Is this a good deal? '77 4x4 f250 ranger

[jumpinjivinjoe]

A neighbor has a '77 f-250 4x4 with a pto winch in front, 7pin tow kit, ranger body, 351m engine, pretty straight throughout, either 70,000 or 170,000 mi. For $1,800.

The problem is the fuel line developed a leak and caused an engine fire that melted the distributor cap and some spark plug wires. Looks like an easy fix.

Would I dare buy a truck that I can't drive? What would a proper price range be in current condition? How about running condition? And is a 351m engine acceptable? I'd rather it be a 390 fe.

[TNIceWolf]

That PTO unit is worth a bundle in itself.....never mind the winch. A 351M is a much maligned engine....but does its intended purpose pretty well most often. If that truck was sitting next door to me with all you have described....I would find a way to come up with the money.....and to heck with what shape the body was in.

[averagef250]

Everybodys idea of nice is different, but in the condition 95% of these trucks are in as daily driver work trucks $1800 should buy a good running 10 footer with little to no rust here in the NW.

If it really does have perfect paint, no rust and all the Ranger stuff is there $1800 is a steal without an engine. You'll find a highboy with a premo body is a pretty hard thing to find, they get snatched up pretty quick too.

The 351M's did OK. I could never tell the difference between a 351M and a 400. A close friend has that exact same truck, minus ranger package. It was ordered with 3.54's when new, we never checked, just ASSumed 4.10. We put 35's on it and he drove it for 100K++ that way. We towed all kinds of stuff with it, a lot of time upwards of 10K and it was actually pretty damn good for power with that much weight on it and it still amazes me that it drove like it did with those gears and tires. Anyway, we only figured out it had 3.54's in it when I swapped in an EFI 300 six and couldn't figure out why the engine ran so good in the 1990 F-250, but couldn't pull a sick whore off a toilet in the 77. The 300 got more than double the mileage than the 351 did though. However, in it's defense the 351 still ran decent when it came out with who knows how many miles on it and it made one 30 mile freeway trip once with no water in the engine with no ill effects.

[SoCalExile]

You have to measure the stroke to tell the difference between a 351M and a 400. That said, the best thing you can do to that 351M is swap out the crank and turn it into a 400.

I've tortured the crap out of my 400 and I haven't fazed it. It's tough as hell and basic upgrades will give alot of improvement. As is, a $40 Comp timing set put in to compensate for the retard in the factory cam will feel like night and day.

For more info on the motor go here:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/10752 ... jects.html
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum54/
http://www.fordtruckfanatics.com/forum/ ... y.php?f=87

[averagef250]

I meant I could never tell a difference between a 351 or 400 in terms of power, not which was which.