Just bought a 1979 F250 Dually and have a couple of questions:

It was used as a Farm Truck.

First the specs:

• Single-Cab F250 Dually
• 351 W
• C6 Trans.

The initial observation:

• Two pumps of the gas pedal turn the key and it came to life.
• It idled high until the temp gauge was reading just inside normal. (autochoke) Stabbed the gas pedal and it idled down to a nice 950-975rpm.
• It goes into drive 1st and 2nd but loses 3rd after it warms up.
• Dropped it off at the Trans Shop and it is currently getting a new (rebuilt) C6 and will be ready 11/04/2009
• The interior has never seen a wash-cloth (or a vacuum for that matter)
• All original parts, dash (has the one obligatory crack in it), steering wheel, pencil-thin gear selector, along with pencil-thin turn-signal lever. Glove box opened (had a pair of gloves in it). The seat has been re-padded and upholstered with the original Ford blue vinyl (no tears or snags)

The outside:

• It was a farm truck (nuff said)
• Platform bed with board-deck (not steel) and stake pockets
• It is missing the oversized trailer towing mirrors and have been replaced with the Wally World specials (those are coming off)
• Front bumper is missing but the frame is sticking out and not bent (amazingly)
• Entire grille assembly was used as the bumper
• Hood has no dings or rust but is missing "F - O - R" (yes "D" is still holding on)
• Door jamb is rusted through on passengers side center 2"x6" oval.
• Back of cab and bottom have no rust due to undercoating from 351 leaking valve cover gasket.
• Fenders are there
• Doors still shut and seal
• Glass amazingly has no cracks or pock marks and the windshield has a new seal

What Now:
Well it was kept in sound mechanical condition. Even though it has a leak in the valve cover it never ran out of oil. The transmission shop told me that the modulator valve stuck and the diaphragm ruptured so it just kept passing fluid internally and he never knew he had a leak (cause technically he didn't).

Start by making is mechanically sound with an initial shade-tree tuneup, new plugs, wires, coil, rotor bug, distributor cap, oil change, VALVE COVER GASKETS, fuel filter, crankcase filter.

I will post some pictures of it before we start the work... so we can get a good before and after.

 

Just realized I never posted the questions LOL:

1. The rear wheels... does anyone know of a direct replacement for the steel ones. Brushed aluminum preferably
2. Also can the front wheels be replaced with 1 ton wheels with an adapter or is an adapter needed.

 

Let me ask this then

Can 8 x 6.5 front wheels from a 350 work on a 250 or does the offset require a spacer or something to push them out farther?

Thanks for your help.

Shane

 

It doesn't have a 351W, but rather a 351M.

Only F350s had the dual rear wheels, and it wasn't available with the regular bed.

Whatever is on there now is aftermarket or cobbled on. They needed capacity beyond the F250's limit, so I would look for any signs of stress (overloading) around the rear area.

 

I'm doing a srw to drw swap, the front hub assemblies are the same between all disc brake 70's F250-350's dual or not. So yes you can swap in used dual front hubs. You can also use an adapter but I got my dually hubs for $50 for the pair and the cheapest adapters I've seen are over $200. Good Luck!

 

That's amazing that you can tell W vs M without actually seeing the engine. Especially since 79 and 80 were directly interchangeable.

I should state now that I don't think everything on this truck is stock. Since I can't find 1979 F250 Dually on Google. However it IS a Windsor NOT MCC.

Thanks for the info though.

 

Now I'm confused, what exactly is interchangeble between 79-80?

 

Wrong on both counts, bub.

What the hell? What is interchangeable between a 1979 and a '80? What? Wanna rephrase that question?

1973/79 F-series never had a 351W installed from factory. Only the Econoline vans.

Guess you didn't comprehend my initial post the first time around. I said ONLY the F350 could have dual wheels. In addition to that, Ford never put dual rear wheels on a regular styleside bed. Only the platform/stake. What you have is a cobbled mess.

How do I know all this? Simple...I have -everything- available on these trucks. Next time when you think you're going to run your mouth, you better have cold, hard facts to back it up.

 

I think he was letting us know that it was indeed a cobbled truck. As for 79-80 simularities, the only thing I can think of that would lead someone to think they're the same would by aging a non-title truck by the build date, 7/79 for example would be and 80' model. I can't think of any styling sims between the 2. Even the lug pattern was different on some. I had an 80' with chevy pattern 5 on 5's

 

I think there is gonna be a need for some pics, lol. Everybody on this site is very helpful. Ask questions, get answers, come back with replies on what you found out. The guys on here have helped me a whole lot. What exactly is interchangeable between 79-80? I know some Broncos in 80 had the same 351M as the Broncos in 78-79 did. Only b/c there were some 351M leftover that Ford wanted to use up if I am correct.

 

I'm pretty sure ALCOA makes a dually rim with the proper bolt pattern for your truck; not sure they are brushed aluminum but they are aluminum and shiney

 

You are indeed, I can't vouch for the Bronc's but a friend had an 81' F-250 or 350 (I've slept over a thousand time since) and it was for sure a 351-400m. I can say for sure because the 521 dropped straight in.

They also continued with the tranny's for some.

 

ok...let's start over.

First off... apologies to Jermafenser for insulting your -everything- ... does anything located in your -everything- answer either of the original questions?

And to clarify "directly interchangeable" so as to not start anymore fires....
1. Ford never made a 1979 truck with a 351 Windsor motor.
2. A Windsor motor does fit in a 1979 truck
3. Yes I do know how to tell the difference

I will even agree that it is a "cobbled mess"... that is why they are called "prahhjects".

 

No F250's came with dual rear wheels until 1985.

The first year Ford offered a dual rear wheel Styleside pickup was 1980: F350's only until 1985.

Ford did not offer a Flareside Pickup with dual rear wheels.

The only way you could get a dual rear wheel F350 prior to 1980 was as a Cab & Chassis, or with a Flat Bed, Stake Bed, or 1953/66, as an Open Drive-Away.

351M/400: 1977/79 F100/350 // 1978/82 Bronco // 1980/82 F150/350 // 1980/82 Econoline.

351M's were also installed in some 1975/79 Passenger Cars.

400's: Some 1971/79 Passenger Cars.

The largest engine available in 1980/83 F100's was the 302 2V.

First year for 351W's in F150/350's and Bronco's: 1981. Econolines offered the 351W beginning in 1975.

ALL 1953/96 F250's, 1967/96 F350's have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle. 1953/66 F350's have 6 lug wheels on a 7.25" bolt circle.

ALL 1975/96 F150's have 5 lug wheels on a 5.50" bolt circle.

ALL 1953/79 F100's have 5 lug wheels on a 5.50" bolt circle.

Some 1980/83 F100's have 5 lug wheels on a 5.50" bolt circle. Some have 5 lug wheels on a 4.50" bolt circle.

The only Ford trucks to have 5 lug wheels on a 5.00" bolt circle were 1973/79 Ranchero's, but not all of them did.

Some 1973/79 Ranchero's have 5 lug wheels on a 4.50" bolt circle.

Hunter OK What are the first 3 digits of your trucks VIN?

 

Excellent!! We all agree that the cobbled dually was not stock from Ford. Excellent!!

Now... we also agree that the wheels on the front front front front of the truck - the steering tires are 8 lug 6.5" bolt circle. Good....

Now... Here is the question... is the axle (the front one) on an 1979 F250 the same WIDTH as the front axle on a 1979 f350? Will the same wheels work from the FRONT on either? Or is there an offset issue or something to that effect?