I figured I'd start a thread to keep track of my progress and get some advice. I bought my truck in fall of 2016 off eBay. It was kind of a mistake because it was sight unseen and my dad and I put in a cheap bid just to see what would happen. It was a brown '75 longbed that had been sitting for 6 years. To our surprise, we won the auction for $1625. It was then another $1300 or so to ship it from Oregon to Connecticut. The previous owner said no rust at all but the floors needed replacing, nothing too crazy but definitely not in good condition. The rest of the truck was very clean save for surface rust on the frame.

The truck was set up for 5th wheel at one point in its life because it had the mount in the bed, a long gone auxiliary tank, and some extra wiring under the bed. I got the report from Ford to see what it was originally optioned with. Here's some of the info.

Medium Ginger Metallic
2wd
4 speed warner t18
360fe 2bbl
3.73 Dana 60 rear end
Ordered from Seattle, WA
F25YRW82550

Over the past two years my dad and I have put some time into it and have gotten a lot of things straightened out. We've replaced/done:

Hood seal
Sun visor rubber
Gas tank filler neck
Turn signals
Blower motor
Painted wheels
Horn
Mirrors
Radiator tubing
Heater core
License plate light
Fixed ebrake
Air filter
4 bbl carb
4 bbl intake manifold
Master cylinder
Brake booster
Rear window
Had the radiator cleaned and painted
Water pump
Power steering gear (Redhead)
Front brake lines

In the early winter of 2015 I was skipping class with my friend when the old 360 blew up. I assume it blew the head gasket because it was pouring out white smoke (I'll include a pic below). After a long hunt my dad's friend had a 390 out of his '69(?) Ford that he was swapping a diesel into. It was a remanfactured engine but it hadn't seen too many miles since being redone. The guy who sold us the engine has a great shop and they know a lot about these trucks so they installed the new engine along with a new clutch for us.

 

Here's the original eBay ad



The night it got delivered



Another pic of the night it was delivered

 

All of the old wiring and junk that was for the 5th wheel setup
The original engine

 

The day it blew up (that's not fog)
Waiting for the tow truck

 

Here's some pics after I got the 390 installed.

 

Here's a list of all of the things I need to do. This is a short list but I'm sure it will grow as time goes on.

Seat cover
Floors
Door seals
Body mount bushings
Bed Spray (mediablast?)
Transmission fluid flush
Grease fittings
Rear end fluid
Glove box door cable, bumpers, and spring

Does anyone know of a manufacturer that produces brown door panels and arm rests? Everyone has black, blue, and red but I would like to keep the brown interior. I don't see too many in brown so I think it's cool to keep it that way.

 

Nice pick-up! It looks super clean from the outside.
I've seen tan door panels for sale, but I don't recall seeing brown. My truck is "Dark Ginger" but I like to call it either beer-bottle brown or Dark Binger... not hard to see where my mind is at.
That smoky pic reminds me of the time I got coolant in my oil and had to run it w diesel in the crancase a few times to clean it all out. My neighbors think I'm just the greatest

 

Good lookin truck you got there. Where at in CT do you live?

 

Good looking truck. I just got my Dad's 75 F250. It is Ginger Glow. Looks a little darker than yours. I also have to do the floors, cab corner, bed corner and a wheel arch.

 

I live in Fairfield but I go to school in Colorado. In a little less than a month I'll be back and ready to start working on the truck again.

 

That's a fine-looking truck! Congratulations...even at $3000, I think you did ok

 

Does anyone know if this is a homemade bumper or is it an old brand? It doesn't have any markings as far as I know. The fold down step is definitely homemade but I'm curious about the rest.

 

They made at least two...........

 

Looks similar to mine as well.

 

Is that a '66/'67 Charger or is it a Marlin?