I have recently purchased a 1976 F250 Highboy 4x4 with a 390 punched out either 10 or 20 over and a 4 speed on the floor. The engine was put in the truck back in the 80's by the guy that originally built the truck. That engine is a Target Engine too by the way, apparently back then that was something to have I dont know never heard of Target Engines. I want to make this truck into a mud slinging beast but also want to keep it street legal so it will most probably go on 35's. This is the only 4x4 I have other than it I have a little s10 I drive back and forth to work as the wheather allows, which is where the beast comes in. Over time I intend to restore the truck entirely. A little more info on the truck: apart from the 4x4, 390, and 4sp this truck has a very unusual rear leaf spring kit on it inwhich there are I kid you not I will put pics eventually as I learn how but 14 springs per side. There are if I remember correctly either 10 or 11 on the lower stack and then about two inches of space then another 3 or 4 in a second stack. I farm for a living and we stacked seed bean bags on the flatbed (yes its a flatbed by the way) all the way up over the cab and even some on top of the cab and it didnt squat a bit no joke. This thing has a front bumper that was built out of the lift cylinders that once lifted semis at the grain elevator local to here. Its a real animal. I was searching for some direction inwhich to start to get towards my finished product. I want the truck to have an original exterior appearance other than I will most probably leave the flatbed..i kinda like it. Please advise as to which direction you guys would start with this truck.

 

safety first. check over your brake system, then your electrical, to make sure everything is up to snuff. sounds like your truck has overloads on the back. make sure everything is up to snuff and modify/fix the basics first, then go ahead and start with the fun stuff.

 

it has sat since 2004 or at least according to the sticker on the plates. im sure i could find some electrical issues that need repaired. also the speedo, tach and basically all other gages on the cluster dont work other than the fuel gage. any advise on that?

 

also having some problems with the headlights. i really dont understand this one cause im showing over 15 volts of juice to the hotside, a good ground and yet no lights. im guessing the headlights are shot but yet when i hardwire them to the battery they light up...?????? i plugged them in and sure enough it showed over 15 volts to all three poles including the ground. All other lights on the truck are working including the clearance lights on top, but they are all quite dim and the blinkers flash very fast and I dont have brakelights for some odd reason.

 

Your rig sounds a lot like the one I just brought home. I have a 76 as well but I believe it has a 360. Mine had a flat bed on it but it is off now. I also have the stacked leaf springs and the story I got was the truck used to be a tow truck. Not real sure how much truth there is to that but thats what I was told.

 

hmm i dont know. The guy that originally built my truck back in the 80's is a John Deere diesel mechanic with a monster garage attitude, hard saying where he came up with that rear end.

 

How are you coming on your truck? did you figure out the electrical problems. Sounds like a grounging issue.