1979 Ford F250 Battery

[karnovking]

I'm trying to start a 79 F 250 with a 351 which has been sitting a few years. Right now all I have is a 750 CA battery that came out of a 4 cyl car. It is not strong enough, it loses juice really quick.

Can anyone tell me the proper battery for this vehicle so I don't have to charge the battery after 20 seconds of cranking?

[rhandwor]

Pull the plugs and squirt some oil into the cylinder walls. I would go to auto zone and get a battery recommended for this vehicle. Check for spark if you have spark I would use a little starting fluid sprayed into the carb. If no spark I would put a 12v test light on the coil neg. it should blink if it is getting signal. If you don't get any blinking install a new pickup in the distributor.
Once you get it running correctly the battery should stay up. Use a big battery with a big amp boost until you get it running. You could use a jumper from a running vehicle.

[karnovking]

has spark, it is running very shortly on the starting fluid, but when it stalls, the battery is pretty much spent from cranking it before.

I know I need a good battery, but I don't plan on running the truck any time soon. I just need to get it moved because it is blocking something. It is in a tight area where towing it with something is virtually impossible. What a pain in the ass.

maybe i'll try jumping it like you said. Thanks

[unclebubbles]

750 ca should be enuff to get it started more than once, unless the battery is bad, you have a bad starter thats getting hot, you have bad cables or connections, or the cables are too small and getting hot. If youre going to buy a battery for it anyway, measure the battery box, and get the biggest one thatll fit, itll only cost a few dollars more than a battery thats just barely big enuff. If you have the clamp on cable ends, make sure they are good and clean and tight, better yet, throw them away and put real cables on it. Make sure all the connections are clean and tight , especially the ground to the block.

[Pete33Vt]

I have an interstate MTP 75 in both my Bronco II and my F-250. That battery has no problem turning over either the V-6 or the 460. But any auto parts store should have a book with the recomended battery in it. I would seriously look for the problem before using to much starting fluid. I have seen alot of things go wrong using it.

[1990]

In that year I would check the fuel pump, especially if it sat for a time. Next, check every vacuum line in the thing. You can't let the old ones sit. They just don't like it.