Well I am a 16 year old male and I was searching for a truck. I stumbled upon a Ford F250 from 1974 [sic]. Well as was my understanding it was a 360 V8/C6 combo. Well I bought it for a whole $500 tonight, and my dad and I started exploring. Turns out this truck is a 1973 and has a four barrel 390 CID V8. Its a standard cab, longbed, Ranger XLT. I'll be posting pictures later but I wanted to know some tech things. The gas gauge is not working whatsoever. Also the front gas tank is the only one that works. The wiring has been botched and will be chased down here soon. The diff and at the back of the motor are currently leaking. What am I looking at. I still manage to have about $200 left over and that will have to do until I am done with wrestling season. It currently has dual glasspacks and headers. Also it has an edelbrock performer carburetor, but would the original Holley be a better bet? Also what can I do to boost my horses to about 350-375? Thanks for any feedback. Ill be posting pictures tomorrow after my tournament and somemore details.

 

Okay I'm as of current atteptong to locate a steering wheel to replace the busted. Anyone know how to post pictures?

 

My plans for this truck are as follows :
Slughtly built 390
Shift Improver Kit (transmission)
Lower Rear Gear Ratios
Fixing the grille
painted bumpers
99-04 bench seat
Custom interior
decent CD/Aux Headunit
2 sherwood 6x9s (amped)
2 generic 6x9s (headunit)
2 generic 4 inch speakers (headunit)
1 blaupunkt or fosgate subwoofer
Walmart amp
Grey and Purple paint job

 

Welcome to FTE, sounds like a good deal on your new truck.

Make sure to join your state (KS) chapter to get some help from FTE members that may be local?

Ck out the "next generation" under the general forum and the FE & FT eng forums.

Here's How to Post Pictures:
1. Login to FTE.
2.Click User CP (In the Top Left Hand Corner)
3.(On the Left, There will be a list, The 5th Option Down, will say "Pictures & Albums) Click That.
4.Then, Click Add Album, Enter a title, and description, if ya want to.
5. Click Upload Pictures, Then click Browse, Locate the Files of your truck. (You can add 3 files at a time)
5. Click Upload.
6. Add a description to the individual pictures, then click save.
7. Add more files if ya want.
8. Click The Picture you want to post, it will give you two codes at the bottom, Right Click The Second one (It say's BB Code, Then Say's [IMG]http:blahblahblah...[/IMG])
Then, Once that is highlighted, Right Click, Then Copy, Then Paste it into your post.
You can add up to 30 Images in one FTE Post.

 

 

 

 

Well I got my shop service manuals shipped today and my tail lamp lens should be coming in the mail by Friday or next Monday. 60 bucks of my 200 gone

 

Those steering wheels are dang near impossible to find used that are not cracked. A repop one will set you back more than $200, so that may have to wait.

 

Just an update - I got my open air cleaner in the mail today . Thank you UPS man. Its going on tomorrow after homework.

 

Welcome from Colorado. Looks like a nice truck and at a great price. That's awesome that it has the 390 instead of the 360. 390 is a great engine. I think that it's great when a young person takes an interest in putting value back into these old pickups. My 17 yo son has the same interest and we enjoy working on projects together. We have a lot of luck with finding parts at our local pull and pay junkyards for almost nothing. You might check them out and you will really stretch your budget dollars. Good luck and keep us posted with your progress. Oh, one bit of advice, don't try to do too much at once as it will cost a lot and might overwhelm you so just do a little at a time as your budget allows.

 

Thabks for the advice. I'm trying not to put too much on my plate. I figure I could sell off some stuff to I increase the budget a little. Would the stock housing for the air cleaner be worth anything?

 

It might to me if you have the original heat stove tube that goes from the exhaust manifold to the air cleaner and also the breather assy. If you don't know what any of that is, please send me a pic of your engine from the right and left sides with the original air cleaner in place. My email address is jastrauss@fastmail.fm.

 

Well I do know the engine already has headers, ill clean off the truck and take pics a bit later. Todays progress on the truck may be hindered by the 101 fever I have though :/. I'm going to go pick up shocks on Thursday (the trucks front end will bounce for a block aftee it hits a bump) any recomendations?

 

Good luck.