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Cummins Power! 1971 Ford F-750

There are heavy-duty trucks and then there are HEAVY-duty trucks! This 1971 Ford F-750 is the pinnacle of the Ford F-series truck line. Located in Downstate New York, the truck has been fully restored using over $40,000 of new parts. It can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $64,000. While this might seem like a lot of money, a 2023 F-750 will cost you well over $100,000 just for a cab and chassis. What lies under the hood may be a problem for some Ford purists. Take a look and thanks to FordGuy1972 for the tip on this big boy.

Although the Powerstroke has served Ford owners well for years, there’s no doubt that the 12-valve Cummins is probably the engine choice for a majority of custom diesel builds. This one features a 35mm HX turbo with BD pulse manifold. The transmission is a 643 Allison that the seller admits could probably use an upgrade to get the most potential out of the engine. The rear end features a two-speed Eaton unit with 5.38 and 7.20 ratios.

The flat bed is aluminum, which is a good weight saver. The seller says the truck steers with one finger and there are less than 1000 miles on the entire build. What do you think of this big truck? Is it too big to be practical?

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt Member

    Asking $64,000,& no interior shots?

    Like 12
  2. HoA Howard A ( since 2014) Member

    “Downstate NY”? I spent a summer in UPSTATE NY, and apparently, there is no “downstate NY”, everything north of the “city” is upstate, I was told.
    This another of those “more is better” toys, a fad that swept the country. I think Hummer had something to do with all this foolishness. Nothing wrong with the Power Stroke, btw, was a lot better than the 1st Ford boat anchor diesel. This truck is only for bragging rights, if any, and won’t haul anything but that cooler and a reason it only has a 1000 miles. You can figure that one out on your own,,,it’s a POS. America, you know, I always wonder what other countries, driving their Fiats, think of this stuff, seemingly USA specific. Do other countries do this?

    Like 12
    • Avatar Montana Danford Staff

      Thanks Howard. The map showed the truck north of the city in the middle of nowhere. I figured “down state” was the best description, lol.

      Like 5
    • Avatar George

      To someone in NYC, upstate New York is anything North of White Plains. When I lived in Binghamton, I described my location as central, upstate, southern tier of NY, 11 miles north of Pennsylvania. 3+ hours from NYC, 3.5 from Buffalo.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Tman

        Like upstate Rhode Island? Its upstate from NY!

        Like 3
    • Avatar Loy

      Who cares what other countries think?

      Like 0
    • Avatar TouringFordor

      Hey Howard,

      I’ve driven my share of 5 and 2 trucks. That being said, how do you shift a two speed axle with an Allison tranny? Can’t hit the clutch to complete a shift…

      Like 3
      • Avatar Rumpledoorskin

        That, my good man, is the question I posed. My guess is the engine and trans came as a set from another, less desirable rig.

        Like 1
  3. Avatar Bakyrdhero Member

    Seller is pretty firm with his price and may change his mind on selling. Don’t you even try and talk him down.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Bob_in_TN Member

      I did get a chuckle, and a sense of the seller, out of this: “If you don’t like the price or would like to send me a two paragraph pricing analysis save both my time and yours.”

      Like 7
  4. Avatar angliagt Member

    “I know what I have”……

    Like 5
    • HoA Howard A ( since 2014) Member

      I need to apologize,,,again, but see, this is who does this stuff, “they know what they have”, it’s tough to argue with that mindset. That maybe true, it just doesn’t jive with what too many other people want. What they “have”, is a glorified snowplow, and I was a bit harsh, as usual, it’s not a POS, it actually is a very nice build, with clearly no expense spared. THIS is what makes this person tick with little regard to actual function, it’s just the biggest, and therefore the baddest truck, and some folks may need that.

      Like 8
      • Avatar Steve howard

        Nice Truck Peoples made fun of me putting a lot of money in my old 1988 ford F350 buy I like my old truck.

