I'm new here and just thought I'd ask. I just got my Pennsylvania drivers permit in September and I'm allowed to get my first truck at the end of the school year. I would like a 1973-1979 F250 Highboy. But I need some advice about where to look. I've checked autotrader,auto-locator, ebay etc. Is there anything in specific I'd have to look for as far as problems go? Thank You, Leidy

 

From what Ive heard theres a limited supply of these trucks in your area due to rust. What I would do is get a nice beater Escort or something as your first car and save as much money as you can till you have about 5 grand then buy a nice truck thats redone. That would also give you time to find a smokin deal. It seems whenever you want something you can never find it but when you arent looking, one will fall into your lap.

 

X2 my first car was a 1979 Datsun B-210. i beat the crap out of that car. i got it for $500, not too bad for a first car.

 

First let me say, the Hiboy was from 73-77.5 in the dentside era, some folks feel the 67-72 bumpsides are also included in the Hiboy classification. But since you're interested in the dentsides, I'd focus on trying to find one in the 76-77.5 years because those definitely have front discs and power assist (it may be earlier than that, but I definitely know those years have those virtues). As stated, in your area, it'll be pretty hard finding a rig in great shape unless you already have the cash in hand to buy one that's already been gone through. You can determine if it's pre-77.5 with the sequence number being before Y20,001. Something else to think about, is 77.5-79 could be had with an HPD60, and also has fulle power steering which is alot nicer than the power assist, and if you add a 4" lift, you'll be sitting just as high as a Hiboy. If you're looking for better mpg's, you'll want the 3.55 gearing and possibly the 300I6. The V8's available were the 351M(a dawg)/400. You can turn a 351M into a 400 by swapping cranks and pistons. The other factory gearing available were 4.10's which will put a little more power to the ground. A popular engine swap is throwing a 460 in, so if you want even more power...that's the ticket.

351M/400=8 valve cover bolts
429/460=7 valve cover bolts.

 

I appriciate everything! I hear alot of stories from my dad. The first vehicle he ever bought was a 1966 Ford Bronco. Theres a lot of good stories from that thing. He loved that thing until it rusted out. He won't let me or my brothers buy any other truck other than Ford. I've been working all summer and I will be all this year. I have about $3000 so by may or june hopefully I can buy something nice. Until then I'll drive a 1989 Ranger that used to be dads truck until he bought his 1995 F150. I don't really need the highboy just something thats four wheel drive and has some power to her. Any Recommendations
Thanks, Leidy

 

x3 :)
...since you are going to wreck your first vehicle! :/

Ok, not 100% just close to it?

Alvin in AZ

 

Well if you want to stick in the dentside era, My choice would be a 79 250 4x4 with a swapped in 460, with at least 4.10's, preferably 4.56's. That truck would take you anywhere you point it's nose at.

 

if u stilll want a true hiboy, get a 77, the last year, and they are the best of them in my opinion, everybody seems to like the HD44 up front since it has open knuckles and disc brakes, and the power assist to power steering swap is a very common swap anymore. and yea, a 460 is the power house for these trucks, but if you do the right things to a 400, you can have something that sits right with a 460

 

Where at in PA do you live? I am 17 years old and found a pretty rust free 1979 F-250 in Pleasantville PA. I was just going to paint it and do a few engine mods like intake, carb, and headers. However, I ended up spending every weeks paycheck on the damn thing to do a frame off resto. It was well worth it though!! Anyway, I live in Erie PA, and I might be able to keep an eye out for something for you.

TheBlueMule

 

Well since you got the Ranger to beat on and you have a decent amout of cash saved up I would still suggest keep saving your money for now. BUT keep your eyes peeled for a 79 F-350 SuperCab. If you get one of those that will be the last truck you ever need to buy. Except for maybe a 78-79 F-250 CrewCab (preferably a Lariat). So save up and go for the holy grail dont worry so much about gettin a Highboy.

 

Like FordTrucksKickGM said, rust is an issue here in PA for sure. That's why Lizzy is asleep in the barn right now, as I watch the snow fly outside! Despite that, there is a surprising number of these trucks still on the road, at least in my area. Just watch out for a lot of rust if you're looking at trucks--wheel wells, cab corners, floor pan, frame(especially the cross members) etc, etc... Take a small magnet with you to make sure a truck that appears in good shape isn't full of Bondo.

Where to look? Like someone else asked, what part of PA are you in? I'm in Central PA, where the men are men and the sheep are scared. The best sources around here are classified publications like "The Ad Bargain" and "The Bargain Sheet" Pennswoods.net has good classifieds on their site too and I see a lot of dentsides on there from PA, NY and MD.

Wow. Long post.

 

Some advice from another fellow Pa resident, the biggest issue that you will find, especially with a Hiboy is rust. It seems like the cabs are bad for rust up until about 78, I think Ford started rust-proofing a little better after that. Unfortunately, the Hiboys were only made up to 77.5... If you do find a Hiboy, and it is an original PA truck, it is likely that the bed and cab have already been replaced or at least repaired, so look for hack jobs and redneck engineering. Nice, solid trucks are out there, but they are harder to come by and tend to command a lot of money. For $3000, you might be better off finding a 78-79 3/4 ton, or even a 1/2 ton and build it up the way you want (that's what I'm doing with my '77).

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. If you find a truck and need some more advice, don't hesitate to post here. There are a lot of helpful, knowledgeable people on here.

 

Its an awsome choice to want a Hiboy. I just got my truck back in September of this year. Shes a 77 F150 Custom. Like they all said, just watch the rust. I'm in CT and the worst part of the rust is the bed which im looking for a new one!

 

I live down in a small town named Schoeneck in Lancaster County.Nice to hear from some other pennsylvanians! I appriciate all the help and info from everyone.

 

welcome to FTE!

"highboy" - Ford fans named these trucks this. it's a 67-77.5 F250 4x4. they were typical of the in-cab tank. they sat ~ 4 inches higher than the 77.5-79 F250 4x4s. they had the divorced transfer case. like Ford Stable said get a 4 inch lift on a 77.5-79 F250 and you'll have the same stuff as a highboy except better (power steering, married transfer case, and a gas tank NOT in your cab).

you'll spend a lot more than $3000 for an ok looking highboy on the east coast. but remember if you do find and excellent deal, you still have to put gas in that truck, too.

good luck on your search.