Hello all, this is my first time considering becoming a member of the ford/classic truck world! As you can see by my name, i have a subaru passion already, but have always had a soft spot for american muscle and trucks.

I stumbled across a 1968 f250 about an hour from where i live in sioux city, ia about a week ago and went to go see it on monday evening. It is 99% rust-free, which is incredibly rare for any vehicle here in iowa. It is an Oregon tuck. It has high mileage, a 360/c6, and is a 2wd styleside. it has some transmission issues, it wont shift out of first until you let off of the gas a little, and when you get into 3rd and punch it for a kick down, it just slips until you let off. it also has manual steering. the brakes are 4 wheel drums, and the power assist is not giving so much assist or braking power in general. it looks to have either a leaking head gasket or valve cover gasket as well. with all of these issues, however, it drives fairly well.

the owner believes it to be the original engine, but it seems to be in decent shape. it comes with a spare 390 with a 3 speed, and another c6 trans. it also comes with a crapload of extra parts that fit the truck, including a tailgate and a cleaner dash cluster metal piece.

I want a summer project before i go off to college, something that will be fun and also be able to earn me some money when i sell it at the end of summer. This seems like a great investment and a sweet truck as well. It is only $900 with everything included, does everyone else on here think it is worth it? also, any potential problems to look out for?

 

If you have a place to work on it and a place to store the extra parts it is probably worth it. Check for rusted cab corners and rust under the bed. A 250 will ride a little on the rough side.

 

the cab corners are original and solid as can be. I just moved to iowa and our house has a nice big shed/barn that would be perfect to work on the truck and i drove it, it is rough but certainly not unbearable.

 

If I was closer i would buy it.

 

Just double check that spare 390 to make sure it really is.....There is no way to tell the engines apart by looking at them. Having said that, however, $900 isn't a horrible deal from what I can see of the truck here. If it's drivable and basically solid......

 

I'll definitely check the 390 if i decide to go through with it. And if its not a "good" deal, as in ok deal or worse, then i do not want to buy it because i want to use it more as an investment than something to keep a long time.

 

I'm a shortbed man!!! But, if that's what U like then go for it at $600.00. To me, as for as muscle this isn't it, Shortbed is.

 

Was stationed in Rapid City, U should beable to find some jewels in the that part of the country real easy, because I did!!!

 

Kid, Looks like a good buy for someone needing a good truck. A project to fix up and sell at the end of summer may not be a great idea. You are gonna put several hundred bucks in parts & time in it to get the kinks out and you'll be lucky to recover your out lay.

The ol truck may get 8 mpg when tuned up tight, have no idea what the cost of getting the tranny right would be, a complete overhaul around $800.00. Set of tires another $800.00 easy, wheels are rusty, all kinds of money can be spent there.

Buy it get it running and rebuild it after college. If Obama don't totally break this country you could have a toy to last another 40 years.





John

 

What I want to know is.....what truck is behind it? Mid 70's Ford?

 

Well fix it is what im going to try to do but its already pretty solid. And i decided to go for it and drop the money on it

It comes with an extra trans and if that doesnt work, im going to be working part time as a mechanic this summer so im sure someone could help me figure the thing out. The wheels are actually in great shape just a little surface rust, and i plan on cleaning them up with some steel wool and such and then paint them gray or black. the tires have some tread and it actually comes with extra lt245/75/16 tires and wheels for the rear.The current owner claims 8mpg as is, but im sure i could squeeze one or two more out of it haha. im excited for this truck im sure all will end well with it.

 

1971 f250 ranger xlt. the guy loves his old fords. he also has another 1967-72 f100 camper special thats in great shape.

 

Welcome to FTE

From the pic of the grille, it's a 1970.

If it's a 1971, someone swapped grilles. 1970 was the only year that used "egg crate" aka "checkerboard" grille inserts, and these are the same R/L.

The 1971 grille inserts have one center bar, three vertical bars, are R/L specific.

The 1972 grille inserts have one center bar, one vertical bar, are R/L specific.

The 1970 grille frame is 1970 only. 1971/72 is the same.

btw: Your truck does not have power assist P/S, it has Bendix integral P/S.

Power Assist P/S: 1973/76 F100 4WD; 1973/77 F250 4WD (Highboys).

Bendix P/S: 1966/68 F100/250 2WD / 1969 F100/250 2WD before serial number D96,001.

From the placement of the filler neck/cap in the bed, your 1968 F250 Ranger has the optional 25 gallon factory installed auxillary fuel tank.

900 bucks was a roaring bargain, the extra tailgate, if straight w/o rust, will fetch 2-300 bucks on ebay.

If you post the VIN and all the codes from the Warranty Plate, all the original specs will be known. And you'll also know what city the truck was ordered from, and where it was assembled.

In 1968, I bought a new black F250 Ranger, was similar to yours, but mine was a 390/4 speed. Assembled in San Jose (5th digit of the VIN: R), ordered from Los Angeles (DSO: 71).

 

I would bet that the owner just swapped grills. And i know the truck has no P/S, i would loooove to have a true power steering system however. This truck originally came with a/c as well (or at least the motor that is in it did). i believe the engine to be #'s matching, but i will find out for sure when i drive it home monday. ill post the VIN as soon as i can as well.

 

It cannot be numbers matching with a swapped engine, but...it doesn't really matter, because...numbers matching is a GM thing.