High Boy Or Not?????
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Maybe Green Sales could stick to selling whatever it is that they do, and leave the tech advice to those of us that have some idea of what we are talking about. But hey what do I know? 
John
John
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 502
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From: Middle of South Dakota
in are part of the country we have always known the highboys as the F-250s that were sitting high up from the factory. so what i understand is that my 75 f-250 is not a high boythen. it sits high, has the divorced t-case and the tank in the cab and the 390. then its just a regular f-250 from what i understand
New User
Joined: Jul 2008
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Here's the real deal, The Ford "HighBoy" is referring to a Style of Ford F-250 made thru the Mid-70's. This Truck Varied From the Original F-250. The Ride Height of this Truck is Greater. This Truck uses a NP 205 Divorced Transfer Case. You Can Tell the Highboy From the Regular F-250 By the Transfer case configuration. The Divorced Case Means there is a Driveshaft between the Transmisson and the Transfer case. ALL highboys are made this way. The highBoy also uses a Reverse Rotation Pinion setup in the Front Differential. This is a Very Strong setup as it allows more pinion and ring teeth to be combined at one time. The Gear Ratio on the Highboy is what Ford Calls 409. Most people call it 410. The Highboy also Features 1 Ton Hubs, dana 60 or 70 Rear end.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
Old thread resurrected.
Just to clarify: There is NO SUCH THING AS AN F350 HIGH BOY = NONE!
The first F350 4WD was available in 1979.
The last High Boy was made in 1977 before serial number Y20,001.
All High Boys are F250 4WD Regular or Crew Cab Styleside pickups.
Originally the term only applied to 1973/77's. Now some ppl include 1967/72's as well.
Original usage of the term High Boy: Removing the fenders from a 1928/32 Ford Roadster doesn't expose the frame. The splash guards/running boards also have to be removed.
Just to clarify: There is NO SUCH THING AS AN F350 HIGH BOY = NONE!
The first F350 4WD was available in 1979.
The last High Boy was made in 1977 before serial number Y20,001.
All High Boys are F250 4WD Regular or Crew Cab Styleside pickups.
Originally the term only applied to 1973/77's. Now some ppl include 1967/72's as well.
Original usage of the term High Boy: Removing the fenders from a 1928/32 Ford Roadster doesn't expose the frame. The splash guards/running boards also have to be removed.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: Cascade, ID
Sure.....
Here's the real deal, The Ford "HighBoy" is referring to a Style of Ford F-250 made thru the Mid-70's. This Truck Varied From the Original F-250. The Ride Height of this Truck is Greater. This Truck uses a NP 205 Divorced Transfer Case. You Can Tell the Highboy From the Regular F-250 By the Transfer case configuration. The Divorced Case Means there is a Driveshaft between the Transmisson and the Transfer case. ALL highboys are made this way. The highBoy also uses a Reverse Rotation Pinion setup in the Front Differential. This is a Very Strong setup as it allows more pinion and ring teeth to be combined at one time. The Gear Ratio on the Highboy is what Ford Calls 409. Most people call it 410. The Highboy also Features 1 Ton Hubs, dana 60 or 70 Rear end.
I don't want to be one of those forum jerks but I just have to add my 2 cents that I believe to be correct. The earlier body ('67-'72) weren't considered "Highboys", which seems strange to me since they are pretty much the same chassis. Only the wheel base is different and the transfercase was a Dana instead of the New Process. "Highboys" had more than one option of gear ratio. I know a couple of people that have '75 "highboys" with 4.56 gears. Isn't the later '78-'79 front axle the "high-pinion / reverse-rotation" axle? I was under the impression that the "Highboy" front axles were regular rotation since they are low pinion configuration. Not all "Highboys" had the HD hubs, besides when has a D44 ever been considered "1ton". "Highboys" were produced untill the time that Number Dummy states which was some time in '77. My dad has a "Highboy" '77 4 door so it must be an earlier one. The F250 4xs produced from then on sat lower, hence why most "Ford-Guys" don't consider them Highboys. These later models also had a "married" transfercase.
Personally I prefer the original "Highboys".....('27-'34 pickups and cars minus fenders and running boards and aprons)...
New User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1
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True highboy for sale
I have a 1974 ford f250 highboy that i would like to get rid of its all stock and turn key truck would make a good daily driver just stoped driving it and now it sits but starts right up and runs great! e-mail me for pics and if you have any ?????'s make me a offer. at (ilm400ex@aim.com) thanks for looking!
New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8
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I have one if anybody is looking
I have a 72. It's in my profile. Arizona truck that has not been run into the ground. If anyone is interested let me know through email. I think one of the requirements for a Highboy was that there were no fuel tanks or tool boxes in the bed so that it could easily be converted to a dump bed, but I could be wrong.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Welcome to FTE
The right (passenger) side tool boxes were optional on all 1964/79 Styleside pickups, so High Boys could have them as well.
1964/72: Two tool boxes were offered, one for the 8' bed, t'other for the 6 1/2' bed.
The short bed tool boxes were rarely installed and so...are very hard to find today.
High Boys, like other F100/350's came in more than just Styleside's.
Flaresides, Cab & Chassis, Platform (flat bed), Platform & Rack (stake bed) were also available.
The right (passenger) side tool boxes were optional on all 1964/79 Styleside pickups, so High Boys could have them as well.
1964/72: Two tool boxes were offered, one for the 8' bed, t'other for the 6 1/2' bed.
The short bed tool boxes were rarely installed and so...are very hard to find today.
High Boys, like other F100/350's came in more than just Styleside's.
Flaresides, Cab & Chassis, Platform (flat bed), Platform & Rack (stake bed) were also available.
New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Welcome to FTE
The right (passenger) side tool boxes were optional on all 1964/79 Styleside pickups, so High Boys could have them as well.
1964/72: Two tool boxes were offered, one for the 8' bed, t'other for the 6 1/2' bed.
The short bed tool boxes were rarely installed and so...are very hard to find today.
High Boys, like other pickups of this era came in more than just Styleside's.
Flaresides, Cab & Chassis, Platform (flat bed), Platform & Rack (stake bed) were also available.
The right (passenger) side tool boxes were optional on all 1964/79 Styleside pickups, so High Boys could have them as well.
1964/72: Two tool boxes were offered, one for the 8' bed, t'other for the 6 1/2' bed.
The short bed tool boxes were rarely installed and so...are very hard to find today.
High Boys, like other pickups of this era came in more than just Styleside's.
Flaresides, Cab & Chassis, Platform (flat bed), Platform & Rack (stake bed) were also available.
You very clearly know more than I do on the subject. I've been looking for the article I read it in, but there was something about the truck being able to be converted to a dump bed that made them Highboys, along with a narrow frame if I recall. Really wish I had that to reference. Does that hold any water in your opinion? What I recall from the article was that a Highboy was optioned specifically with NP435, divorced dana 24, 360 FE, and only a fuel tank in the cab for easy dump conversion. I think they were designed for farmers. I really wish I had that article, if nothing else to determine credibility of the author.
When I first got it I was just thrilled to have a 67-72 4x4, (72 4x2 camper special was my first vehicle). The local Ford dealer told me that it was a highboy. Love the truck. Now I need to start doing the family thing, so the most beloved toys always seem to go on the chopping block first. Thanks for the info!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 705
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From: stinkin lincoln, maine
A round of applause for this guy right here, he's funny!!
And my 67 4x4 F-250 "Hi-Boy" came with a 300-6, so no FE's for me.
I thought they were higher because the divorced T-case hung down so far?
Other specs.....
Closed knuckle D44 front, D60 rear, granny low 4-speed, tank in cab, and tops out about 50mph.....I think somebody changed gears at some point.
And here she is before I tore into it, beside a dodge with a 3" body lift and 35's......so here it's easy to see its higher than factory trucks. Actually, if it was beside a stock truck the height diff. would be easier to see, but I have no pics.
New User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
A round of applause for this guy right here, he's funny!!
And my 67 4x4 F-250 "Hi-Boy" came with a 300-6, so no FE's for me.
I thought they were higher because the divorced T-case hung down so far?
Other specs.....
Closed knuckle D44 front, D60 rear, granny low 4-speed, tank in cab, and tops out about 50mph.....I think somebody changed gears at some point.
And here she is before I tore into it, beside a dodge with a 3" body lift and 35's......so here it's easy to see its higher than factory trucks. Actually, if it was beside a stock truck the height diff. would be easier to see, but I have no pics.
And my 67 4x4 F-250 "Hi-Boy" came with a 300-6, so no FE's for me.
I thought they were higher because the divorced T-case hung down so far?
Other specs.....
Closed knuckle D44 front, D60 rear, granny low 4-speed, tank in cab, and tops out about 50mph.....I think somebody changed gears at some point.
And here she is before I tore into it, beside a dodge with a 3" body lift and 35's......so here it's easy to see its higher than factory trucks. Actually, if it was beside a stock truck the height diff. would be easier to see, but I have no pics.
New User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
highboy or not to highboy that is the question
Hey Guys Im new to the forum, I couldnt help but read over the thread about highboys. Got a good kick out of it and appreciated everybodies passion in one way or another. I have a 72 f250 4x4 5.9l manual transmission. Picked her up about two years ago for two reasons. One my uncle has a 70 f250 ( not 4x4) but I grew up riding around in that truck so naturally i wanted one. two. I needed a good truck for my firewood buisness. I bought the truck here locally in central ca. Truck was originally a ranch truck from san berdadino county. truck has 80k og miles on it and it was aquired for 2,000 and i drove it home. Not to badly beat up i think the interior was worst casualty. I look forward to conversing with other ford truck enthusiasts in the future.
Rich
Rich
