I am interested in purchasing a f250 4x4 from this era and was wondering if you guys could tell me anything specific to look for when looking at these trucks. For example, areas that rust that are not easily visible, weaks spots that can be disguised by backyard body men and stuff like that. Also what engine and transmission combinations came stock in these trucks. Thanks in advance.

 

cab corners, floors, bottom corners of the doors at the front. just behind the hood, all of my trucks have had the beam under the doors rotton at the ends. check the drip rail, my last truck rusted out there. cab mounts at the front.
other than that their good.lol

 

More rust prone areas: Radiator core support mounts, rear cab mounts, bottom of the doors, caused by the drain holes getting plugged up.

 

Modify the headlight switch wiring so too much current doesn't flow through it...

 

Look at the front and back of the very bottom of the cab corners under the truck.

 

Bottom half of the front fenders. (Ford installed a piece of metal behind the fender in this area to catch and retain dirt and moisture). All around the lower corners/lip of the hood.

If they're from up North, there's probably rust on the tires.

 

Look for repairs to obvious areas, too. Rust is typical on tailgates, as well as the inner and outer sections of the lower bedsides (the double sided part). My bed floor rusted above the cross braces as did the roof around the drip rail, the lower doors and fenders, both rear cab corners, all cab mounts, the floorboards, radiator support, and battery tray. There may have been only 3 panels on the whole truck with no rust.

 

You also asked about engines and transmissions. 240 and 300 sixes were available in all years. A 352 V8 was offered in 67, replaced by a 360 for later years, with a 390 added for 68-72 (actually through 76). The 302 was available for 69 and later. The transmissions were the 3 and 4 speed manuals and 3 speed automatics.

 

Look inside the cowl carefully. Leaves, pine needles and dirt tend to collect.

 

The seam on the bed above the "bump" is a very common rust spot on these trucks.

 

Forgot about that one. Has anybody posted info for the best method of repairing as I am getting very close to working on the bed. I will be getting it completely sandblasted to start.

 

Grind it down. If it's too bad, bust out the welder.

 

As far as motors/tranny's go,Im fairly certain that F250 4x4's only came originally with 300 I6's,or 352 and 360 V8's,you had more options with 2wd models,390's were avail for F100,250,350,and for F100 2wd's,302's for part of this time period(67-72), trans options were 3 spd. manual(not sure which model) or Np435 4 spd. All the info ive seen says that 67-72 4wds were not avail. with power steering or Auto trans from the factory...Now,what items may have been swapped/interchanged into these years,its a long list!351's,429's,460's,every imaginable FE engine,ive seen them with Detroit Diesel 4-53T's,recently one was advertised on CL with a 454 chev/turbo 400 A/t.....,lots of space under the hood,a bunch of clearance between the oil pan and front axle,and a divorce mounted transfer case, lots of interesting things have been transplanted