Hey guys and Gals,

My father and I bought an old 1976 Ford truck for the business about a year ago and it was running nicely. Then we let it sit for a little bit so we decided to change the plugs, oil, carb, and do a normal service. When we were changing the plugs there was no comp. in the 2nd cyclinder. Well the valve covers were leaking oil bad so we decided to take them off and change the gasket and check to see what was wrong with cyclinder 2. Besides there being no gasket to be seen There was no push rod on the exhaust side of cyclinder 2. So I believe we had one of them 7 cyclinders or 7.5... Order the rod got it this monday installed it and damn this truck can be quiet. Took off all the emissions junk(FL ) and set the idle with the Holly carb. Starts right up on the first crank and sounds excellent for a 29yr old truck. We just nee to get the plate back on and some insurance and start driving this bad boy around.

Next thing planned is to stip the mouldings and get her ready for paint. nothing crazy prob. a Maaco job. Sand it down ourselves and prep so we don't get hit with that charge. DO the interior. Play with the suspension(lift kit) and wheels. Get a new Exhaust and see what else can be done. Might as well have a nice looking work truck and Toy(ATV) hauler.

Well thanks for reading. Here are some pics of her.















Thanks again

Chris

 

welcome aboard...looks like your going to have some fun with a nice ride. The guys on this forum are great at helping with ANYTHING...so if you need something in your fixin...then be sure to ask.

 

good looking truck. Gotta love being in florida cuz there isn't any rust... kinda strange that the engine was lacking a pushrod on a cylinder....that's awfull hard on a motor....

 

You always replace the push rod and rocker arm together.

 

Truck looks very straight.

Not to be a pain, but she's 31. I know she doesn't want to show her age, but she's past 29.

Good luck with the truck, and just to add, you might not want to mess with the suspension to much on the I-beam front end. Unless you buy an expensive kit that has new spindels, and drop brackets....
Again, good luck

 

Thanks for the heads up guys. Well you know with a lady they don't like to go over the 30yr mark. *Yea I miss calculated).

I want to lift it a little bit nothing crazy just to get it up off the gorund

There are some rust spots but all surface which is good. I am waiting on my catalogs for the truck. I have read some good, ok and not so good reviews from LMC. Where would you guys buy parts? Interior,mouldings etc?

What size tires can these trucks fit stock height?

Thanks for the welcome guys

Chris

 

I can tell you that LMC is next to a swear word around here so be careful using it (LOL). My 76 1/2 ton has 31x10.5 on it, stock height 2wd truck

 

Thats what I thought about them. They doo have a nice selcetion. I was also looking at Bronco graveyard?!?.

Do you have any pics of your 76 1/2 ton?

Chris

also I have the Haynes book(awesome help) where can I find the tonage on the truck? I know by decoding the Vin number.

 

there are some pics in my gallery, theyre a few years old though. It's "under construction" at the moment. The body getting put on a 75 highboy frame and taking out the 460 in favor of a 390.

 

Is the 390 a better engine? Thats what mine has 390 4barrel

Thanks for the replies
Chris

 

Hey Guys the truck is a 1975 F250 2wd Build in Sep of 75. 390cid Four Barrel. My question is what tonage would that be 1/2ton? It als has Ranger XLT on the dash/glove box.

Chris

 

An f100/f150 is a 1/2 ton...an f250 is a 3/4 ton.....an f350 is a one ton..... The 390 I have is a better motor....from a 65 thunderbird....rated at 325 horse or so. It's stronger than any stock 460 I've driven.

 

Sounds good. Thanks again. SO this is a big boy

Chris

 

Some 31x10.50s are about as big as you want to go on a stock 2wd.
I had some on my 77 for a while, and they filled the wheel wells nicely.
My only problem with them is they droped my MPGs(all bigger tires will).
But the truck looked a lot better with them.


LMC has a lot of parts, and every now and then, I look through their catlog to find something I want, the go to a better place looking for the particular product.
I've used broncograveyard several times, and have nothing but good things to say about them. Good service, and good parts.

 

I too am new well not really new to the old ford truck but I recently sold my 2000 F150 4.6 and my 73 Chevy half ton and bought a 74 F250 390. I almost bought a 97 F350 460 but this 390 actually felt stronger. I am sure it isn't but it felt that way. This F250 has a lot more character than my other trucks combined.