Thought I'd share photos of a 66 F350 that I just acquired this week. Bought it for scrap price to see if I can do anything with it. Got a $300 reward to the family if they can find the title. Still has plenty of potential for parts though. The doors with mirrors was what caught my eye. I can scrap the rest and get my money back although I doubt that will happen???

I named it "The Plumber" for the obvious. Previous owner was a plumber. The utility bed is unique. I've only seen one other one on Pintrest but that one didn't have the top section / cover.

 

As for the keys... They told me only the owner knew which one it was for security reasons...

Still sorting through all the goodies that came with it but It'll keep me busy for a while til I figure out which key fits.

 

Oh, and it was the hub nut on the rear driver's side that failed and put this truck to rest...

 

I got keys like a couple of them but don't see a single side Ford ign key.


John

 

As probly aware, the ignition switch can not be removed without the key. If unable to locate, rather than risk damaging the dash, I have removed the ignition switch by drilling out the key cylinder, started w/ a small bit and worked up to 1/4" to 5/16" bit. Once removed, I held the bezel from the front while reaching behind and rotating the switch, may require pushing the switch slightly forward to release spring tension while rotating? Believe switch and key assembly cost around $30, speaking from experience, it's worth replacing entire assembly, as opposed to forcing!

 

If you cannot find the key and it appears to be the stock ignition switch in the dash. You can try removing a door lock cylinder ***'y and take to a locksmith and see if he can make you a key.

I tried this once and the OLD locksmith would not do it for me as he thought I was up to something shady. I never tried elsewhere as ignition switch I wanted to remove was and still is in my parts truck in my backyard. I don't want to ruin the switch or the bezel.

 

Welp... No keys. Wife gets all these for her crafts...

Owners haven't coughed up a title so looks like I'll be parting this guy out. So keys won't be much of an issue.

Thanks for the info! I had no idea the ignition was such a task on 61-66?

 

I have some switches that are apart to use as a reference and I had this one switch that was out of the truck but all put together - and no keys.

So, using the others as a sample I figured out how deep I could go with my drill press and how large of diameter drill I would work up to.

I wanted to save the bezel as it was really nice - also thought I could possibly save the switch. I was in no hurry and took my time. This was outside of the truck using a drill press.

It is a some bit** even in a controlled environment. By the time you start to drill down through the lock the drill itself starts hitting the internals of the lock. All the little keyways start coming apart and the drill bit snags on stuff a LOT. I would stop and use a pair of needle-nose pliers to pick out any lose bits and then proceed a little further.

Eventually I got the lock out. The bezel was still OK, but the internal end of the lock twisted with the drill bit at one point and broke the internals of the switch. The interface between the two is pretty delicate so if the lock end spins it's going to tear up the switch.

I ended up with a bezel and the heavy spring behind it. Switch was toast.

.

 

??? Please explain further.... Did the LH rear axle come out or ???

Do you think you'll restore or scrap out the Plumber's Box?

BarnieTrk

 

Can't the old owners apply for a lost title?

 

It appears the hub nut backed off and the whole hub / wheels / axle assembly together came off while going down the road. The wheels / hub / axle together are in the rear of the bed. Going to have to wait for some help to get that out... WAY too heavy for my puny butt.

I doubt I'll restore the box although I have considered. The floor is in excellent shape. It's missing a door and a couple of them are in pretty rough shape. I do have a couple sheets of diamond plate aluminum I have considered replacing them with and keep the bed but I have enough going on. And all honesty, I have absolutely no need for a utility bed.

My sights are on the doors and front clip. I like these NP435's too with the e-brake.

 

And the spindle is cracked / bent / toast.

The previous owner is no longer with us. So it's a tad more complicated. I think the widow was right though that she would have to drive to Raleigh to apply. She is in Pine Tops, NC being a good distance away. I offered her $300 but she did not seem interested at all. She just wanted the truck gone.

She had a friend of the family list it for her and do the talking / showing. She seems to not want anything to do with it any longer at all.

So I believe it's best that I leave it alone from here onward and accept the $400 invested in the parts I want.

 

Whoa - I'll bet that would have been a wild ride! I'd guess the driver was lucky to have not crashed the truck as a result.

BarnieTrk

 

I took the door cylinder out of my 1965 F250 and took it to an old locksmith. He looked through some old books and dug around in some old key blanks, whittled on one a little and presto a key that works.

 

My brother had to replace his steering column in an old Montego once. The junkyard column was missing the key so we pulled a door lock and got the 4 digit key code off of the door lock and a locksmith made us a key from the code.