I am going to look at a few dentside 4x4,I found one today a 1977 long wheelbase flairside.sitting on a 1973 frame and running gear,it has a car 390,auto half ton.and I still have to look at 2 1979 F250's.both of these are reasonably priced compaired to the 77.what are you guys paying for decent 4x4's stateside.I know up here a cab and frame with not engine trany or case are usually around $1500 just because they are so hard to find that the frame isn't rotten.

 

I'm in PA, where we have plenty of rust due to hard winters and salt as well.

I know up until recently $1500 got you a pretty well used up truck. $2500 to $4,000 could get you a good one. Since the gas prices started going up though, prices on these trucks have come down. Here in PA anyway, you can probably get a pretty decent dentside for $1,500 now.

There are plenty of other threads on here where we've discussed value's and questions similar to yours if you want to try to search for some of those. Most of those threads usually end the same way: Prices vary so much according to where you are and how many trucks are in your part of the world. And, ultimately, it's all about finding a truck you want and deciding what it's worth to you.

I would be a little cautious about the one you mentioned first though. It's a Frankenstein, so you'll never know what to expect--I've been there with past rigs I've had that had parts off of every year they were made. Not fun!

 

I paid 900 for two 77's and drove both home

 

I'd avoid the 77/73 like the plague myself. You'd have better luck with the 79's if they aren't cobbled together.

 

I picked mine up for $1500 with a knock in the motor and it had been sitting for 6 years next to a barn. I've put a lot of work into it and I am just finishing up the motor rebuild. Hopefully it will be worth it in the end

 

Me & Tatonka04 are going tomorrow to look at I beleive a 78 4x4 chassis; I'm hoping to put my 76 2wd body on that frame. These plans are long after my 78 rebuild that's currently in progress.
Most 4x4 in my area are either rougher that a night in jail or over price by atleast 1k. I got lucky due to Tatonka04 had found this truck prior to owner taking it to the scrap yard. Hopefully the drive train is sound.

Mitch

 

Ben, does your red truck have power steering or the power assist? I know the highboy had the p/a but I was wondering if you converted it over.

 

alright, well I got armstrong steering......it sure is nice when I drive dad's 01 chevy.

sorry for the high-jack.........

 

well the 77/73 is a nice truck,rust free frame,beautiful rust free original paint body.nicely put together,just needs a few loose ends finished up and a fresh coat of paint,its in the $3000 range.I looked at one 79 F250 last night.good frame and a really nice front clip and doors on a decent cab.but cobbled up is the word for everything else.I didn't realize I knew the guy when I went to look at it and the price will be dropping from $1500 if I wanted it.solid project truck.but to buy it I will be getting rid of my pounder jeep so to much of a project isn't really what I need.I still have to look at another 79 F250 custom a guy has that he wants to trade for my jeep.it has 351m auto.looks to be in good shape from the picture,ugly as sin but nice and straight.its a couple hours from my place so I will be looking at that tomorrow if at all possible.he says the frame is nice,cab is nice,runs good and the box to his knowledge is fine too so it may be a worthwhile drive.

 

I came across another 4x4 today.its a 1978 F150 long box.351M auto.looks nice and clean from the pictures,buddy says it only needs a cab corner for inspection.all else is good.its not too far away so I will try and get a look at it too this weekend.I'll try and attach a picture of this one if I can.hmmm how do I attach a picture? hope this works.

 

I think you are doing the right thing by looking at various trucks and for the best deal. I have to agree with the others though, if you are looking at F250s, I would try to get into a 78/79 vs the 73-77s. I am redoing a 77 highboy and I am converting the Power Assist to Power Steering and have placed a custom aft axle fuel tank and eliminated the in cab tank. And I have to modify the bed to bolt up to the narrower frame. And there are some expensive issues with swapping in a 460 in the highboy. It's all a project, but looking back I would have jumped into a 78/79 if I knew what I know now. On the other hand, I do like how the highboys are built like tanks though.

 

well buck the 73/77 combination is a half ton.it was a really nice F100 4x4 that had the box stolen of it,and the cab was hit hard,easily fixed but he had the whole 77 body that was mint so he used it.but if I go with an F250 I will follow everyones advice and get a 78/79.I am looking at so many because I am maybe a little to picky.but I'll find one with any luck.

 

No, you can't be too picky. Sooner or later you'll find the right truck--or it will find you!

I wanted another one for years after we ended up selling the '78 I grew up with. I looked at dozens before i got my '79...and I didn't actually buy it until about four months after I first looked at it. The first time I talked to the PO I dialed the wrong number--thought I was calling about another '78 and got the #'s mixed up, otherwise I never would have called because I thought the guy wanted too much. Turns out, he dropped the price from what the ad said by the time I called. Sorry for the long story, but my point is sometimes things are meant to be!

 

Impressive... I'd like to know how you managed to drive both at once.

 

I'd like to have seen this accomplished too, drove both home........