I'm interested in buying a 1967-72 F250 4x4 with manual trans. I've found a guy here locally that has two 68 trucks he's selling together: one F100 2wd and one F250 4x4. They are in some matter of disassembly. The F100 has a very rusty body and is a Ranger with the chrome trim. The body on it is fairly shot. It had the engine, a 460 with what looks to be a C6 trans. The F250 has an excellent body-surface rust only. It has no engine, and allegedly had been sitting in a field before he got it. He got them separately, and was swapping the engine into the F250 4x4 when he stopped for some reason (I think I know now). He's selling the both of them for $1500. Here are my questions:

1) How do you get the actual year model from the VIN (if that's even possible)? He says they are both 68s but the VIN tags on each are different in look. The F250 is the correct body VIN and frame VIN (I forgot to check the F100).

2) Is it possible to swap the 460 into the F250 to the manual transmission without having to buy the expensive L and L products kit ($2,500!!!)? I dDO NOT want the automatic, but would keep the manual (it's a T18 I think). If so, how is the conversion done?

3) Or would it be better to get rid of the 460 and get a 360 or 390? From what I've read on here, it seems those FE motors can be just as or almost as good as the 460 with the right build. I'm leaning this direction if I get the trucks. If I go with these trucks, anyone in the North Texas or southern Oklahoma have a running (or rebuildable) 390 they want to sell?

4) The front axle has a hose-type fitting of some sort on the top of it. What is that? It doesn't have a hose right now, but only the remains of what looks like a rubber hose and clamp.

5) The transfer case shifter would not move when I pushed on it. Is it supposed to move easily when the truck is sitting still or does it need some 'rocking' with the clutch to switch into another mode? I have no idea of the condidition of the drivetrain, as he said the truck had been sitting for a while with no engine. Should I be scared if it doesn't move? How difficult is it to rebuild the transfer case?

That's all I can think of at the moment (or is that too much?). But I'm sure I'll have much more, whenever I get a truck, whether it's these particular ones or not. I really like this body style a lot. The 4x4s look really great especially.

Thanks in advance for any help y'all can give me.

Russ in TX

 

4) The front axle has a hose-type fitting of some sort on the top of it. What is that?

A vent hose for the front axle, if it screws right into the axle. Or, if there are brake lines going out to the left and right of it down the axle it is a union and the rubber hose goes from that union to the port/equal. valve on the frame.

With the clamp it is probably the vent.

5) The transfer case shifter would not move when I pushed on it.

A single speed Dana 21 should always be easy. If you have a gear driven case on teh F-250, it might be slightly hard. Most likely the reason on either one would be the shift lever is binding or broken.

 

I just encountered the t-case rebuild which itself is simple but parts for the Dana spicer model 24 come out to about the same price as just buying a rebuilt NP205 which has parts readily available in comparison to the outdated obsolete 24. The 460-manual swap is doable with a few lucky trips to the junkyard and a rear sump pan,pickup and dipstick. You have to find a 351m 400m or 460 that is manual and hunt down a few other parts. If you do a search on here or the 460 forum you can find a list of the parts needed in a post. Good luck