My buddy drives tow truck and he mentioned that theres a '79 Ford F-350 in the impound yard. Apparently it is a 4x4 and no one has come to claim it. In a few weeks he says that its theres. I was talking to him and told him that Id be very interested in it. Says that he gets first dibs on it and if I want it to let him know. My question is what kind of running gear would it most likely have?? A D60?? by chance?? Or something else??

 

79 Was the only year for a 4x4 F350, and this will have a D60 front axle with a D60 rear axle, unless it has been changed.
I have seen plenty of "real" F350 4x4's that have been picked clean of the desireable front axle.
KNow what you are buyinig and be able to recognize these parts.

Do not go by the door jamb build numbers, or by what any codes may say. This will only tell you what came with the truck originally, and does not tell you if you have found something that is left behind because somebody else robbed the good stuff first.
Be able to visually identify these parts.

 

So how do you tell?? Ive got a couple o weeks left ta try and figure it out. What motor and running gear would it come with??

 

i've seen one f350 with a dana 44 front. it was a 1 owner truck and all original. it had full time 4x4 with the d44. but like 75 said, you need to be ably to identify these parts. if you know what a dana 44 looks like, you'll know a d60 to see it. it's much bigger. if you need to, look at the rear dif cover then look at the front. the dif will be the same on both ends, just over by the driver wheel. i know they use a different bolt to hold the cover on too (i think 9/16 for d60, 1/2 for d44). also, the dana 44 hub is the biggest giveaway without getting on the ground. all the 78-79 f250s with the d44 have the smaller hub. the highboy d44 has d60 outers and the center section will need to be looked at, but that doesnt apply here. the d60 hub is huge in comparison to the d44. so.......hubs will be very large, and center sections will be the same front and rear. on the 44 you can see some of the mounting surface between the wheel and hub. someone on here probably has pics somewhere.

 

Could have had a 400 with either a C6 or a 4 speed (NP 435). It will have a married NP 205 transfer case.
Could also be a fairly rare inline 6. Have not seen to many of those in F350's bu they are on the books.
I would not worry about the engine or the trans. You are concerned abot the front axle. The F350 has the very desireable D60F with long diver side axle tube. This king pin axle will go under anything with a driver side front output. Later model axles are cool, but do not have the interchangeability of this axle.
This axle alone brings decent cheddar, and is why many purchase the 79F3350, or 250 with a snowfighter package.
This is a view of the knuckle from a D44. Notice the ball joints. The correct D60 F for this year will not have ball joints like this:


Now, here is a shot of the knuckle for a KP D60F. Notice the 4 studs / bolts that are on top of the knuckle itself. Keep in mind that the axle must be an open knuckle axle, which means that you can see the axle shafts and axle u joints just behind the knuckles. Closed knuckle axles have a large ball at the end of the axle, and it houses the smaller u-joints.
Here is that shot:


Read through this Mr.N's Dana Articles to Include 44, 60 information. and you can be a pro at axle identification. Alright maybe not a pro, but you will be able to acknowledge a few differences.

 

Another way to identify it is that there is a "60" cast in to the bottom right web of the center chunk, as viewed from the diff cover. It is probably covered in grime, but if you scratch around with either a sharp object or a small wire brush, you can find out for sure.

 

mine doesn't have anything stamped into it but the bom number on the long tube

 

Even without ident of the parts, if you can get it for a good price and it runs then you should be able to recoup your costs by resale of the whole rig or maybe make more cash by parting it out ...

 

Bingo.. Thats what I was thinking until just recently. What my thoughts are now is maybe Ill get back into buying these Fords '87-'91 pickups fixing what is wrong with em and reselling them again for a bit more. And my F-150 isnt a good candidate for towing with a tow bar so if I keep the 350 itd be better to tow with. As a matter of fact I know what I could start with. Theres a guy down the street from me with a 80's full size Bronco.

 

Well how ever you go good luck and I'd love to get a 79 350 4X4 on the cheap. let us know what you wind up with.

 

And if you find a diesel then you really have a good truck ...

 

I for sure will let ya know what it is.. And they make diesel's for pickup back then??

 

I run an '85 ... I am sure someone made a diesel back in the 70's ...

 

That would be cool. I was on the understanding that a diesel has more torque then a gas engine is that true??

 

Well I just phoned my bud and he gave me some more info on it... Sounds F'n right on man 78 Ford F-350 4X4 and its a flat deck so hopefully it has baby duels on it and a D-60 I mean even if it needs another motor thatd be awesome. Im going to go see it today so Ill let ya guys know what it is. Maybe even take a few pics while Im out there.