77 Short Bed 4x4
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77 Short Bed 4x4
I have a chance to buy a 77 short bed 4x4 that needs the tranny rebuilt, floor pans, little cab rust above passenger door and light bed damage. After picking it up there will be roughly $800 invested before any work. What are these trucks worth?? Thanks (also is short bed from a crewcab same as a shortbed regular cab????)
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
the beds are either just shy of 7' or a full 8'. Thats it. So a shortbed is a shortbed no matter what cab.
I'd say it would depend on the kinda shape its in and what kinda running gear. If the only thing thats wrong with it is what you mentioned and its an F250 with a 460 and NP 205 and front dana 60, $800 could be a steal just for parts. If its an F150 with straight six and it needs a new tranny, the motor has low compression, the brake lines are rotten out, the frame is rusted, the transfer case doesn't shift right, and youre buying it to drive it, then $800 is a rip off.
Me personally, I don't think I'd buy a truck planning to daily drive it without being able to drive it. You have no way of knowing if the engine does ok under load, if the brakes work, if the transfer case and axles are all right...
I'd say it would depend on the kinda shape its in and what kinda running gear. If the only thing thats wrong with it is what you mentioned and its an F250 with a 460 and NP 205 and front dana 60, $800 could be a steal just for parts. If its an F150 with straight six and it needs a new tranny, the motor has low compression, the brake lines are rotten out, the frame is rusted, the transfer case doesn't shift right, and youre buying it to drive it, then $800 is a rip off.
Me personally, I don't think I'd buy a truck planning to daily drive it without being able to drive it. You have no way of knowing if the engine does ok under load, if the brakes work, if the transfer case and axles are all right...
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it is a 150 and has a 351m in it for a motor. I have just had a hard time finding shortbed 4x4's are they really that rare. I figure I'll have about 3500 in it to run on the road with everything fixed (I have friends doing the body & engine work pretty cheap and they are certified)
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I'd say if you're plannin' to drive it, and you can't afford 15-20% more than you think it will cost and 25-50% more time than you think, then you probably should pass on it. It may be a steal for someone, but if you can't afford it, then it isn't a steal for you. Just my rule of thumb. Of course if it takes less time and/or money, then it's just bonus for you. But it's a gamble if you don't have it.
351m's are considered to be pretty big dogs from what I know. Can't say for sure, haven't driven one. I imagine it depends a lot on the engine to. Had a 351w one time that was a total dog cause it was wore out. Had to use the granny low even with no load on the truck if you were starting up a hill. Don't know til you drive it.
Give it a good hard look over, and I'd read through this thread, cause it has some good advice from a bunch of people.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...lder-ford.html
Of course, if it's what you've been looking for forever, and you can get a price you're satisfied with, then that's something too.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
351m's are considered to be pretty big dogs from what I know. Can't say for sure, haven't driven one. I imagine it depends a lot on the engine to. Had a 351w one time that was a total dog cause it was wore out. Had to use the granny low even with no load on the truck if you were starting up a hill. Don't know til you drive it.
Give it a good hard look over, and I'd read through this thread, cause it has some good advice from a bunch of people.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...lder-ford.html
Of course, if it's what you've been looking for forever, and you can get a price you're satisfied with, then that's something too.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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From: West Virginia
You are right that the shortbed 4wd's are rare. I've never liked them but I forget how much everyone else does. lol.
Shortbed parts are harder to find than long bed parts. I think you should look at it and then look on ebay and stuff at similar trucks (or classifieds on here or whatever) and be realistic. If you could buy a nice truck from down south and drive or ship it home for $2500 or $3000, and this $800 will cost you $3000 to tear apart and cobble back together, then you're better off buying a better truck to start with. Having said that, I just bought the first supercab I found and Its getting a frame swap and a long bed and 4wd and I'm sure I coulda just bought a longbed supercab 4wd for less than I'll have in it. So I can't blame you if you just want a project and you want to work on it. Just make sure you don't get in over your head or you'll end up as one of those regular craigslist ads where they guy can't sell his $4000 project for $500 cause none of the work is done quite right and its all in pieces he can't put back together.
Shortbed parts are harder to find than long bed parts. I think you should look at it and then look on ebay and stuff at similar trucks (or classifieds on here or whatever) and be realistic. If you could buy a nice truck from down south and drive or ship it home for $2500 or $3000, and this $800 will cost you $3000 to tear apart and cobble back together, then you're better off buying a better truck to start with. Having said that, I just bought the first supercab I found and Its getting a frame swap and a long bed and 4wd and I'm sure I coulda just bought a longbed supercab 4wd for less than I'll have in it. So I can't blame you if you just want a project and you want to work on it. Just make sure you don't get in over your head or you'll end up as one of those regular craigslist ads where they guy can't sell his $4000 project for $500 cause none of the work is done quite right and its all in pieces he can't put back together.
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I know what you mean. I did come across one that is much closer but is a stepside bed for $500 and it is driving right now. Do you know if 78's ever came out with factory sunroofs?? This truck has one and I can't say I have seen one before?
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Fleet Owner
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From: NorCal
I finally found a shortbed 4x4 and snapped it up for dirt cheap. Let's say i bought a set of new 35-inch tires with an attached truck. $1,500 later and it has a new 4-inch lift, camo paint, and an integral power steering swap from the 78/79 Bronco.
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if its somethin you dont plan on drivin right away, go for it. that 351M has as horrible rep as its 400 brother (they are the exact same motor with different strokes) and they are dogs. factory. put about $100 into a completely stock 351M/400 and youll be more than happy with its performance. put $300 to $500 in one, and youll run circles around yourself. the trannies are also super simple and fairly cheap to rebuild or replace. if it was me, id have bought it already.
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