Going to look at a 79 F250 soon.

[koda6966]

79 F250 dually 4x4 4 speed 300 cid runs great 4x4 and transmission work good as well .Frame very solid good suspension Stake rack with two sets of sides class 3 reciever good rubber.The only down fall the truck has is the cab has seen better days. I have owned this truck for seven years has never let me down I very seldom use it anymore that is my only reason for selling her. $875

Know of anything specific to this generation that I should look for?

Pictures.
http://images.craigslist.org/3oe3p43l05Tf5P25Re9aj8bea21ca2ab5195d.jpghttp://images.craigslist.org/3n23p43o55O05Tb5R69aj0dc92a3ee6fc109f.jpg

[1badexplorer]

typical rust under cab on mounts. Another very common problem is 351-400Modified engines loose oil pressure when hot. Also check out how they got those dually wheels on the truck because they shouldn't be there. Make sure they have a decent looking adapter so it don't shake or fly off when driving.

[koda6966]

Well it doesn't have the 351, it's just got the strait six.

[metalmacguyver]

Did the front axle have ball joints or kingpins?

[1badexplorer]

Did the front axle have ball joints or kingpins?

doubtful its got a d60 if its got a 300. Most of the f250s with a 300 were a light GVW rating. But still possible. Boy that would be a sweet deal if it had a d60 and a nice flatbed.

[rusty ol ranger]

Actually, i seen another F250 dually in the junkyard (1978 model) that was outfitted with a wrecker unit.

But i was wondering if it was some sort of a basterd cause it had a 360????

But anyways, just because it has a 300 doesnt mean its a light GVW. They used them in F700's....but anyways, if it has a D70HD rear end like my 78 1 ton dually has make sure you check for leaks, those big ol gears make alot of heat that dont like low fluid :)

Is it 4sp or automatic?

Should be a kingpin front end, ive never seen a 79 or older with balljoints

later,
Dustin

[1badexplorer]

Actually, i seen another F250 dually in the junkyard (1978 model) that was outfitted with a wrecker unit.

But i was wondering if it was some sort of a basterd cause it had a 360????

But anyways, just because it has a 300 doesnt mean its a light GVW. They used them in F700's....but anyways, if it has a D70HD rear end like my 78 1 ton dually has make sure you check for leaks, those big ol gears make alot of heat that dont like low fluid :)

Is it 4sp or automatic?

Should be a kingpin front end, ive never seen a 79 or older with balljoints

later,
Dustin

Ford never built a 4x4 dually untill 1984. So its either a single wheel truck with duallys on the back or a dually that someone put a 4x4 front axle in. A 79 an older 4x4 ford can have balljoints if it has a dana 44 front axle. Most f250s have the dana 44 front. Only a dana 60 has kingpins with the exception of the real old fords that had a ball&socket type dana 44 (closed knuckle) with drum brakes. They also had king pins.

[koda6966]

The cab is apparently rust free except on the top, which is common with older trucks that didn't see alot of salt. He also said that it is a newer (80's) cab that he put on the truck. Oh, and it has the 4spd.

Basically this will be replacing my fathers 1987 Dodge 150 Power Ram (W150) pickup that is rusted all to hell, has a bad carb, bad rear end, can't haul a pallet, and has a broken spring shackle.

[85_Ranger4x4]

The cab is apparently rust free except on the top, which is common with older trucks that didn't see alot of salt. He also said that it is a newer (80's) cab that he put on the truck. Oh, and it has the 4spd.

The truck in the picture does not have a 1980's cab on it.

80-86 looked like this, they played with the front clip and interior up until '96 but left the cab overall loking pretty similar:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/1985f250.JPG

[koda6966]

Maybe it was an earlier cab then. This is information I'm getting from my Father, who got it from my Mother, who called the guy.

[ZMan]

Thats definitely a 73-79 cab in that truck. Definitely not a D60 as they only came in F-250 Sno-fighter trucks (factory snow plow package).

he says the cab has seen better days, so I'm assuming is got rust in all the usual places, floors, rear cab wall where it meets the floor, doors are probably junk, from rust and those huge mirrors.

[68Mercury250Ranger]

From the pics, and the stance of the truck, I'm betting it has a 77.5-79 cab/front on a pre 77.5 "highboy chassis.
there are a few ways to identify the difference:
77.5-79 had integral PS box
highboy had a manual steering box with an assist ram.

77.5-79 chassis will not accept dual wheels on the rear dana60 without adapters 3" wide rear leafs
highboy chassis will take duals, but not recommended on the 1/2" studs
2.25" rear leafs

77.5-79 has a mated Tcase to trans. manual or auto.
highboy has a remote Tcase with 3 driveshafts.

77.5-79 has either a dana 60 open kingpin front or dana 44 open balljoint, both highpinion/Reverse cut diffs.
highboys were all low pinion/straight cut fronts, mostly drum.... 76/77 some disc brake 44 and 60s open knuckles but still straight cut gears


another thing is that on the highboys, there is a crossmember immediately behind the front bumper.

If I had more time I could think of more differences but that is probably enough :D

:beer:for the pre 1980 Ford trucks

[koda6966]

Thats definitely a 73-79 cab in that truck. Definitely not a D60 as they only came in F-250 Sno-fighter trucks (factory snow plow package).
he says the cab has seen better days, so I'm assuming is got rust in all the usual places, floors, rear cab wall where it meets the floor, doors are probably junk, from rust and those huge mirrors.

