there was such a thing then.)Thanks for helping out the ignorant newbie! :-X11
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: in the country
Highboy
A hiboy is the nickname given all ford , 3/4 ton , 4x4 trucks that had the transfer case mounted behind and attached to the tranny by a drive shaft , then you have separate drive shafts to both front and rear axles..............They were made from about 63 up thru mid-year 77-----then the xfer case was mounted right behind the tranny-----There is no such thing as a hiboy bed-----to my knowledge----hiboy is a reference to the drivetrain\axle\suspension and frame of any year 3/4 ton , 4x4 truck---what kind of bed or no bed is irrevelant to whether or not the truck is a "hiboy"--------fd
:-X11
:-X11 
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
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Highboy
yes there is a diffrence on the hiboy bed! they have the bolt holes in a diffrent place and the gussets in the back near the back mount holes are diffrent and hiboys don't have a front gas fill this bed may also have come on the 1 ton 2wd with narrow frame.
Will
Will
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Joined: Apr 2002
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Highboy
you said it! jbulson highboys rule! gotta love em! Ford built them high, and its up to us to make them higher louder and faster! I don't think Ford has built a better pickup before or after. the highboy frame was made between 1967 and 1977 the ones built in 1966 and older sit high too but were diffrent frames. one of my brothers has my grandfathers old green '66 f250 4x4 and is quite the monster! about 2" higher than my 1975 f250 4x4 and they are both stock HD 3/4 tons.
Will
Will
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
Highboy
Yea, these lads have it right. Allot of guys will make a big deal out of the '73 through '77 "highboy"s but they really began in '67. Although there is more aftermarket support for the peripheral stuff from '73 on. Anybody making a big deal about having a "highboy" bed is full off crap. Same damn difference, and its all a nickname anyways. Sure, they have different mounting holes, buts thats due to the frame, not any special bed. Any 3/4 ton in these years is a "highboy". Its funny how they have a reached a mythological and misunderstood status. I do agree, that for a stocker, they are the ultimate 4x4.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Highboy
OK, I'm sold. I'll start looking for a '67-'77 3/4 Ton 4x4 in my area. The one I was looking at was in Seattle.:-staun That's a *long* drive.
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From: Woodside, CA
Highboy
A quick way to notice if you are looking at a high boy is the frame rails. They are completely straight all the way from the front bumper to the rear bumper. No left or right bends.. only up and down for the cab area. Oh, another way is if you stand within 15 feet of a High Boy, your hair will stand up on the back of your neck because the beasts emit an aura of threatening bad-***'ness. Kind of like that moment in Jurrassic Park when the T-Rex was peering thru the window of the Explorer.
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From: fremont
Highboy
Now I'm a little confused.
I have a 79 F250 that I was told is a High Boy. It has a 351W. It has the xfer case behind the tranny with the shaft conecting the two and then separte shafts going to the axles. It also has the straight frame. I know the bed is off of a different year because it has the gas opening on the drivers side towards the rear but the real gas filler is behind the drivers door on the cab. Can anyone clue me in on if this is really an earlier year of truck?
:-X11
Mudytoy
I have a 79 F250 that I was told is a High Boy. It has a 351W. It has the xfer case behind the tranny with the shaft conecting the two and then separte shafts going to the axles. It also has the straight frame. I know the bed is off of a different year because it has the gas opening on the drivers side towards the rear but the real gas filler is behind the drivers door on the cab. Can anyone clue me in on if this is really an earlier year of truck?
:-X11
Mudytoy
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2001
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Highboy
guys:
all highboys have a divorced transmission/transfer case setup with a driveshaft connecting the two. IF the transmission is married to the transmission with an adapter, you DO NOT have a highboy! most likely, that is a 'lowboy' running gear setup.
IN addition, ALL highboys have the distinctive front crossmember piece that is directly under the front bumper. It basically reinforces the spring shackle mounts and ties the front of the frame together. Moreover, most highboys have a 6 leaf front springpack and a 9 + 1 overload rear OR a 5 leaf springpack depending on the options of the truck. Lastly, some highboys have the infamous linked-power steering arrangement which is basically an add on which eases steering effort. Others have a manual gearbox only. As far as axles are concerned, there were 3 types. Late 60's and early 70s were a closed knucke design (either a light duty or heavy duty dana 44) starting in the mid 70s, one could get a highboy with a HD dana 44 with disc brakes. This axle is basically a 44 with dana 60 outer components. In late 77, ford went to a light duty 44 and in 78-79? the put some dana 60s in select applications!
i hope this helps! Feel free to email me if u have any more questions!
regards
ben
all highboys have a divorced transmission/transfer case setup with a driveshaft connecting the two. IF the transmission is married to the transmission with an adapter, you DO NOT have a highboy! most likely, that is a 'lowboy' running gear setup.
