Found today!

[77fordbornandrasied]

Just out driving on some backroads today and found a bump. single cab short box f250. at a quick glance it looked like dana 60 front and rear. leaf spring front and rear, 78-79 front grill but has gas cap behind the seat??? so prob an older model with the 78-79 grille installed on it looks like she been there awhile but not too too bad shape.. Was there many short box built with 60's front and rear?? I recorded the vin number and goin to try to track down the owner. Also there was a long box f250 leaf spring from just across from it with the gas cap behind the seat but the 78-79 grille in it??

 

[Evan's f250]

You mean a dentside? Well as for the gas tank being behind the seat, the cab is a 73-77. I dont believe a regular cab short bed f250 was ever made. Are you sure its not a f150 with f250 axels/suspension?

Since the cab has the tank behind the seat its a 73-77, it was originally a 1/2 ton, then converted to 3/4 supension, then the 73/77 grille was swapped for 78/79 grille for looks. Many prefer the 78/79 grille over the other grille.

 

[LEB Ben]

Yeah...sounds like a converted 150...also sounds like it's a 73-77. I'm not sure if gas tanks were behind the seats in 150's, so it's probably a 250 swapped cab. Sounds pretty cobbled together, doesn't mean it's not a good truck, but the price would have to be right.

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

from a quick glance the suspension and axles looked stock to me and she had the 250 badges on her as well i will get a few snaps tonight

 

[LEB Ben]

from a quick glance the suspension and axles looked stock to me and she had the 250 badges on her as well i will get a few snaps tonight

My guess is the cab is a 250 cab, and when looking at the door tag, you'll either find a F25 (2wd truck) or a F26 (4wd truck) as the first couple digits of the VIN. But I'd bet if you got the VIN from the frame, it'll be F1X (third digit will depend on it being a 100 or 150 and 2wd or 4wd).

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

only thing throwing me off really is the leaf sprung front end with a d60

 

[LEB Ben]

Easily enough swapped. When I go with the 1 ton upgrade on my Bronco, if I decide to keep leaves up front, will that mean I have an original 250 based Bronco? No, it'll mean it was swapped in.


That said, I suppose it is possible for them to have shortened the bed as well. But the truck is not original.

 

[Evan's f250]

Easily enough swapped. When I go with the 1 ton upgrade on my Bronco, if I decide to keep leaves up front, will that mean I have an original 250 based Bronco? No, it'll mean it was swapped in.


That said, I suppose it is possible for them to have shortened the bed as well. But the truck is not original.

you're right

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

that is why i asked for your guys input i had never scene or heard of 250 shortbox .once again you guys got the answers haha

 

[Evan's f250]

Would still be interesting for all us to see. any pics?

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

i goin to grab some snaps my next days off

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

Alrite went over to take pics of the truck today got the real scoop on it from the owner. The truck is 74 f250 single cab long box originally. the short box on the truck is a spare box he has just laid on the frame and is not in anyway attached or nor frame shortened or modded.. The Front end is from a 78 that he scrapped. Both front and rear are dana 60's, rear axle ratio is 4.10 and the front is 3.50(he says from factory). It had original 360 but it died years ago which he replaced with another 360 which he also wore out. Currently the truck has a I-6 300 in it( apparently snapped motor mounts from the low axle ratio) I was talking to him for little bit and he has another one identical to it at his cottege with the 360 as well. Also he fired the truck up right there runs perfect. he selling both trucks for 500 each..... hummmmmm decisions decisions

 

[LEB Ben]

That sounds more like it. No way in hell it woulda had a 3.50/4.10 gear combo from the factory though...first time you throw it in 4wd, you'd bind then start breaking parts. I'm not getting a good vibe from the seller knowing what he's talking about, so I wouldn't be entirely sure the front would actually be a 60...maybe it is...maybe it's not, but the diff cover bolts up front will be a 1/2" if it's a D44 or 9/16" if it's a 60. As for the short bed, if it's any good, some areas command big money for a solid sb...seen them go as high as $1500...then I'd throw a loggers box on the truck. As I mentioned, I don't have the most faith in this seller, to this point, so I'd go over the engine swap and other mechanicals with a fine tooth comb.


That being said...it's 500 bones, that's 100 over scrap value around these parts, so if nothing else, I'd probably jump on it as a parts rig regardless. And if the front 60 does check out and the short bed goes along with, you're easily sitting on 2k right there if it comes to parting it out.

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

Yea the axle ratio thing threw me way off when he said the front and rear were different. it would be alrite i guess in a completely slippery condition but regards to anything else she would tear herself to pieces. And i checked both axles on both trucks are def no doubt dana 60's

 

[LEB Ben]

Nab it...and if nothing else, sell the front 60 for a grand.

 

[mustangtoby]

Far as I know, the F250's all came with a 44 up front, if it's a 60 it came out of an F350. The mis-matched gears seem to support this, Ford never built them with different gear ratios. That being said, I agree with Ben. The Dana 60's are worth a bundle, even more if they're high pinion (which did come in the extra cab F250, come to think of it). Definetly worth nabbing up if you can. I know I'd love to have a high pinion 60 for my 76 high boy (which is getting ready to get a 79 grill, just cause I like them better!). would love to see some pics when you get a chance.

 

[77fordbornandrasied]

he said he had the gears to change the front back to 4.10 he said he took then out because it was too slow ?????? why would you only change the front ratio right ???

 

[Evan's f250]

Far as I know, the F250's all came with a 44 up front, if it's a 60 it came out of an F350. The mis-matched gears seem to support this, Ford never built them with different gear ratios. That being said, I agree with Ben. The Dana 60's are worth a bundle, even more if they're high pinion (which did come in the extra cab F250, come to think of it). Definetly worth nabbing up if you can. I know I'd love to have a high pinion 60 for my 76 high boy (which is getting ready to get a 79 grill, just cause I like them better!). would love to see some pics when you get a chance.

Nope, some F250's did come with dana 60's up front, especially camper specials. But you're right almost all if not all F350's had the 60 also.

 

[Evan's f250]

he said he had the gears to change the front back to 4.10 he said he took then out because it was too slow ?????? why would you only change the front ratio right ???

Ya really, because if you're driving on the road and its not in 4x4, you're using primarily the rear end.

 

[LEB Ben]

Far as I know, the F250's all came with a 44 up front, if it's a 60 it came out of an F350.

A 60 could be ordered in a 250 in 78...and came standard in the 78 Sno-fighters...and were standard in 79 350's.

Nope, some F250's did come with dana 60's up front, especially camper specials. But you're right almost all if not all F350's had the 60 also.

Never knew the 60 was standard in CS's.