The huge mirrors will be gone after about a week of quarry work. The tight trails up to the quarry weren't too fond of the mirrors on the dodge and they were tiny. We will probably convert to smaller flag style mirrors.

Gonna go look at it either tonight or tomorrow. I'll check for that crossmember.

Oh, and I asked my father about the truck again, he said that he called the guy himself and the truck is a 79, with a 76 cab on it which is MOSTLY rust free except the top. Apparently, it has some roof rust and whatnot. He said the cab has seen better days because it is four different colors, has NO clearcoat, and is dirty and scratched.

Rust isn't a big deal if you have seen my Nissan or have seen the Dodge. I might have had pictures of my Chevy on here before.. I dunno. But my father drove that for a few years with no floor.

[koda6966]

Bought her. Pics to come when we bring her home. If I had the money I would have bought it myself, I managed to talk the guy down to 750 with my obsessive compulsive habit of meticulously scanning fords.

She's a 1979 F250 Highboy (Had the crossmember) with rust just like I thought and some body damage and rust. It has a narrower dual wheel axle on it. The cab is from an F250 Custom, and is in decent shape for the age. Were planning on painting it Camo. Has almost new tires on it as well, but we will be replacing the front ones because they are the wrong size.

The only bad things I could see was that it doesn't have a heater, needs exhaust work but the guy had some extra stuff he through in for it, and it needs a passenger side spring hangar on the back.

Oh, and I love the bed.

[68Mercury250Ranger]

If it has the crossmember right behind the front bumper its a highboy but not a 79, 73-76 had F#50 emblem on the fender and 77-79s had it on the cowl...... its probably a 76 chassis with remote mount Tcase and a 79 cab and front, that would explain a lot. if it has the 300 6cyl, it will be 4.10 ratios or even 4.56 so you lucked out with offroad gearing.

nice score:icon_thumby:

[koda6966]

This is so confusing. I'm just gonna post a crapload of pictures when we get it to our house so you guys can figure it out. :D

[orfordguy@yahoo.com]

just glads to see true ford guys that know there stuff, for the majority..

[koda6966]

Picked it up today. I'll have pictures tomorrow MAYBE.

From the 10 minutes of following it, she seems to drive fine. Only issue is I saw it missed a gear but I think that was because my father hasn't droven stick in about 6 years or so.

[koda6966]

Pics!

Passenger side.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2177.jpg

Front.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2178.jpg

Drivers side.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2183.jpg

Rear end. Gotta love the bed.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2184.jpg

It's got a pair of stake body sides as well.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2185.jpg

Is this the highboy cross member, or something to do with a plow?
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2179.jpg

According to the Seller, this is a Class III receiver. Anyone want to describe the different classes to me?
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2186.jpg

I tried to get a good picture of the rear end. It is a true dual axle, since it isn't as wide as a single axle.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2187.jpg

The exhaust hanging down. We'll be fixing that within the next 10 days to pass inspection.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2188.jpg

Here's that torn shackle. Anyone know where I can get one of these, new or used? ANY help is appreciated.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2189.jpg

It has two different manual hubs on the front. I'm guessing the red ones are stock.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2190.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r115/rdnx4life/Dads%20new%20truck/100_2191.jpg

[metalmacguyver]

I think you can still get that spring hanger from ford.

Did you notice the SRW front axle/wheels with the duals in the back? that tells you the rear axle was swapped in.

[1badexplorer]

I'm not sure if you can still get that hanger from ford. If you do go to Ford tell than you need it for a 76 High boy. That truck is a high boy it has a narrower spring than other F250s. The rear isnt stock, Either it has longer studs with dual wheels or it is a cab chassis rear axle. The highboys have a 34" wide frame is the rear just like a cab chassis a 78-79 f250 or a 150 has a 38" wide frame. To figure out what kind of rear it is. Look in the web casting around the dif cover, It should say either 60 or 70. If it is a 60 then it is stick rear, ir 70 then swapped in cab chassis rear. Also if you cant find that, then look at the brake drums and wheel studs. Measure how wide the drums F250s had 2.5" wide drums duallys are wider. A 250 has a 1/2 stud a dually uses 9/16s. Either rear is possible. On a highboy, you can put duallys on with only a small spacer or just bolt in a whole new rear.

The front is a HD dana 44. The red hub is stock, the other hub is an external lockout from an old dodge od chevy. To swap this over you must change the hole hub (cast part that houses wheelbearings and attaches to rotor) to go from an internal to external or vice versa.

I have an old 76 Highboy for parts, I will check on that hanger and stuff for you.

[koda6966]

If anyone on here has that spring shackle or a good starter I'd be willing to buy it probably.

[Will]

Pics!
According to the Seller, this is a Class III receiver. Anyone want to describe the different classes to me?

It's an unregulated industry so there is no legal, official, definition. People generally call a 2" receiver hitch a Class III. Below is a chart from GM's towing guide, and it's pretty much what hitch manufacturers follow.

About your hitch, it's got some things about it--besides needing to be wire wheeled and the welds inspected, plus the bolts replaced and the frame of the truck inspected--it looks a little scary to me. But it's not a particularly heavy receiver hitch. It doesn't go very far forawrd along the frame, it doesn't have a lip along it to stiffen it, and it hangs down so far it looks like it could twist up. But it looks good enough for what it was most likely used for.

http://therangerstation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2713&stc=1&d=1256914779

[koda6966]

The V portion of the hitch was added by the previous owner basically to add a little support from the hitch being pushed up. And the frame is 100% solid.