This 1977 Ford F-250 may look like just another vintage pickup, but underneath its multicolored sheetmetal is a 2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty chassis powered by a 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8. The truck is the work of Delbert Hamilton of Milton, Kentucky, who combined components from both generations of Ford pickups to create a one-of-a-kind diesel-powered four-wheel-drive daily driver. The project involved far more than a body swap. Delbert shortened the Super Duty chassis, combined sections of the two cabs, and incorporated modern interior components while retaining the appearance of the 1977 Ford. No small task.
From Gasoline V8 To Power Stroke Diesel
Delbert has extensive experience constructing custom four-wheel drives. One of his previous projects was a wild 1976 Ford F-100 equipped with a big-block V8, Rockwell 2.5-ton axles, and 49-inch tires.
The story of this F-250 stretches back several decades. Delbert originally acquired the 1977 pickup from a friend who had purchased it from the original owner. It left the factory as a two-wheel-drive truck with a 351-cubic-inch gasoline V8. Delbert eventually transferred the body onto a 1978 four-wheel-drive chassis powered by a Lincoln Continental-sourced 460-cubic-inch V8. He also installed a boom and used the truck for vehicle repossessions. However, a heavy load eventually bent the chassis, and the truck was parked among the trees for the next 14 years.
When Delbert decided to revive the pickup, he had a different powertrain in mind.
A 7.3-Liter Power Stroke Donor Truck
The foundation for the latest version of the F-250 came from a 2000 Ford F-250 Super Duty SuperCab longbed that Delbert acquired from a friend. The donor truck had rusty rocker panels and cab corners, along with body damage from a collision with a deer. However, its chassis was in good condition, and the 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel V8 ran well. Those components provided the basis for the conversion, allowing Delbert to replace the older gasoline-powered drivetrain with the Super Duty’s diesel powertrain and four-wheel-drive hardware.
Shortened Super Duty Chassis And Custom Cab Work
One of the first challenges was adapting the longer 2000 Super Duty chassis to accommodate the 1977 regular-cab longbed body. Delbert removed 30 inches from the center of the frame to achieve the proper wheelbase.
The original 1977 bed was beyond repair, so he installed a replacement from his collection of parts. Delbert had acquired the bed more than 15 years earlier, and it originally came from a 1978 Ford pickup in California. Adapting the cab required considerably more fabrication. Rather than simply mounting the 1977 cab onto the newer chassis, Delbert grafted the floor and firewall from the 2000 Super Duty cab onto the older body. The process required repeated test-fitting, modifications, and removal and reinstallation of the cab to ensure everything aligned correctly. Using the newer floor and firewall provided several advantages. The transmission tunnel already accommodated the Super Duty’s 4R100 automatic transmission, and the floor retained the factory mounting location for the manual-shift transfer case.
The modifications also allowed Delbert to incorporate the 2000 Super Duty dashboard. He narrowed the dash by several inches to fit the 1977 cab, bringing the newer truck’s instrumentation and controls into the vintage interior.
Super Duty Axles And Four-Wheel-Drive Suspension
Delbert retained the 2000 F-250’s factory axles and suspension components. Up front is a Dana 50 axle equipped with Mile Marker manual locking hubs. A Ford 10.5-inch axle handles rear duties. Both axles retain 4.10:1 gearing, and the truck continues to use the Super Duty’s leaf-spring suspension.
The Ford rides on LT235/85R16 Sailun Terramax AT2 tires mounted to 7-inch-wide factory Ford wheels from the 1992 through 1997 model years. Adapters allow the older wheels to fit the newer Super Duty axles. To maintain the truck’s vintage appearance, Delbert installed early 1970s Ford hubcaps sourced from a salvage yard. He modified the front hubcaps by removing their centers to provide clearance for the manual locking hubs.
Modern Super Duty Interior And Electrical Upgrades
The combination of old and new Ford components are found throughout. In addition to the modified 2000 Super Duty dashboard, Delbert installed front seats and a center console from a 2009 Ford F-350. He also reworked the wiring harness and installed an entirely new air conditioning system.
Another upgrade involved converting the 1977 doors from manual crank windows to power operation. Delbert mounted the window control switches in the dashboard.
“It’s Kinda What I Got”
We met Delbert and photographed his F-250 at the 2026 4-Wheel Jamboree Fall Nationals. The truck attracted plenty of attention, particularly when he started the 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel.
Despite the extensive fabrication required to combine the two generations of Ford trucks, Delbert regularly drives the pickup. “It’s got ice cold air, power windows, and tilt. Just some modern amenities in a ’77 wrapper. It’s my daily driver. It’s kinda what I got,” he says.
Photos by Ken Brubaker and Delbert Hamilton
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