I thought I would start a mini-build thread for my 1974 F-350 Super Camper Special I bought a few months ago. It's powered by a 390/C6 that's basically stock other than a Malory Unilite and a Holley Carb. This has been a local truck since it was new when it was purchased by a local company-Running Bear Trailers. Around about 1997 the company moved and sold the truck to the local high school football coach. That was my freshman year and we used the truck to move tackling dummies and water buckets around the practice feild. I think in the 4 years I played football, The truck only left the practice field 4 or 5 times. We quickly named the truck Running Bear because of the old trailer companies logos still on the doors when he bought it. When I went a picked it up a few months ago, the football players were still calling it Running Bear even though the logos were removed in '97! Anyways, on to the pics. Here it is when I picked it up. It had been sitting for the last 4 years or so.

 

As you can see, some vandals sprayed grafiti all over it but it came off with a lot of elbow grease. I was concerned about the bed and cab not lining up but once I aired the tires up everything looks good now. Here are a few pics of me bringing it home.


Home sweet home.

 

I hated those 80's wheels so I found a set of original wheels and caps in the junk yard. I sandblasted the wheels, then painted them silver and had a set of free used tires mounted just to get it rolling.

I also spent a few weeks wet sanding and buffing the paint. I've still got a few stages of buffing to go but it looks much better.

 

I had the engine running great at first but then this happend.


More to come later.

 

Looks like you rescued that thing and did a pretty good job so far in a short time. I'll be looking forward to the rest of the resto.

 

Thanks, but my progress is much slower than I'd like. My shop is about 15 miles from my house so don't get to spend long periods of time over there, usually just an hour or so after work before I have to head home.

As for an update, I've bought a good tailgate and I have located a pretty nice rear bumper, I'll try to go get the bumper this week sometime.

I thought the engine had jumped time but as it turns out, it had several stuck valves, which the push rods didn't agree with.

 

Here's a small update. My initial plan was just to pull the heads and have them reworked, but I decided while I'm there, I might as well pull the short block and clean and paint everything to make it look decent. My cherry picker barely got the engine over the core support.

 

Looking good! LOVE them '73-'75 Dents – and yours is sharp. Are you running 16s or 16.5s?

 

Thanks Dan, The wheels that are on it now are 16's but I think it came with 16.5's originally because the original spare is a 16.5. Eventually I plan on running 235/85/16 tires all around but I haven't run across a good deal on a set yet. These are 225/75/16 and I think they look too small.

 

That is one gorgeous truck! I love your SuperCab too, and the 'fridge' in the back ground.

 

Cool rescue thread! I'm really diggin your hauler! Can't wait to see more updates

 

rellim51 i have the same problem with the rad support being to high for my hoist so when the engine is ready to go in or out i remove the wheels and drop the front end makes the operation a whole lot safer as you are keeping the weight lower but the project looks good i hope to get to my 79 scs one day when a few other projects are finnished 1st

 

Wow, I'm very impressed how well that thing cleaned up. I'm also impressed at the condition the truck is in. Wish I could find a rust-free truck sitting in a field around here. What are your plans for the truck?

Just out of curiosity, do you have airbags on the back of your supercab? It sat very level with the camper special on the trailer.

 

I'm diggin' this thread !!! That truck is very clean!

 

That's what I'm probably going to do, as the engine will be much more complete and much heavier going back in. I do NOT want to drop this thing!