I was going through some pictures recently and realized I had several of this pickup I had forgotten about. My grandfather bought it in about 1983 or 1984 in Anchorage AK. He and my Grandmother had been living in Naknek AK and were moving back to WY. It started out as a standard box F250. Wish I had a picture of the Huge slide in Camper they had on it. They drove it from Anchorage to Cowley WY pulling a flatbed and the slide in camper. In 1987 my grandfather put a dual kit on it to help with hauling the large slide in.
In 1988 or so he bought, what at the time was fairly new technology, a Holley Projection kit for it. Took forever to get it tuned right since we didnt have laptops like todays.

In 1990 he repainted it. Started out as solid black. Grandpa always had a thing for Black and Silver.



It was painted during the winter in the shop we had built the previous year. He wasn't able to keep the temperature right and the paint didn't lay right. He had planned to paint it again the winter of 91/92 but unfortunately he was in a bad car wreck and suffered major brain injury. He could tell you how many people went Elk hunting the winter of 68 and who they were, what they drove, how many elk they shot and what the weather was like each day but couldn't tell you what he had for breakfast that day.
After a few years and lots of relatives using and abusing the pickup I finally talked my Grandmother into selling it to me around 1996. I had wanted it since the early 80's. I have a lot of memories driving hours on end, mainly because Grandpa refused to drive it over 55. December 25th 1998 my grandfather passed away.
Here's basically what it looked like when I got it.



I traded it to one of my Uncle's, my grandfathers youngest son, around 2003. He kept it for a few years and I got it back in about 2006. I saw it at a used car lot. Wound up trading a 1991 F150 straight across to get it back.
In 2010 I talked my dad into helping me build a motor for it.







My dad and I rebuilt a 400 for it and replaced a 351m. In hind sight I should have rebuilt a 429 or 460. We did a few things to the 400 milled heads, better cam and put a 4 barrel on it. Other than issues with the Carb tuning its running pretty good.

Recently a friend of mine gave me a 1995 F350 with a rebuildable 460. Im thinking about replacing the 3/4 ton suspension in the truck right now with the 1 ton in that F350. Maybe even rebuilding that 460. All depends on how much of the steering and what not will work on my 78. Can always put the 400 my dad and I built in my sons 1979 F150 we are making into a hunting truck.
Anyway hope some of you enjoyed this. Im sitting at work bored reading build threads all night and remembered I had a bunch of pics. Im sure some of you can appreciate a piece of metal and plastic meaning so much as this thing means to me. Thanks for reading.

 

Cool truck and story

 

Great story and awesome looking truck! Glad that it stayed in a good home.

 

Thanks both of you. I appreciate it.

 

Very nice truck, and the story is very important. My grandfather bought his 78 F-350 new. I got the truck from him 2 years before he passed away in 2007. While not the best...cosmetically, I drive it daily. Lots of history and memories are tied to it, which is why it means so much to me. As I'm sure yours does to you.

Thanks for taking the time to share your truck and the wonderful story. Merry Christmas.

 

Sweet truck and awesome story. I kind of have a thing for big slide in campers so too bad you don't have a picture of the camper. In your first picture that shows the front of the cabover camper in it, I'm pretty sure it is about a 73 or 74 Coachman camper which were very big, probably the 11.5 footer and also very popular. Keep us posted on your progress!

 

Good eye on the Camper. That is a small shot of the front of the one they brought out of AK. I dont remember how long it was but I do remember my grandfather had a Dolly, you can see it on the ground in that picture, he used so he could haul a trailer while hauling the camper.

 

awesome my friend! my grandfather bought his new in 76, passed away in 80. I got it in 98 from my grandmother who still used it to go to walmart and such.



it's 2wd, had an old aluminum camper that damn near fell off when i tried to take it off, 460. don't ever let it go my friend.

 

It has always amazed me how people get attached to automobiles, I do the same thing. I have my 78 f250 that is a pulling truck, firewood hauler, hunting truck, mud truck, and daily driver. I have lots of fond memories in the dent sides. ignition on the dash, strait up and down windshield, the door handles that don't open with a button, the simplicity but ability to function. I love those old trucks, I just wish that I was around for their hey day, back when that was what you got when you went truck shoping.

 

Love the story and your truck. I also rebuilt my 400 and I still have timing issues although as I figure things out its getting better.

 

Great story my friend,Ive been through your neck of the woods ,sure is beautiful.My first vehicle was a 77 f100,now im restoring a 75 4x4 and i have a little grandson,you never know who will end up with it hopefully,another reason to build it sound,thanks for your post.

 

Awesome story. Glad you saw it on the auto lot. I bet that dealer thought he got the best of you. Little did he know...

I bought mine because it is kind of a cross between the trucks my 2 bothers had when I was growing up. They both are much older than I. One was a '72 short bed 4x4 Power Wagon, which have all but disappeared in these parts. The other was a long box '75 (I think) F150 Ranger 2WD.

 

Thanks for all the comments. Very appreciated.

I forgot to add that for 2 years this was our only Vehicle. My 3 kids were very young at the time. We had just moved across the state and things were tight. This pickup was paid off. My kids are all quite attached to it. Gas was only $1.30 something then. I remember complaining to my now Ex wife how terrible that was lol.

The guy at the dealership I got it back from was really wary at first. He asked me several times why I wanted it so bad. Even after telling him the entire story of it.

I agree it is interesting how attached people get to vehicles. I bought a 79 F150 Super Cab intending to use it for parts on mine. My son for whatever reason took a liking to it. We have done a lot of things to it together. It is one of the few things we do without arguing oddly enough. I am sure that it will be around awhile now too. Who knows.

Thanks again.