When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey guys, finally getting around to posting a build thread for my F250. I brought this truck home in 2013, after my father passed away in 2012. This truck was always one of my dads prized possessions so I was grateful to be able to bring it home. He picked it up, brand new, in late 72 and I grew up in this thing. Camping, fishing, cross country, in bed camper, fifth wheel, etc. Lots of memories! After my mother passed away in 99, dad didn't spend as much time doing things so the truck sat a lot unused. Although it only had 104k original miles on the clock, the New Mexico sun cooked the paint and upholstery over those years so it was looking a little rough when I trailered it home. I started cleaning it up and trying to get it running which turned into a nearly 12 year project.
It shipped in November of 72 to Frontier Ford in Albuquerque where my family picked it up. Born as an F250 Camper Special, it came very well optioned with the Ranger XLT package. A/C, Power Steering, Power Brakes, etc. along with a "high fidelity" in dash AM radio! . It was supposed to have the bedside compartment/ tool box but they instead gave dad an under dash 8 track player in its place. The player is long gone but the truck still has the slide mount should I ever find another one. It was a 360 powered, C-6 truck with a 4:10 rear gear. Ran like a top all its life, and towed more things than I ever believed it could! For a 360, it really was a great, strong running beast. Dad really wanted a 4 bbl carb but it wasn't an option for 73. He replaced the motorcraft carb with a 2bbl Holley and a set of headers which would live there most of its life. An old school MSD box was added a few years later and that's how it stayed.
It had varnished the valves from old gas, and had about 4-5 of them were stuck Over about 10 or so years, I occasionally played with getting it running again but life kept me busy and I did not make much progress, and I did end up pulling off the heads to and have them rebuilt, but that's about as far as I got. I was in the middle of restoring a 67 S code (390, 4 speed) Mustang coupe so it received most of my spare "car time". Life, getting older, and several other things sidelined the Mustang so I had to let it go a few years ago. I had built a full GT390 engine for the mustang that I kept around so it really needed a new home. Naturally it was decided that the truck was really wanting a new lease on life so it was decided. This old truck would get a refresh, with a little more pep under the hood.
After pulling out the 360, I decided to start cleaning up the rest of the truck which morphed into a full blown, rolling rebuilt. I did not want a trailer queen, but a nice weekend driver. After the engine was installed, I had custom exhaust put on so I could keep the 14 bolt Mustang manifolds. We decided years ago that FE headers on a dentside was a horrible mistake so there was no question here!
I have always loved the look of the S code engine in the Mustang so I wanted to truly keep the Mustangs heart alive in the truck. The only slight variation is that I installed an Edelbrock aluminum intake which was powder coated to look closely like the factory Ford, 800lb FE "S" intake, LOL.I also wanted to go with electronic ignition so I discovered the MSD Ready to Run distributor. It was a close call on it fitting the Mustang air cleaner but we were able to make it work.I'm really pleased with how it came out.
Sadly, once the engine was in, we had to pull it back out because it lost a rod bearing. It's a long story involving another shop but I won't go into it here. It all worked out in the end and its back in. With a water pump painted the correct color, lol!
Although the truck was completely rust free, it had some minor work done to it several years ago and sat with primer on it for 14-15 years. I had it re-checked, and re-repaired, along with a fresh coat of the factory Tampico Yellow and Sequoia Brown paint.
All the original trim, minus a repro set of 'Camper Special" badges and a repro XLT grill emblem, went back on and cleaned up nicely. I still need to pull some of the trim back off and restore them at some point, but I'm happy with them now for driver duty.
It still has its original, 16.5 wheels on it but I did pick up a set of OBS Alcoa wheels that I am contemplating putting on it. My dad always wanted Alcoa wheels so it's an emotional decision. I like the original look but I also like the idea of honoring my father: That and tires are definitely cheaper!
