Hello All

[2Hcattle]

I just found this forum while doing some research. Trying to decide if I really want to buy the 1977 F250 4x4 hi-boy I just found.

It's rough but complete, last tagged in 07 but was started a year ago. Leaks everywhere, rusted through floor pans, ragged out interior, and was used for a hog hunting ride so there is grip tape on the hood and an eyelet in the hood also to tie dogs to.

Rough life of abuse and neglect.

The plus side is I can buy it for scrap price, it's a mile from my shop, I don't really care about the outside, I kind of like the "beater" look, has dealer air that looks to be complete, original motor (400), tranny (4 speed), and t-case, cab corners seem solid and comes with a flat bed.

So how much money am I looking at to get it back in drivable shape? Talking fixing leaks, brakes, tune up (hopefully that will be enough on the motor), new cab seals, door hinges, floor pans, and door panels. Not planning on touching the outside for now.

I know that's a really broad question but ball park answers would work great. Thanks all.

 

[slmann]

Welcome to the site.

 

[Beach66Bum]

Welcome to FTF.
You're probably looking at $3,000 to have it all fixed and road safe. (tune-up, tires(rims?) brakes!! lighting/electrical, complete flush of all fluids and refill, shocks, exhaust, and more...)

that's what it cost me for my '83 F250. And then I spent more on it to get the factory options since it was only a base model.

 

[fatherdoug]

The sky is the limit! Rust repair/replacement will be costly, unless you can do it yourself. Make sure the electrical is intact without a bunch of splices and/or hack jobs. Hog hunting might have been hard on the suspension.............

 

[2Hcattle]

Thanks guys. Lights all come on, I'm sure I'll find some issues if I rip into it. Rust patching I can do myself, not to show quality, but that's not my goal with it. Suspension appears to be SHOT. Gonna take all new everything to do it right. Cab and radiator mounts are bad also. (Guessing most of you already figured that though.). Rims are factory steel and that suits me for now. Brakes, well, its a manual, I can gear it down if I have to. .

I grew up driving one a lot like this one, Dad was always in to big of a hurry to fix brakes, and didn't have the patience to do it right anyway. Its amazing how much faster they get when someone pulls out in front of you and the brake pedal goes to the floor. Especially when your hooked onto a gooseneck full of cattle.

 

[fatherdoug]

If it were me I would pay a little more for one in better shape. 2WD vehicles can be had fairly cheap, depending on the region and economy.

But, I wish you the best in whatever you buy.

 

[smokey]

Sounds like a headache to me.
Been down that road buy a heap because it was cheap then sink more money into it and time only to gave a more expensive heap.
You would be better to wait it out for something in better shape.

 

[SuperCab]

Sounds like a headache to me.
Been down that road buy a heap because it was cheap then sink more money into it and time only to gave a more expensive heap.
You would be better to wait it out for something in better shape.

Been there, done that. It's great to find one that needs work and bring it back to life, but one like that that was basically left for dead is not usually worth it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to FTF. Some good advice here.

 

[kiwi f150]

If you can get it for scrap price park it round the back of the shop and keep it there while you're looking for another tidier one to make one truck out of two