Further into the dark side? new to me 77 Highboy

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Well I think I have fell too far off my rocker this time.
Last night I traded off my Samurai for a 77 F250 Highboy with a 460 engine that sounds cammed up and a whole bunch of trinkets and a c6 that has no forward gears. Overall the truck is in pretty good shape, in 09 an old man was using it as a show/parade truck with chrome badges, flags... you can probably guess all the doodads everywhere. Shortly thereafter he passed away and his son inherited it and supposedly did not treat it well. The feller I got it from was uh... not the brightest tool in the shed and took it to Rush KY and lost the tranny and massaged the rear quarter panels some. It does start and sounds tight, carries 40-42lbs of oil pressure and when warmed up some luggs like its cammed so once the carb is cleaned and tuned we'll see. The fact that the front tires have 75% tread and rears are down to the cords may be an indication of why the tranny is shot, so the plan is either rebuild the one that is in it, find another c6, or swap it out for a NP435 which is my preference. Ill throw some pictures up later on but figured id post up and let the dissappointment begin. It was sad to see the samurai go but it has sat for the last 8-10 months and 13 months before that so I was about to part it out so I just needed something new and if I ever want to do a samurai again I am going to start fresh.







Que 70's lingo;10-4 over and out.

[LAR-308]

Welcome to the older truck club, They have more class than the new ones. I perfer a stick, what does ford offer for a 5 or 6 speed. I assume you have a devorced transfercase, It would be an easy swap with a 2wd trans, Ron

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Standard trans options from that era were 4 speeds np435, t18, t19. I have located a np435 in ohio with clutch linkages from a high boy and a transmission bell from a 400m which will fit the big block bolt pattern but the 460 had a different crank protusion from the rear of the engine which is 1/2" further out. To remedy this i can use a 390 flywheel and clutch and a 302 pilot bearing that sits further into the crank. 5 speed otions are a zf5 trans from a 83-90+ 460 and use the hydraulic clutch setup and flywheel/clutch, but most likely my engine is a pre 79 which is internally balanced so i would have to machine the weight off of the flywheel from a later 460 and zero balance it. I much prefer a standard as well but the cost is 2-3 times more to convert, vs. a 200 dollar rebuild or 100-200 c6. MPGs are not a huge concern as it will never get better than 11 most likely even with a standard 5 speed but driving will only be to cruise around and maybe a novice run if i feel stupid that day, i figure the c6 would yield 6-8mpg. Supposedly the engine is a 460 block with cobra jet heads and a new edelbrock carb but im not holding my breath, seems to sound good, havent ran it much more than 3-4mins but it fired immediately and didnt knock.

[LAR-308]

Considering the options, looks like the 435 is the best choice. What size tires does it have on it? Ron

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Currently 33x12.5x16.5 and the rears have litterally been burnt to the cords (wonder why tranny is smoked). I'd like to throw hummer tires/wheels on it eventually but am on the lookout for anything to drive in the meantime.

[Flint]

Let me know if you find a source for some like new hummer wheels. I have an old set I may sell if I can find some wheels and tires like new.

My wheels are the old 8 bolt style and I like the 12 bolt better. Tires are about 30% tread.

[ernie]

Have you thought of the possibility that it has so much power that the front wheels rarely touch the ground? I think your first upgrades should be a chrome triple hoop roll bar for those lights on top and much bigger mirrors. Those things are much more important than silly old transmissions.
Tyler

[mtnbiker4evr13]

You like those, check this picture out I found in the glove box circa 09

[mtnbiker4evr13]

I know you can get them through Trail Worthy Fabrication, they do stock and recentered, also Alpha Tread and 100 dollar man. Sadly those are all out west or south, I know 12 bolts are the new standard for street driven rigs after some failed with 8s. In a perfect world I would have 24 bolts but at a 100 dollar premium I may stick with 12s. Also the newer baja t/a and Durawall MTR tread patterns seem more round and a better setup for rigs that will see trails vs the old goodyear MT and OZ treads. Still pricey but much cheaper than other options.

[tef]

Gotta get 20s & mud grapplers and to run with the kool kids! Lol

[mtnbiker4evr13]

16.5s aren't cool? What about chrome stickers on the tcase, OK I know blue leds by the headliner highlighting chrome flame ford stickers! As you all know coolness would be an unattainable goal, about the same as tyler.

[tef]

Lol eh leave all the chrome. Make an 80s retro show n shine rig!!

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Picking up an 89 460 and zf5 transmission to put the zf5 in the highboy. Having the extra 460 won't hurt either. Need to find a shop to zero balance the flywheel to work with my internally balanced 460.

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Have a LUK clutch and flywheel setup coming for the big ol' gal. Figured I wont want to drop the trans anytime soon so going with all new parts. Will need to machine the weight off of the flywheel still, looked into zero balance conversion flywheels but they are all 164-176 tooth starter gear setups and my 89 zf5 uses the truck 181 tooth setup and I bought the clutch/flywheel for what those companies want for just the flywheel. I do still need a zf5 shifter as my transmission had its shifter stolen by the PO's son...or one of the goats. I do have some pieces of rebar sitting in the garage that could be made into a shifter if all else fails.

