Lately I've been searching for a truck. Mostly focusing on late 60's to early 80's Ford's and Chevy's.

Most of what I had found were piles of crap. I attribute this to age, neglect, and my price range.

Last night around midnight I saw a posting for a 73 F250 on craigslist. It was a very fresh post because for the last 2 weeks I've been living on craigslist.

Yesterday I looked at a 68 Chevy C10 with a newer motor, but it had no mufflers, leaked oil everywhere and from anywhere it could. It also had NO rocker panels left.

Also saw a 73 C20 with a 454. But the driver side exhaust manifold was pretty bad. When it was running I could see the firing of the plugs.

This morning I went to go see a different F250. Wasn't bad. Had a 390. Body had quite a bit of rust on the passenger side drip rail and the brake lights didn't work. Who knows what else I would have found wrong with it.

So I went to a QT down the road for a drink and to search craigslist on my phone for other trucks to go see.

Called on the 73 F250 I'd seen posted before. No answer so I left a message. Dammit.

Called on one truck - guy only spoke spanish and hung up on me. Funny since the ad was in english.

Called on a 68 Ford, but the owner wasn't available until later in the day.

When I was about to start calling on trucks on the opposite side of the valley I got a call from the 73 I left a message for and got directions to go see it.

When I got there to see it it looked pretty good, but had some spider webs on it. Not surprising since it was on the outer edge of town on horse property.

Turns out the owner is the original owner of the truck. He brought it down here from Montana when he moved here a few months back. Said he hates to sell it, but is broke so he needs the money.

He turned the key and it fired up immediately. Idled very well and sounded good, although it had a minor exhaust leak. Took it for a ride and it rode well, and had loads of power... it oughta since its a 460. It ran really smooth too. Couldn't even feel the transmission gear shifts.

Everything seemed to work on it. I couldn't find any real rust on it either. Surprising since its from up north.

Also, the owner claimed that it only has 80k on it. No idea if thats true or not, but looking at it I wouldn't doubt it. It also has a newer Eldelbrock carb on it, but I'm not sure which one.

So, since it looked and ran pretty good I made an offer and bought it.

Spent the afternoon washing it, cleaning the interior, and changing out the plugs, wires and the exhaust flange donuts. Also replaced the only leak on it - a small fuel line under the cab.



















Oh yeah - driver side fender and grill are a little messed up from when his grandson hit a fence post turning into the driveway. No big deal.

Looks to me like it has the original radio too, which works very well.

He was also kind enough to leave the gun rack and cowboy hat holder in place on it.

 

NICE!! It's an XLT too!!!!!! Let's see... 460/C6, AC, PS, PB, lotsa chrome and trim, nice upholstery, a CB, west coast mirrors, nice steering wheel, brake controller... Wow.

Original owner rigs have a sweet spot in my book. That one looks especially nice and generally unmolested. Congrats on your buy and welcome to the Ford camp.

Strange... My rig had a cowboy hat rack and gun rack too.... still got the gun rack. I think my rig scares people cuz it has that gun rack and is painted woodland camo.

 

Took it through emissions the next day. They took longer finding the vin number than testing it. Here's the results:

HC at Idle - Allowed 400 Score 173

CO at Idle - Allowed 5.00 Score 1.97

HC Loaded - Allowed 400 Score 98.0

CO Loaded - Allowed 3.75 Score 0.85


Last night I installed the a/c belt on it. A/C compressor works, but needs a charge. I figure I'll find some Freeze 12 so I don't need to convert it. Then again, maybe I'll just pick up that conversion kit from Autozone that I've used before and throw that in it.

 

man i miss qt gas station pops! i used to live on 67th and greenway in arizona

 

Yeah theyre great. All the trash in that truck is from my brother. I have since cleaned it out and have it looking pretty nice. The CB radio is also gone. The gun rack is annoying, so it will be going too.

I'll have to take some pictures of it.

I found a place that quoted me 150 to replace the windshield and seal, so I'll be doing that tomorrow I think. I'll also go down and get it registered in AZ so its legal (Montana reg expires 9/30/11)

 

Congrats, Nice truck man.

 

Nice truck. Welcome to the club.

 

Looks like a great find! Does it have power steering or disc brakes? Those are a few common upgrades for those trucks.

 

wow nothing like the power of a gas 460 in the gas offferings!

 

I'm not sure about the disc brakes, but it does have power steering.

I had the windshield replaced today so that I wouldn't get a ticket. Paid $150 for the new glass and seal installed.

 

Had my first issue with the truck last night.

It was running fine until I fueled it up. The gauge read 1/4 tank. I pulled into a gas station and filled it up. While doing so I had the pump running full speed.

After that it began to hesitate a little bit, and then it would be fine, then hesitate a bit again. It even back fired once.

Engine wasn't running hot or anything.

At a stop light it stalled out on me. It would fire right back up again and the problem would be gone for a short time. Then it would reappear.

I pulled into a parking lot and it stalled out on me. I restarted it and put it in D and it stalled. I then restarted it and it was ok, but sounded almost as if it had a misfire or something. Under load on the accelerator it would run, but not well.

At some points I would have to give it more accelerator to keep it from dying out while driving. It would then resume to drive ok.

I got it home, shut it off and went to get my multimeter to test the batteries and alternator.

Upon my return I tested the batteries with it off, both read ok. I fired it up and it ran absolutely fine. No coughing or sputtering whatsoever.

I tested both batteries with the engine idling to see alternator output - both were fine.

My fuel pressure gauge read normal the whole time.

Plugs (Bosch coppers gapped to .044 as Autozone suggested) and wires are new. Cap, rotor and coil are not.

I wonder if maybe I stirred something up in the fuel tank when I filled it up at full blast which was clogging the fuel filter?

Where are the fuel filters on these anyways?

Also, does anyone know what the resistance on the coil is supposed to be on this so I can test it?

 

It defiantly sounds like a clogged fuel filter. They are usually located inline between the pump and the carb.

Nice truck and welcome to FTE!

 

Filter screws into the carb and has the fuel hose connect to it. For some extra insurance, add a second or even third clear fuel filter.

 

Killer find man. She is clean!

 

Well I took a look and determined I have an edelbrock 1406 carb.

I went to autozone for a filter and was met with frustration as they insisted they didn't have a fuel filter suitable for the truck and did not have an inline glass filter.

Went to Napa and they had everything.

Replaced the filter i found under the truck, and added a glass filter right before the carb. Fired it up made sure I had no leaks and it died out. Tried it again and it stumbled and died.

Third time was the charm. Fired it up and it stayed running and was running smooth. Fuel pressure returned to about 4 psi. Let it idle awhile and it stayed running smoothly. Gave it some gas to see if it would stumble under load but it appeared fine.

I don't want to use it for work tonight so I'll drive it tomorrow to test it but I think I'm good to go now.