Tony and Nikki's 1973 Ford F-250 Build
 

Well, welcome to this thread! My name is Anthony, or as I prefer to be call, 'Tony.' I'm currently new to this forum, but in my brief period of searching through several threads, I am very glad to be surrounded by a very passionate forum. This is my second vehicle, my first being a 1996 Mazda 626, although being labeled Mazda, the drivetrain is all stamped Ford as most of you fine gents' probably already know. Nikki and I have been looking for a early 70's Ford F-Series truck for several months, original reasons being California Smog Exemption, but later turning into a love of the front grille of the 73-75 F-Series. We were close to buying a gorgeous blue 74' Ford F-350 4x4 with a 460, but the truck was sold on our way there. With disappointment, we continued looking, after two weeks we found a 73' Ford F-250 'Explorer.' Immediately we talked to the gentleman, and asked to check it out the next day early in the morning and he agreed.

The next morning we arrived at his home, we saw the truck and it was gorgeous, but the first thing I noticed was the blown tire in the bed and a discolored wheel on the rear right side. We called him and he came on out, I inspected it the most I could with little light, saw several issues, gaskets leaking, seals leaking, flat spots on tires, tires were out dated YEARS; roughly by a decade. We didn't care, just asked $300 off the original asking price of $2,400. He agreed and signed it over. Funny thing is, I never drove a manual in my life. Although, not knowing how to drive a stick we jumped in and headed off in a jerky two hour ride back home. I did quite well, I think for driving in the rain, without any wiper blades, or thread. (I stalled roughly three times, but only due to sudden stops when making turns.)

I've had it about two months now and I've only had several issues, like the starter going out the next morning, and the battery going out the night after that, and the starter going out the day after that(although that was the part stores fault), the alternator going out a week after. Only issue serious issue that happened was the (Pre)ignition coil wire shorting on the block and frying several wires in the harness, but nothing like laying on the engine in the middle of the street at night for two hours with a pocket knife, lighter and luckily a extra spool of wire behind the seat couldn't fix.

We have yet to name our truck and not sure of what to call it, we have kind of decided how to build it, but it'll be a slow process and I hope you fellow enthusiast will enjoy helping a poor inexperienced couple in restoring such a beautiful and tough machine back into shape.

Thank you for viewing the back story, and I hope this becomes an interesting and learning experience not just for us, but as well as the fellow enthusiasts reading.

Welcome :-X22 .. My favorite grille style also BTW .. Having a supportive partner is half the battle in a restoration like this .. My wife has been crucial in a strategy for successful parts scavenging .. We will be heading out this morning to pick up some rust free doors and a front clip which includes the grille that you mentioned from a guy that you might find on "American pickers" .. It took a few visits with the wife along to convince him to part with what he has .. It's a "honey hole" of 73-79 rust free parts and will be a good source for us in the future (that's saying something for where we live).. Her homemade baked goods and sweetness has made many a deal possible that certainly wouldn't of been there if not for her .. My wife swears she's going to start a 12 step program for the wives of ford truck enthusiasts .. :-X04

So with your Ca rust free parts and your smog exempt truck you have a great start .. Look forward to watching your progress/build

Welcome to FTE, Tony. You'll find there are a lot of good, knowledgeable people here, plus a couple of curmudgeons and several old grouches but we're always more than willing to help if you get stuck on something.
I'll be following your progress. I have a '73 Explorer (an F100) myself that is going through a ground up resto-mod.
As you progress, you'll probably realize that a good name for your truck would be "empty pockets".
Good luck with your project. Your future will be filled with many days of frustrating fun (yeah, I know, that's an oxymoron). Keep us updated on the progress and post pictures when you get a chance.

Welcome both of you to FTE, sounds like the quite a story and truck you have. Its always more fun to have your significant other to help spot parts trucks along the road and remember the parts you left off the list when you are at the ck out counter, lol.

Priorities are start, stop, steer.

Here is some restoration info.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...p-by-step.html

And go down to thread #7 and get to ordering those Parts Vendors & Resources catalogs, great way to learn part names too.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...mpilation.html

Again welcome and have fun.

One thing you'll soon learn, if you hang around here, is history. That first truck you were going to look at had to have been a so called "frankentruck".
Ford didn't make an F350 with four wheel drive until '79 (NBCsteve has an absolutely gorgeous example) and the 460 was never offered in any 4WD Ford. From '73 to '76 you were limited to either the 300 6 cylinder or the 360 2bbl. V8. From '77-'79 it was the 6 cylinder or the 351M-400.

Careful mikeo0o0o0 you know ND will flame you for that one....lol JK. It was offered in 1979 2wd F250's that were Camper Special, I do believe? ND will correct me if I am wrong.

"460 not available with 4WD or a M/T until 1983, then only in F250/350's / No 460's available in F100's after 1976, F150's after 1979 (CA:1978), Passenger Cars after 1978 / No 460's available in 1980/82 F250/350's, E250/350's only".

What does this mean for you Tony, the 74 you were going to go look at, had a swapped in 460 that's all.

Heh, heh. I was talking about the dentsides.
Here's some more history for Tony.
The '73-'79 trucks are called "dentsides" and the '67-'72 trucks are called "bumpsides" because of the shape of the styling que along the side of the truck.

@Mike That was the first thing I had to teach the wife so we didn't circle back needlessly :-X04

.......:-jammin.....

welcome to the fte. lots of good people here. you will learn alot.

Classic statement there redroad. Mine now even knows that 8 lugs nuts ='s 3/4 ton.

Tony this is not a thread "highjack", but thread "support", so you have more to read when you log back on, lol.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...47dac827c5.png


This is a screenshot of a photo taken the first day I purchased this beauty. Not to bad of shape, strictly surface rust in few spots, no severe cancer. Although the bed/tailgate is in bad condition.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.for...2513060226.jpg

I kind of made an impulse buy today, but I regret nothing!
Although not the American Racing Outlaw IIs, these Pacers really bring a new look to the truck. What's your opinions I wanted to keep the 16.5 Wheels for a restoration look but could not find new tires to fit said rim. I do have the five old tires/rims just incase I can find 16.5 tires.

:-X22What a beauty ! Yeah the 16.5's make no sense anymore because of lack of tire choices .. Nice rims

Im flattered by all the responses! Dont worry about posting little history here and there! I absolutely love learning about these wonderful trucks!