        Like 1
  5. Avatar angliagt Member

    Howard.are you mellowing in your old age?

    Like 4
    • HoA Howard A ( since 2014) Member

      Hindsight the best sight, and perhaps. Initially this stuff pixxes me off,( old man) then later, “mom” kicks in, and I have remorse, something the old man never had. Thank GOD for mom.
      I’m sure, this was built with the best of intentions, couple friends got together every night to work on it, and that’s great. It’s just, if it stopped there, that would be fine, but my gripe is, we are so sheltered in our world today, this person thinks EVERYONE will want it, even cocky about it. It’s one reason our country is so maladjusted, someone feels justified to spend what I would consider a large amount of money creating this, thinking a return should be no problem, and takes it in the shorts, necessitating, the need to bilk again, and ’round and ’round we go.
      Now get off my lawn,( if I had one) and pull up your pants, you punks,, :)

      Like 16
  6. Avatar Rumpledoorskin

    I’m not sure how a two speed rear works with an automatic and four wheel drive. Is the front axle a two speed as well? I know how to drive a 5+2, but I’ve never seen one like this. I’m glad he knows what he has, too bad he isn’t willing to impart his knowledge upon the rest of us.

    Like 5
  7. Avatar Gary

    I love this tank! I can’t afford the fuel for it, but I love it. 3-5 mpg?

    Like 4
    • Avatar Tman

      Just remember Gary, gets the same mpg loaded or unloaded like the 390s.
      If this had a small dump bed or a towing rig it would be more functional and desired

      Like 5
  8. Avatar Mike

    Is there a reason for the huge wheel well openings? Does the front shocks have that much travel?

    Like 3
    • Avatar angliagt Member

      Looks like stock wheel wells to me.
      It might look like they’ve been enlarged,but the whole
      thing’s been lifted.

      Like 2
      • HoA Howard A ( since 2014) Member

        Those are original “Big Job” front fenders, even though that name was long gone, it was used to describe HD Fords, like F750 and up. I notice a huge blooper, this person retained the “widow maker” wheels, WITH TUBES,( speaks volumes),and may not be lifted as the MH 4×4 had a tall stance anyway. IDK, I suppose I could nit pick all day, I just don’t understand it, is all.

        Like 3
    • Avatar Frank

      All big Ford’s had larger wheelwells, as did the Dodges as far back as the forties if memory serves. With the Matmon Harrington front axle assembly and heavier springs you get a emptier? Taller? wheel well. My grampa’s buddy installed power poles back in the 40’s thru the 70’s and he had several of these and they were beasts. We literally moved my grampa’s barn with it (20 feet wide, 50 feet long) using rollers and one of these trucks with a winch the size of a 55 gallon drum. The barn was all braced up and we winched it over 300 feet and turned it 180° to be able to access the doors. My aunt wanted to build her house where the barn was, hence the move. I was 10 at the time and was the step and fetch it boy. My gramps and his buddies were always doing something and let me hang with them. I miss them.

      Like 4
  9. Avatar John

    COMPLETE restoration !?!?!? I didn’t know F750s originally came with a 5.9 12 valve Cummins, aluminium flatbed, or 22.5 aluminum wheels. It is however good looking and a probably a great low speed farm hauler.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Brett Lundy

      John, split rims were not 22.5 they were either 20 or 22 rims and on semi’s and trailers the most common tire size was 10.00X 20 or 10.00x 22. The 22.5 & 24.5 are both tubeless. These rims will also use Inner and Outter Budd nuts. These old style rims are responsible for a lot of dead and dismembered tire changers when that snap ring wasnt seated properly and they were not inflated inside a cage.

      Like 2
  10. Avatar Big C

    “There’s a lid for every pot.” Goes the old saying. And there’s a buyer for every goofy car and truck you pour your time and money into. He “knows what he has.” So do I. Hard pass.

