Good day all. I have been monitoring this forum for a couple of months now. I'm very impressed with the skill and the comradely of the group.
I am starting a restore of my dad's 1966 F250 camper special. He was a WWII Submarine vet, and this was his only truck in his life. He loved this thing! The only two stickers he would allow on it was an American flag, and a WWII Vet sticker. Before he pasted he gave it to my son. My son drove it out here to Colorado from California in 2000. It has been sitting in one of my barns most of the time since it got here.
My son is in the Navy, a flyer, not subs. So he hasn't been able to restore it himself. I decided to get to work on it.
Alan, my son, was home on leave this week so we got it out of the barn. It started on the first crank with 12 year old gas! Almost no oil pressure, 140,000 miles so I am going to replace/rebuild the engine and transmission, paint (already have bid).
www.photobucket.com/1966f250
I know I'll be asking for some insight in the coming months!
Thanks
Rich in Colorado
1928 Model A
1956 T-Bird
1963 Dodge Power Wagon (How did it get in here?)
1966 F250
2003 T-bird
2004 Expedition
2004 F350

 

Welcome to FTE, I would change oil and oil filter with 15w 40 motor oil. If still no oil pressure take the sending unit of the oil filter housing and screw in a mechanical gauge. Also could you post lots of pictures.

 

Welcome to FTE, I can think of no greater tribute to your dad than to restore this truck and make it new again. Welcome, and we look forward to updates on your progress.

 

Compared to most trucks on this forum....your truck is already restored! It looks great. Nice collection!

 

Thanks to all. It is a very straight truck, never any body damage. Dad had it repainted in the 1980's and paint is need of upgrade. He got rear ended twice but as they say, you should have seen the other guy. That back bumper is massive! I already decided to rebuild the engine/transmission. Both work but are very tired. I'll keep the pictures updated.

Great group.

Rich in Colorado

 

Rich, Welcome to FTE!

What a wonderful story and such a gorgeous truck! That truck deserves a nice resto, it looks soooo original. Few trucks still have the california emissions stuff still intact.

What are the plans for it?

If you need any parts have bunches.

I would be PROUD to have that truck in MY driveway.

 

Great looking truck, nice bunch in the shop too.

 

Rich, If it were me, I would look for a 73-76 F100 360/390 C6, & up grade this truck with a fresh 390, C6 tranny, power disc brakes & steering. Drop it down to a half ton for a better ride. You don't need a work truck, that way when you guys took out grandpas truck you would enjoy the ride better. You have enough other trucks to do work with, make this one fun.

I'd swap the old York for a Sanden style AC compressor too.

Enjoy the build, there is no rush.

I enjoyed the last photo very much. My WWII vet father has gone on too.



John

 

I plan to keep it orginal as much as I can. If it hadn't been repainted, I would have just shined it up for a unrestored orginal. It's that clean and almost rust free.
I found some reciepts last night. I don't know what exactly he paid for the truck but;
Feb 1969 installed AC. Unit cost $179 installed cost $30! Bought it and installed by JC Penny.
1982 complete paint job cost $407, re-due the seat at the same time $156.
Those where the days........
Rich in Colorado

 

Back to the topic, though.

First of all, it's a good looking truck. You should be proud of it and your dad.

Second, I was in the Navy also, but washed out of submariner school when they found out I liked to sleep with the window open. :-)

Lastly, maybe as a tribute to your dad, you could outfit it with some diving planes...just sayin...

 

Instead of diving planes, how about painting the subs name and hull number on the truck?

For example: USS Archerfish (SS:311) / Torpedoed and sank HIJMS Shinano, the largest aircraft carrier of any navy in WWII