IN addition, ALL highboys have the distinctive front crossmember piece that is directly under the front bumper. It basically reinforces the spring shackle mounts and ties the front of the frame together. Moreover, most highboys have a 6 leaf front springpack and a 9 + 1 overload rear OR a 5 leaf springpack depending on the options of the truck. Lastly, some highboys have the infamous linked-power steering arrangement which is basically an add on which eases steering effort. Others have a manual gearbox only. As far as axles are concerned, there were 3 types. Late 60's and early 70s were a closed knucke design (either a light duty or heavy duty dana 44) starting in the mid 70s, one could get a highboy with a HD dana 44 with disc brakes. This axle is basically a 44 with dana 60 outer components. In late 77, ford went to a light duty 44 and in 78-79? the put some dana 60s in select applications!
i hope this helps! Feel free to email me if u have any more questions!
regards
ben
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Bonita Springs FL
Highboy
OK, so when I find someone willing to sell their highboy, how do I tell the difference between Dana 44 HD, Dana 44 LD, and Dana 60's? Also, we're strictly talking front axle, right? I read somewhere that they all came with 60's in the rear.
There are two listed in the local circulation of Truck Trader. One is a '74, and the other is a '77. I think the '74 is asking $7500, and the '77 is going for $3000. Is it unrealistic to expect to see one for closer to $1500?
I'm also unsure of what engine to look for or put in it. I'd love to get a 460 in it, but I also heard that only the 4x2's came with that motor. Keeping in mind that this will be an offroad truck with the highest gears I can find, what motor should I be looking for?
I've looked in the pictoral gallery on FTE, and I *really* like the way the highboys look. I'm dying to get my hands on one now!
Thanks for everyone's help!
There are two listed in the local circulation of Truck Trader. One is a '74, and the other is a '77. I think the '74 is asking $7500, and the '77 is going for $3000. Is it unrealistic to expect to see one for closer to $1500?
I'm also unsure of what engine to look for or put in it. I'd love to get a 460 in it, but I also heard that only the 4x2's came with that motor. Keeping in mind that this will be an offroad truck with the highest gears I can find, what motor should I be looking for?
I've looked in the pictoral gallery on FTE, and I *really* like the way the highboys look. I'm dying to get my hands on one now!
Thanks for everyone's help!
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 1
From: in the country
Highboy
Andy , the d44 , Hd will be identified by the larger locking hubs--about 4" in diameter as opposed to the lighter duty axle----most "hiboys"--if not all hiboys will have a d60 rear axle------I personally would rather have a 77 (my current trk) because of the open-knuckle type axle(you can see the universal joint vs the closed knuckle , which had a problem leaking I'm told)------the 460 was NOT put into a 4x4 until around 84 or 85----the 77 will have only one of two v8's , either a 351m or the 400-----the 351m\400 both share the same bolt pattern on the back of the block as the 460----so IIFF you want to drop da big motor into the 77 it will boltup to the tranny----BUT , the motor mounts will have to be changed as well as some differences in the radiator position-------------ALso , if you buy a 77 vintage truck , alot of the states exempt trucks that are 25 yrs or older from the ever increasing inspection checks for smog items , etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!fd :-X11
:-X11
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
Highboy
And lastly, they changed the F-250s midyear in 77. Therefore, the early to mid 77 250s qualify as "Highboys" whereas the late 77s do not. Just something to watch out for. And yes, while lots of guys try to play there trucks off as "Highboys" after 77 but sadly, they are not. I did get a chuckle from the comment that you could tell a Highboy from its look of bad-***-ness. Is that why everybody clears a path for me on the freeway? 
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 482
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From: lake ariel usa
Highboy
Hers whats funny the lift kits sat 73-77 1/2 4 inch 77 1/2 to79 6 inch. Iknow any highboy is more than 2 inches higher than my 79 250. Heck its lower than my 79 150 stock. But at least its got a 60 in the front and I paid the same for the truck that I could sell the front rear for on ebay and it has a darn good body 4 a PA. truck