Driving A Restored 76 F250 4x4 Daily

[texan79&96]

i am seriously thinking of trading my reliable daily driven 96 f1504x4 for a very clean 76 f250 4x4. my truck has no carpet or tailgate the 300/5spd 136,000miles nice stereo, power everything, toolbox, 3" body and leveling spacers, rancho 5000s, rear 8000lb winch and front winch bumper made for body lift. everything works great and the future plans for it was to put my 79 pickup drivetrain under it (np435,205,d44 9"). but i now have a big 79 bronco that will become the toy. the f250 built 9/75 has new paint wich looks like there could be a little bondo above the rear passenger fender, but absolutely no rust anywhere else if there is any.i think there is bondo there because my bronco has some rust starting there but it might just be a dent the paint job is very smooth with no "orange peel", new interior, chrome, everythings dry underneath. motor has high oil pressure and no smoke or blow by of any kind. very nice engine compartment. weatherstripping is also new. is has no ac or cruise and there seems to be a little play in the steering column it has a little aftermarket steering wheel. its a high boy i guess its on new 33s on new chrom mags on what looks to be stock suspension with plenty of room. it has a granny low and divorced 205 with warn premium lock outs. there is a horizontal spooled winch under the front bumper and old-school grill gaurd. it has a new rear bumper also. it runs and drives great and the breaks will lock up but it wont stop like my 96 im assuming thats normal. they want $5900 for it and will trade me straight up its at a small used lot. is this a good idea? what engines were used in 76 someone said its a 460 thats also looked at it but it doesnt seem any bigger than my bronco 400 if that big. the number of valve cover bolts = what possiblity in 1976? gas milage isnt a big issue because if i keep my 96 its gonna be big and terrible on the highway anyway. this would be my everyday driver and would get rear disk brakes and a new aftermarket steering shaft. my dad had a 72 ford that had almost 300,000 on it when he finally traded it in i love these old trucks.

 

[texan79&96]

sorry the winch is a wierd vertical spool ive never seen one like it what would it be?

 

[77F150]

Go for it! Of your not concerned about mileage then it sounds like a preatty good buy. I would double check everything and try to get as much history as possible, I know that can be hard buying from a dealer. You really can't beat these old trucks and it sounds like it's not in too bad of shape. One thing I always try to remember is I can fix 99% of the things that go wrong with them, but I don't have a scan tool or computer to figure out what's wrong with some of the new stuff. KISS it Keep it simple stupid. Always a good motto to live by. B)

 

[Guest]

i'd do it too,I drive a 73 f250 4x4 everyday.I've had problems here and there but it's been paid for for a long time and I love it

 

[highboy73]

my old f-250 took my dad and me to work for a lot of years andi suppose it will me for more years to come.

there is always something needing to be done on old ones but atleast you don't have a payment.I am constantly improving mine to make it nicer to ride and drive

plus I love the way people look up at me at lights and give me a thumbs up.

after all theses years of working on it I know everything about my truck every noise and problems almost everything is lifetime warranty on it so when things do wear out I just take it back,just costs me time.

I even have air,tilt,cruise,cd player,delay wipers nice interior and decent gas mileage.still gatering all the chrome for a paint job should be able to do it this spring hopefully.

 

[Col Klinx]

I drive my unrestored 78 everywhere i need to go. Its my first truck that i hope to keep for years to come, its also my only vehicle. Besides if anything breaks its easier to fix than these newer cars with the computers and all.I also like the fact that they don't use mch plastic, if any on the body and such. I just keep working on/improving mine as I go.

 

[texan79&96]

ive decided against it becuase id probably start tinkerin on that truck and make it a toy also. i really need to get my bronco built. thats a real nice 250 though maybe someday

 

[highboy73]

yeah we all know what happens when you got too many irons in the fire