Lastly, I wanted to clean up the interior. I decided on a new carpet set (ACC), upholstery, headliner, and miscellaneous interior trim stuff. Carpet was easy and very affordable. Headliner is awesome but, in my opinion, not worth the 6 month wait from SMS. I wanted a matching, correct seat cover but that was going to be nearly a year wait. I opted to go with the "ginger" standard seat set which looks pretty good to me.
The floormat is the original, ford mat that my dad had put in the truck in its early days. Its in surprisingly good condition for its age and only has a couple of small cracks in it. My one big disappointment is that replacement woodgrain dash trim around the glove box, is plastic. The original is metal and sturdy. Also the woodgrain started peeling off of it literally 1 week after I installed it. The truck never left the garage during that time so I have to say what a crap reproduction! I'm going to attempt to re-glue it so we will see how that goes.
That's about it for now. I still need to either replace the steering wheel or have it recovered. I hate to replace it because it was ordered through Ford aftermarket catalogs back in the late 70's, early 80's. I've never seen another one exactly like it. Sadly the only markings it has on it is a stamp that says "made in France". If anyone knows who makes it or where to find an exact copy, let me know.
Vary nice looking driver, dad and mom are looking down and giving
How long has it been done and back on the road?
My dad was a body and paint man and I learned from him how to do it but never did it for a living.
I did a 4 year cab off frame rebuild of my 81 F100 flare side, as nice driver like yours and did all the work, none shipped out.
Dad and mom passed away years ago and I know they are also looking down doing the same
Mine has been on the road 5 years now and has over 28K on it, use it to haul my weekly trash to the dump, use to / from work 400 miles in a week when I used it and pull the car clubs 20 ft enclosed trailer to shows.
Again vary nice truck
Dave ----
Beautiful truck. I've been restoring my Dad's 1975 F250 4x4 since 2017. It was 2 years old in 1977 when my Dad bought it--, like you, I grew up in this truck. Getting closer to being finished, hopefully in the next year I'll be driving it.
It's only been back together for a few days so I am still shaking out the little things.
Originally Posted by mterickson
What is that hanging on the wall? Looks like an old phone of some sort.
It is an old school intercom that has been in the truck since I was little. It was communications between the drivers compartment and the in bed camper that it had in the early days.
It's only been back together for a few days so I am still shaking out the little things.
It is an old school intercom that has been in the truck since I was little. It was communications between the drivers compartment and the in bed camper that it had in the early days.
That was one of my thoughts, that it was for the passenger (mom) to yell at the kids riding in the camper to quit messing around and sit down...
If it were me, I would keep it there for the nostalgia and conversation starter.
After doing quite a bit of research, I was quoted $400-$800 to re-leather wrap the old Ford aftermarket steering wheel (or $300 for a less than stellar aftermarket wheel). I did it myself with $20 of materials. Not going for show perfect so I am happy with it! Still have a little trim work to do but hey, it worked!
It has been a lot of fun, along with a lot of emotions getting this ole truck back on the road.
Up next, a new heater core... Go figure, it started leaking.
It has really been fun getting this old dog back on the road. Put a couple hundred miles on it since posting this thread and it has been great. Spent this last week touching up door panels, adjusting the hood, and other misc. stuff to get it ready for the summer! Next up is climbing under it and doing some of the dirty underside detail work. It's not bad by any means but it sure could use it!
D/S door panel after a little work
Passes everything but a gas station! Ahhh the thirsty 390FE
. It was supposed to have the bedside compartment/ tool box but they instead gave dad an under dash 8 track player in its place. The player is long gone but the truck still has the slide mount should I ever find another one. It was a 360 powered, C-6 truck with a 4:10 rear gear. Ran like a top all its life, and towed more things than I ever believed it could! For a 360, it really was a great, strong running beast. Dad really wanted a 4 bbl carb but it wasn't an option for 73. He replaced the motorcraft carb with a 2bbl Holley and a set of headers which would live there most of its life. An old school MSD box was added a few years later and that's how it stayed.