    Like 3
  11. Avatar rancher

    Diesel Brothers/Heavy D will buy it for his collection of massive off road retrieval vehicles that they use for free retrievals/excursions! He fly’s helicopters & they do have lots of adventures in Utah etc.

    Like 3
  12. Avatar Comet

    Thanks for sermon #264 Howard.

    Like 2
  13. Avatar JCH841

    Howard A – When I worked for Volvo Penta I knew several Swedes that lusted after big (1 ton and up) American trucks. With their fuel prices and narrow roads (I was in Goteburg 3 times) it made no more sense than it does here.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar Rallye Member

    Howard A
    “Jan 30, 2023 at 4:40am
    Those are original “Big Job” front fenders, even though that name was long gone, it was used to describe HD Fords, like F750 and up. I notice a huge blooper, this person retained the “widow maker” wheels, WITH TUBES,( speaks volumes),and may not be lifted as the MH 4×4 had a tall stance anyway. IDK, I suppose I could nit pick all day, I just don’t understand it, is all.”

    Howard, you’re too anxious to nitpick today.
    It’s a 750, which is a real truck that can haul and or tow a lot. The rears for sure and likely the front wheels are 1 piece aluminum Budd wheels.
    There are a few different types of split/2 piece rims. Wheels on my 1971 F350 (little brother with 12′ bed and hoist to this 750), ’49 Mack EHT and some of my 40’s Diamond Ts (some Budd and some Dayton) have an outer locking ring and are not widow makers. The widow makers are the old Firestone wheels that split in the middle.

    I do have a cage for inflating after assembly.
    I am curious about the 2 speed and the front diff.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Rumpledoorskin

      If you look closely, Howard is correct. Those are 20″ aluminum wheels with lock rings on them. They do in fact have tubes in those tires. They’re not common to see, but they do exist. They were more common in the west than in the northeast, where they had an affinity for spoke wheels, it seems.

      Like 1
      • Avatar Rallye Member

        I’ve never heard of or seen those. I like learning here.

        I have 3 Diamond T 614 s here. The west coast logging truck has Budd wheels and the others have Dayton spokes. Even Del Deyoung wondered why they were that way.

        Can you tell me about vacuum trailer brakes in the 40s? Controlled with hand valve like my Mack has for air trailer brakes.

        Like 0
  15. Avatar John S Dressler

    A heavy-duty farm truck. Plow snow with it, put up baled hay from the field with it (crew cab for the hay crew to and from the field and the barn), or tow pretty much anything with it. That’s about it. Driving it on the highway anywhere would eat you alive in fuel costs.

    Like 1
    • Avatar angliagt Member

      I don’t think it’d be a very good snow plow truck,as it
      would be really hard to see over that hood,unless you
      meant plowing highways.

      Like 0
      • Avatar John S Dressler

        I meant for plowing paths to hay barns, outbuildings, silos, silage pits, etc. on a big farm which is the only place a big truck of this kind would be of use.

        Like 1
  16. Avatar chrlsful

    gettin deeper into the work, looks dont matter much. BUT…
    I like the cheb better tho a ford guy, in this size.

    Hada 700 series ford as contracted w/the Commonwealth for the interstate sno/sand in the ’80s back East (Milford, MA). They kept stealin the pone motor I ran the sander with. One I was really mad at as it was a Perkins 3.141.
    Probably Y they came back the 2nd’n 3rd time (just got 1 cyl JDear then). So mad I sold the truck’n route (the 2nd ‘kinda’) and went into ski mountain work for off season (home builder main season) instead, better mental health ensued…

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Jim

    Ford purists? Apparently you don’t realize that many F7xx trucks came with the 6BT Cummins from the factory. That Cummins motor belongs in that truck as much as any blue oval powerplant.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Orin

      Absolutely- it always cracks me up when hardcore Ford guys look down their noses at Cummins repowers, saying that the owner should have put a Ford engine in it. My usual reaction is “oh, a Ford engine that says Navistar International on the valve cover?” :-)

      Like 0

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