The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.
JW sold his modern diesel trucks and made his 1977 Highboy the daily driver. Two years into that decision, when he shared his account, he described Mary Jane as the oldest, least costly and most reliable truck he had owned.
He identified it as an F-26 Highboy originally equipped with a 400 and C6, now powered by a 460 from a 1971 Continental. Its original color and options still mattered to him. Edelbrock ProFlo4 EFI was his favorite upgrade, with fuel economy improving from eight to 12 mpg by his report. Suspension, exhaust, air conditioning and more engine and transmission work remained on his list. Mary Jane was staying with him.
Read the owner’s original account and build details
Shared by @godsgearhead
Truck year:
1977
Ownership when this account was shared:
2 years
How the truck came home
I wasn’t. I sold all my modern diesel trucks and made this old girl my daily driver. Sounds crazy, but it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. She’s been the least costly, most reliable, and also the oldest truck I’ve ever owned. There’s some irony for you — an iron big block that turned out to be the most dependable rig of them all.
The memories behind the truck
Her name is Mary Jane, and she’s a true F-26 Highboy 400/C6 truck, now running a 460 out of a ‘71 Continental. She’s still in her original color with her original options — not too many exist like her that haven’t been completely modernized.
Build details, in the owner’s words
Hands down, the best upgrade has been Edelbrock’s ProFlo4 EFI system. She went from 8 mpg to 12 mpg and runs like a juggernaut.
Plans at the time of the story
Upgrade suspension
Finish exhaust work
Install Vintage Air A/C
Add a classic BUG guard
Update the winch electronics
Beef up the top end of the 460
Refresh/upgrade the C6 transmission
More from the owner
Mary Jane’s story is simple: she’s old school, she’s tough, and she’s still close to original. That makes her rare in today’s world of upgrades — and that’s exactly why she’ll stay by my side.
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 Harry’s 1977 Ford: From a Cheap Challenge to Alaska.
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