Is it worth it to restore a 1976 Ford 4x4 Highboy F250 or better to buy new?

I have my doubts about restoration. I love this truck (owned it for 30 years now), but I'm tired of the rattles and uncomfortable rides, gas mileage, safety, etc. Is it possible to restore and upgrade at the same time? I hate the gas tank behind the seat and I did add a second 20 gal. saddle tank, so the one behind the seat can come out? It needs to be completely inspected from the frame up replacing worn out bushings, wiring, weather stripping, seat upholstery, paint, engine inspection (tuned perfectly) and anything else that needs it. I want a truck that is safe and comfortable and rides like it's brand new. What's the ballpark cost for complete restoration? I'm trying to convince my wife that it's better and cheaper than buying the same thing new or am I wrong about that? Thank you, MikeSt

Thanks for your great advice Tom! You must have thought for hours before you came up with that little gem. It's people like you that screw up forums like this. I hope you didn't give yourself too much of a headache?

Dont ask anyones opinion regarding YOUR PREFERENCES on restoration. I personally wouldnt take a ford 360 engine for free!! Those old trucks were a pile of dung in my opinion and none have unrusted fenders. Newer trucks have something called science and technology in their design. In an accident parts flying off your vehicle , aka(exploding ), actually absorb great amounts of energy from the impact thus reducing the total acting forces upon your body. Show me one old ford truck that exploded upon impact. They were built like a sherman tank!!! Parts were made to crumple not fly off away from the accident. THis is a big deal!!!! Technology may just save yours and your families lives??? but...there is something about nostalgia that argues with logic. heres an idea......talk the wife into a new truck....then restore your old one....little by little so it doesnt bankrupt you.....eh? now you have both worlds combined and isnt that what makes you happy????

I restored my 78 F250 4x4. Frame up. Am in the process of restoring my late fathers 76. My answer to whether or not you should? GO HARD!!. Yup, it's gonna cost as much as a new truck. Parts are hard to find, getting harder. But, it's 5x the truck of anything on the road now. Doesn't matter if its Ford, GM, or Dodge. It Has ORIGINALITY!!. doesn't look like every other vehicle out there. It's possible to keep the look and upgrade. Fuel injection kits. Air ride kits. AC. Power Locks. Remote start. Radios with blue tooth. If you've a son (or daughter) Old enough to help. (5years and up) it's a great bonding experience. IT WON'T DEPRECIATE!! Drive a new car off the lot lose 12% of it's value. Older vehicles just keep going up. And for rust?? Well, I don't have any on mine. And it's 10 years since I restored it. Here's my pile of "dung". lol... Have at er and have fun.

Im about to restore a 77 highboy needs tons of work and it will be worth ever hour . go for it and if not and you want it gone ill take it

I have a 1976 f250 highboy, that is perfect accept I need a bed. Anyone know where I can find a bed for this truck

ford highboys are the shit i dont care what all those haters(chevy owners) say i have had four of those trucks and when i find them i cant hold on to them i sell them fast.i just recently found two highboys rust free so there out there you got look in the southwest.for rust free.but these truck are worth it when finished they ride and perform just like a new one or better .so restore that bad boy and enjoy for another 30+ years.

We've had our 76 hi-boy since 79. On our 3rd engine, box stock 460 with around 550K total on the truck, 20K on the 460. Front lockers, 8 New shocks, 5 New tires & rims, 2 seats, msd ignition, dash board timing adjustment, replaced the rusty fenders 5 years ago, dual batteries, everything works. Took the shell off a couple of months ago. Looking towards retirement, so selling the beast for 10K. 928.910.3840

primecooling sells a radiator advertised to fit a 1976 f250 4x4 with 360 56mm 3 core, f100 thru f350 1966-1979 but it won't fit a highboy? That seems strange to me. Any one have input. thanks, Greg

'78 f-250 351 c 400+k, engine finally tossing a rod, about to drop 10k USD on total rebuild, been offered 2,500 USD as it sits ,, hmmm,, it's a workhorse, and very little rust atm , worth the rebuild IMO

go for it all the way i just got a 76' F250 and imma full resto it cause it was sitting out in a cow pasture for about 10 years (almost my whole life (im 14) with a 460 4 barrel and that is the funnest vehicle ive ever been in it hits 40 within 3.5-5 seconds and its fun so just go for it all the way have fun with it make the project a hobby

Crazy, was thinking of selling my ‘76 Black Highboy. I searched out Value ? Fuck. I am not selling, restore, has a 30 over 390 cu in I would guess 406? Headers, Cam, runs awesome 14 mpg I built that motor, ran it for 15 years in my 71 highboy. I would be crazy to sell this fine thing

i need rite front vide tinted winure hood and miffov at the door , tanks 2 st ,awide armaturer hood and seet ( lather) m.m. ev hol car cheep . 6,9l diesel automat FWD ccrsss@tele2.se

bought mine in 1988. dad said i lost my mind.cuz its junk . yes it was. non family cash lots of passion and dont give up you will love and appr- it . yup dad is proud of his son now,,that 76 f250 4x4 highboy is almost maintance free simple to work on.hard on fuel so what, i burn 93 only, dont be fooled yhaa its worth it,

I bought a 1977 F-250 Ford Highboy...2 years ago. That thing turns more heads, gets more thumbs up and offers to buy than I can count. Thing rocks. Love that truck! Not a primary driver, admittedly.

Although the F100's aren't considered "Highboys" per say, I'm restoring my 1976 Short Bed F100 4x4 / 4 speed in $500-$1K chunks at a time while driving it daily.....It's my ONLY ride, and you can bet it will be for a long time to come too......Just ordered a new Aluminum 3 core radiator, Stainless brake lines, body & frame bushing kits, and power steering goodies.............ALL THE BLING UNSEEN......YEW CAN DEW IT !!

I don't know where you came up with that crap. The only rusted out fenders I've seen are on the Chevy's. Because they used a thinner steel to make their body parts. I have a 75 F-250 that I've had over 30 years and it has some rust on it, but nothing that is rusted out. Let me say that again. I do have a front section of the inside of the bed is. That's because I had a 50 gallon gas tank in the bed that I never hooked up, and I let the truck sit for 6 months and the rain water built up and sat in that part of the bed. Causing it to rust.

Absolutely have to agree,there’s nothing like a restored 70s ford truck.Throw in a few upgrades on the hard part( brakes,steering , suspension , fuel delivery,update the interior out of a late model and it will rip a brand new truck a new asshole... OUT PULL:: OUT TOW:: OUT LIVE any new truck on the market.electrical break down will put that military graded aluminium in the scrap pile long before its time

I currently have an 1977 Ford F250 sitting in the garage. It's been there for many years. My father kept it with hopes to restore one day but unfortunately passed. Not sure I can restore myself so we are taking offers as is.

I just bought a 1975 Ford F-250 Highboy and the engine block ID came back as a 427. Did they make F250’s with 427’s in them back then? Is it a coincidence that it has Cobra valve covers on it?

360 ci. 2 barrel carb. And 300 six was the only motors factory from 73-76 f-250 High Boy. The 2 wheel drive had alot of different motors.