Just found this place, pretty decent! I have never owned anything but Ford's, but that happened by coincidence, but Ford has always been my favorite. I just recently acquired one of my all-time favorite pickups! A 1973 F250 highboy Camper Special!!! So awesome. I've wanted one of these rigs since I was a teenager, not specifically the 73 Camper Special, but nevertheless, I'm pretty darn excited. So if you folks have any vintage parts site suggestions that are worth my time(and possibly my cash), please let me know, I would greatly appreciate it. It's already in really nice condition, I'll share some backstory and images soon, as I think you'll love the story for it warms my heart to the core just thinking about the whole situation. I am feeling pretty great about it. Anyways, just thought I would introduce myself to the forum! Hope to hear a hello or two from fellow 70's Ford pickup enthusiasts! Have a splendid evening.
~PositiveWaves

 

From which part of the Big Sky Country do you hail?

 

Nice, someone's up! I'm in Missoula, but I'm trying to go a little more rural soon, probably down the Bitt. I've been all over Montana though, born and raised. You here as well? Is that your rig in the little profile pic? I am trying to figure that stuff out, it's been years since I've even been on a forum. Anyways, hello!

 

Ha Ha your talking to one of the most knowledgeable fellows on this site and he is your neighbor,stick around and you will learn about these trucks inside and out,which makes it even more of a pleasure to own one.

 

I lived in Missoula in the 90's (before Reserve st. was lined with big box stores) great town, I miss what it was but not what it's become, when the second Wal-Mart was coming to town I knew it was time for me to get out.

 

Nice! Yeah Missoula has gone downhill in the last decade. I'll be out of here at some point, but what's still cool about this town is I can drive a half our in any direction and be on the river. Here's a little backstory. So I've been looking for a 70's rig off and on for some time and this one sort of presented itself to me almost in a "happened for a reason" sort of deal if you know what I mean. It is from an old Korean war vet that I've came to know a little over the past month or so, and I already have more respect for this man than about most of the folks I've ever known. We came to a deal on it with me hoping with all my heart that he would take me by my word that I was going to get good use out of it and slowly restore it and not sell it. He bought it in 1972 brand new from the Ford factory, and used it as sort of a utility/hunting rig as I gather. I don't know, I could listen to this man for hours, as I can most vets. But he has worked and rebuilt cars and trucks for most of his life, and he told me it came stock with the 360, which he said was a crap engine, and dropped the 390(edsell?) 4 speed in it which it still has. I don't know so much about the either, but I am going to learn, because when I toss myself into things, I do research. So right now it needs some love, and I'm going to replace a bunch of old stuff, wiring, hoses, belts, flush the tanks(he installed a saddle tank under one of the fenders), have a good look at the brakes, and see if I can't get her reliable and safe again. And then slow roll the resto. As I ain't a rich man. So I'll get an image up if I can figure it out, hopefully without a stupid image share website. That's how it used to be done on these sites. But it has a straight frame, almost no body damage, and NO rust. I'll say this, I've been looking at these trucks for years, and for a 40 year old truck this one is the best I've ever seen with no work done. Going to be pretty sweet to see her come back to life! Thanks for the responses. I hope to hear any suggestions!

 

Yea, highboys came with 360's which are kind of a low compression turd, so 390 swaps were very popular in these trucks...they're both from the FE (Ford Edsel) engine family.

As far as posting pics I use a third party hosting site like Photobucket and link the photos over here, pretty easy.

Sounds like a nice truck with a nice story behind it, post up pics when you get a chance, btw i'm up in the Kootenai Valley, in the Libby area.

If you have any questions/parts needs feel free to ask, I have a ton of extra parts laying around.

 

Hi to all you Montana Guys I have a brother that lives way up by Eureka Montana .I been out to Montana 4 times in the last 30 yrs .Great country I may move out that way in about 5 yrs when I retire My brother been wanting me to move out there for the past 20 yrs .I tell people Idaho and Montana some of the prettiest country in the world and when you get there you will know why they call it Big Sky Country.

 

I know what you mean,MeanGreen,I kayaked that middle fork S,desolation canyon , Starts in the Bitteroot,winds down into Idaho,,,forever a place in your heart,,,and I love potatoes,,,Idaho and Maine

 

I have relation in great falls and Livingston, been there several times, as well as billings.

 

Sheesh guys, how about keeping this place a secret will ya, we don't want everybody and their uncle moving here.... oh wait, that's already happened.

Most people move here for our mountains, rivers, wildlife and bucolic lifestyle... but our bitter winters (and economy) drive most of them right back home.

(MeanGreen i'm about 45min south of Eureaka)

 

hello from Billings.......just a tad east of you

 

Yeah, people come here and buy stuff up, bring their stupid agenda's with them, and then end up leaving because they can't handle the weather. Which is fine with me.
Anyways, thanks montana_highboy, I'll let you know how it goes. I am going to figure out a bunch of it this week so I'll let you know. I appreciate the parts offer! One thing I am looking for is one of those west coast tow mirrors for the right side, that's the only damage from a deer that flew out into the right door. I'm sure I'll find one at some point. One thing that is weird is he swapped out the original grille for a 78, so I might be looking to go back to the original front at some point. Have you ever used anything from lmctruck.com? They seem to have some stuff I might be able to use, but I don't know. It's going to be some junkyards for me.

 

And Howdy to all that said hello! Sweet rig irydasteelhorse!

 

Montana Highboy You must be around Whitefish. Columbia Falls .I camped at Whitefish Lake The Trains seemed to make 3 runs a night around backside of the lake made the ground shake one night was enough for me .My brother lived up north of Trego for 12 yrs great trout fishing he had property on Edna Creek .It snows a lot less up at Eureka.I'll get out that way again in the next couple yrs .If I get out that way Maybe I'll look you Up.