I did poke around the truck and found that it does indeed have 429 cobra jet heads with D00E-R casting numbers and the block is a D1VE-6015 block probably a 71 Lincon 460 or 429 as they share the same block. Ill have to pull a spark plug to check stroke to confirm either one and from what I've read a 429 would have 3.58" stroke vs 460 with 3.83". My other concern is that the new carb installed on the engine is a Edelbrock 1405 which is a 600cfm carb which seems small for that much displacement. I know when tuned it will run fine on the low to mid range and leave some power on the table above 4700rpm (dispite utilizing the skinny pedal on trails I tend to drive like an old man) so im wondering if it would be worth investing in a 650-750cfm setup like an Edelbrock 1411.

[ernie]

Leave the small carb and add nitrous? Does seem kinda small but I drive foreign things so........

[tef]

I used a stock small block quadrajet on my built 454 in my old tow rig. Worked fine for street driving. Had I been racing it or aomething probably could have use more. I'd just run one ya got.

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Update: After a failed attempt to sell the highboy on the list of Craigs or trade it for a blown up 94 civic... rusted out idi... the token foxbody mustang... or a zj. I have decided to keep it, because I can and I apparently think its cooler than everyone else does. Who doesn't want old iron that could probably smoke all 4 tires?

So this past weekend I unhooked all 5 wires to the engine and anything else holding the engine in place in preparation for pulling it next weekend. I need to put the correct engine perches with West Coast Bronco's bulletproof conversion motor mounts so the engine sits in the correct position. With the cobbled car mounts welded to the frame my tranny tunnel is trying to dry hump the zf5 bellhousing in the most concerning way. Soon I'll also order some L and L shortie headers to replace the long tubes that were on it, they looked like they'd roast the clutch slave cylinder and rubbed the frame on the passenger side anyway. Stock truck/van manifolds would work and I would prefer them but new manifolds are the same price as expensive headers so why not?

While the engine is out I plan on de-blinging it, chrome will become black, the extra doo-dads and gee-gaws will be replaced with regular bolts and sensors, all chrome caps will be removed 10000ft of wire loom removed. The oil to water oil cooler will probably stay and I got an Edelbrock 1406 600cfm electric choke carb that may be a little more user friendly. Also this thing had what looks like an automatic choke mechanism that had vaccum and electric hookups and a very old school MSD box on the fenderwell.

Quick poll: while engine is out I could paint it so it should be;

1) Old ford blue
b) Grey
3. Black
d) Buford Gold
k. Pink so its powered by Pink Ponies.

Disclaimer: it will probably be blue or black but you can make your argument for the other options.

[tbshakie]

Chevy Orange just to piss off the ford loyalist!!

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Chevy Orange just to piss off the ford loyalist!!

It would be entertaining to see the reactions, my Chevy blood runs deep as I grew up in an 84 k20 my dad restored. I originally wanted a k20 or k30 but love the sheet metal on these old fords aND every body and their mother has a c/k. A 1uz or 2uz would be sweet to anger the domestic die hards!

Wishful thinking would be Cummins tan!

[xj Tim]

blk all the way

[LAR-308]

This would be an entertaining paint combination, Ron

http://columbus.craigslist.org/cto/5309847996.html

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Seems like alot to try to fit on an engine block but if you want to tackle that for me then she's all yours buddy. Also inevitably it will be covered in oil, every fluid above it, and hopefully dirt so its probably not critical to paint it but I figure might as well while its out. I did order my L and L shortie chassis exit headers (fenderwells are for the mud guys who don't steer) and unlike most other big block trucks I'm aiming to keep the exhaust quiet and most likely a single side exit behind the tire.

I have installed a straight and pretty 73 xlt grill with 73 inserts because I much prefer those to the 77 setup. The "light bar" was removed to fit in my parents garage leaving lots of holes to fill. The visor may or may not stay and the dumb trucker cab lights will be replaced with period correct ones.

Minister Love was kind enough to supply me with a set of steel 16in wheels off of a 1 ton dodge van that actually hold air. With the 245/75 tires the truck looks like twinkle toes compared to the old tires. My 37in MTRs are looking mighty nice for this old thing... if only i could find some cheap H2 wheels...

Hopefully will get to pull the engine this weekend and start tinkering.

[ernie]

Like how quiet? I think that you should keep things like the "light bar". While today they may considered silly it fits the style of the truck which will help us while we cruise with mullets, mustaches, and jean jackets.

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Not too quiet, but not straight pipes either. Something you can idle around tar hollow all day and not be sick of it but enough rumble that little civics feel inadequate.

If you grow a mullet I'll put the light bar back on but it'll need something better than the 5 Wal mart square plastic lights on it.

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Last weekend got the engine pulled and started removing the hacktastic 2wd or car engine mounts welded to the frame. Here's the new front end, kinda weird with amber running lights and 73 inserts but it'll do for now.
And the wheels I stole from Jason... or he let me have them... either way.

Anyone know what the red MSD box is under the hood? Only one wire into and out of it...can't find any info on them.