Well, I finally got the down payment to my neighbor yesterday after selling my Rabbits. And got the key to the 76 F-250. We drove around all afternoon yesterday trying to get an engine and trans for his new project truck (1969 GMC 1500 with NO options on it-except for two aux fuel tanks) and the F250 ran fine, starting every time.

This morning, I get out to go to work, and it will not start. it turned over, but would only run for a short while, and then die. My neighbor comes out and tells me he only put $4 worth of gas in it yesterday. So he gets a ride to the gas station, and we put gas in it. Still no go. Come to find out, the fuel pump has stopped working.

So.....my very first chance to drive my truck, and it fails. Not a good sign. My neighbor tells me he has never had any problems with the truck. He also informs me the carb has an electric choke, and it's not connected.

I was mistaken earlier when I announced that it had a Motorcraft carb. I guess I was assuming it was Motorcraft, but it is actually a Holly carb. I believe it is the 4150 or 4160 series, can't remember which one has the vacuum secondaries, but whichever one, this is it.

In any case, I am putting a new fuel pump in it, so I should be able to drive my new toy today. My neighbor has already installed a new distributor, and rear brakes, and had the entire truck rewired. He said he will take care of the smog also, and the registration is already paid for, just need the smog check to get the plates on it. The total cost of the truck has gone up $50 to $650 but that now includes an aluminum camper top for the bed.

So I think I am getting a good deal here. I will try and find a cheap one use camera to get some pics of it and start a gallery. My digital camera is so old it's software only works in Windows 98 which I don't have on any of my computers.

The 72 4x4 F-250 that I was supposed to get Saturday as a partial trade for the Rabbits should be delivered on Tuesday. It turns out the guy's friend did not have a trailer suitable enough for the size and weight of the truck. So he will rent a car trailer, and bring it down then.

 

What engine does it have? If it's an FE, the fuel pump is a PITA to replace. Not impossible, but not fun. Much better if you have a wobble extension for your ratchet set. It's the back bolt that's the bugger. While you're in there, replace the fuel line also. It's probably swollen and will leak.

Don't let this discourage you. I had to replace my fuel pump within days of getting mine, and she's been dead reliable for over 10 years now. Drove her cross country (San Jose to Maine) and from San Jose to Little Rock (round trip). Never missed a beat. You just have to repair things as they come up.

Again, if it's an FE and the carb is stock (Holley made for Motocraft is stock), then it's a 4160. !!!!!BUT!!!! it's a 4160 built to Motocraft specs. That means that while most Holley parts will fit, there are little differences that will bite you in the butt if you're not aware of them. The worst is that the base of the carb is larger than the standard Holley, with a PCV vac source at the back of the carb. That makes the standard Holley base gasket too small. Makes one helluva vacuum leak. If you want to, check out my 'Holley on FEs' thread in the FE forum down the page. There are pics of that carb.

Good luck with the truck. The '76s are my favs.

 

Yeah that sucks but what can you do 650 is still a pretty good price hope you have good luck with er and 76supercab2 read his signature its got a 460

 

Yeah the engine is a 460, however, I learned something new today because of this incident. It seems the engine is a '78 model, and not a '76. That makes sense, since the VIN states it originally came with a 360 2bbl. Anyway, the fuel pump does not have a built in filter, and all the parts houses around here only carry the one with the built in filter. So the guy at NAPA checked other years, and found the one I need in a 78.

So now I am back on the road again,) and I learned I have a 78 460 in it.
That is interesting about the Motocraft Holley carb. I did not know Holley made carbs for anyone other than Holley.

Oh, btw, why do you like 76's the best? I was under the impression that all 73-79 trucks were the same with only minor differences (save the different grills of the 78-79).

 

The one on my 390 was a sinch to replace did it in less than 10 mins. Its just two bolts and a gasket basically.
-Chris

 

I like 78's and 79's the best, they look the best, and seem to be the toughest

 

Last 360/390 was 1976. In 1977 the 351M/400 engines introduced in the trucks.

All the 460 trucks had Holley 4V carbs..the cars used Autolite/Motorcraft 4V's.

460 engines introduced into trucks around 1973/4.

 

New enough to have the options I want - power brakes, interval wipers, cruise control, A/C, AM/FM radio (but I don't have a stock radio). But old enough to not have the things I don't want -- Computers, air bags, crumple zones, EMISSION CONTROLS!!! Plus it was the last year for the FE.

I thought so too. But I got stranded out in the boonies while pulling a trailer for my son's Boy Scout troop and lost the fuel pump. Spent the better part of 2 hours cause of borrowed tools and couldn't get to the dang back bolt. The oil pressure sender and power steering pump were in the way if I did get the wrench on. Finally got it with the wobble ratchet extension.

I guess it's only difficult if you're under the gun. Good thing is someone did stop and offer to help cause the saw the scout emblem on the trailer.

 

Hey Nighteyez, maybe this will make you feel better, then again maybe not. But if the fuel pump was marginal then running it out of gas is usually enough to push it over the edge, the guy was probably telling you the truth, it never gave him any problems but if thats the original fuel pump it's almost 30 yrs old so was probably getting weak, look on the bright side this probably means it's not going to go out anytime soon and leave you stranded on the side of the road, instead it did it right in your own driveway and it's an easy fix.

 

Well, I can tell you this. It is a far cry from a VW Rabbit. I drove it to work today, and it is nothing like the GTI that I used to own. Of course, I never expected it to be. I like the sound of the 460 under the hood. It has dual exhaust with glasspack mufflers (not as loud as I thought glasspacks would be) and has a nice rumble to it. It is interesting that both pipes go down the right side of the truck. I am guessing that is because of the fuel tanks on the left side.

One thing I will have to get fixed as soon as possible (besides a good tuneup) is the seats. It has the stock bench seat, but does not go back far enough for my leg to comfortably use the brake pedal, or to a lesser degree, the gas pedal. I was in an accident in 1998 that damaged my right knee and it does not bend more than 60 degrees. