I'm pretty new to the 4x4 world.... actually pretty new to Ford trucks too so please be easy on the newbie.

I recently bought a 1979 F250 Crewcab. The truck was cheap AND it's pretty big rough. I knew that going in but figured I'm decent at fixing stuff so I thought I would try my hand at a Ford crewcab. It has an unusual setup for a drivetrain. Originally it was a 400ci/manual trans/married 205, however it is now a 390/auto/divoriced 203. I think someone must have had access to an F150 highboy and decided to swap that stuff in for whatever reason. I have confirmed they didn't swap frames.

On the way home it made quite a bit of racket and I thought it just had loose transfer case linkage somewhere. The sound changed depending on rpm and I could get it to go away at some rpms. I got it home, backed up in the field and "tested" the 4wd. No matter what I did I couldn't get the 4wd to work. Now, maybe it's a transfer case linkage rattle (like I thought at first) but it seems pretty tight.

The next trip out on the road the C6 died. I don't have any gears forward, however reverse still works.

Now I have a big, non moving piece of junk in my driveway and I'm trying to decide how to fix it. I would like to make it a 4spd. First question is this, I have a 4spd from a '70 F250 2wd that I parted out. I am thinking of sticking that in there. However, I need a tailend that has mounting bosses for the divorced transfer case. Will the tailend off the C6 fit the 4spd?

I'm trying not to spend too much money on this thing but I'm getting tempted to just say screw it, and find a 4sd with a married 205 and put that it. Unfortunately, then I have to have driveshafts made (or find some used ones) and actually buy a transmission/transfer case. I'm also not sure if that trans will bolt up to the 390. I have the bell housing from the '70 F250 also.... will that work?

I'm just looking for some advice from more knowledgable people than me. Thanks in advance guys!

 

Dumb questions? Or do I need to clarify something? Or did I just make my post too long? Someone has to know the answers......

 

does it have lock outs on it?

 

I'm not sure what you mean but I think you mean, lockable hubs on the front axle. I am I right? Yes, it does have manual front hubs. There is a plastic tab to turn to lock and unlock the hubs.

 

what engine was in the 70 f-250? I dont believe the tail shaft will interchange off of the c-6

 

The engine in the 70 F250 was a 390 so I know the bell housing will bolt up to the engine in the crew since it's a 390 also. I'm just not sure if the 4spd that is "supposed" to be in the crew will bolt up to the 70 F250 390 bell housing. Make sense? Also, what is the code of the 4 spd trans that is "supposed" to be in my truck? I called a local wrecking yard to see how much the trans and transfer case that's supposed to be in the crew would cost. They needed to know what trans I was looking for. When I told them just the stock one for a 1979 F250 crewcab, they said that wasn't enough information.

 

Well, if the tail piece from the C6 won't bolt to my 4spd from the 70 F250 to give me my mounting boses for the transfer case linkage, I'm probably just going to to with a the correct 4spd and transfer case for a 79. "IF" that transmission will bolt up to the 1970 F250 390 bellhousing. Does anyone know if that will work?

 

You would need a bellhousing for a 360/390. Then you can use a 4 spd married trans from 77 up.


Jason

 

Great! That's the info I needed. I guess I'll go that route unless I stumble across a tail piece for the trans I already have so I could mount the divorced linkage. Thanks everyone for their help!

 

Are the 4spd trans in the F250 and the F150s the same? I mean, if I find an F150 with a 4spd and married transfer case is that going to fit my F250 also? Or is there a difference?

 

The same married trans/ transfer cases were used in F150-F250's. However, there were NP435's and T18's with 203 (full time) and 205 (part time) transfer cases. The F100s with the married single speed Dana 21 use a 2wd transmission and won't interchange.

Jason

 

Great information. That's just what I was looking for. Thanks!