The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.
Harry bought his 1977 in 2013 for Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road Cheap Truck Challenge. It was a cheap basket case with straight sheet metal. The plan was to use it for the event and sell it. He fell in love with it instead.
In 2019, he and Brian took it to Alaska for Ultimate Adventure, covering roughly 3,000 miles in two weeks. Camping and the trip were highlights; the fuel bill was the downside. By the time Harry shared the story, a 460, ZF5, ORD Doubler and Super Duty axles helped turn it into a much more capable truck. He considered it nearly done, with repairs as needed. Snow wheeling was a favorite, partly because the truck came home clean.
Read the owner’s original account and build details
Truck year:
1977
Ownership when this account was shared:
Since 2013
How the truck came home
I bought this truck ten years ago for an event called Cheap Truck Challenge that was put on by Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine. It was a basket case but the sheetmetal was pretty straight and the price was right. I thought that I would just beat on it for the event and then sell the truck, but I ended up falling in love with it.
The memories behind the truck
In 2019, right before the pandemic, my friend Brian and I drove the old Ford all the way to Alaska for an event called Ultimate Adventure. We camped out along the way and took two weeks to make the 3,000 mile trip. It was amazing, the only down side was the fuel bill!
Build details, in the owner’s words
Pretty much everything has been upgraded over the last decade. It now has a 460 engine, ZF5 transmission, Off Road Design Doubler, Super Duty axles, bypass shocks, 42-inch Nitto Trail Grapplers on 20-inch Trailready beadlocks, custom cage/bumpers/sliders, winch... the list goes on and on.
Plans at the time of the story
It is pretty close to "done" now. The truck gets used on a regular basis so I just fix issues as they arise now, but I don't have any more modifications in mind.
More from the owner
This truck is an absolute beast in the snow! Snow wheeling is probably my favorite thing to do in it, and the best part is that you come home with a clean truck.
Keep the old Ford story going
Find your kind of truck in our Dentside merchandise, or choose a year’s front end from the Grille Series.
Visit Highboy University for truck guides. Read Bumpside vs. Dentside: Ford Truck Generations Explained, then meet the people behind Cody’s 1967 Ford: Three Generations and a Second Beginning.
Your truck belongs in this community, too. Share your truck story and photos.
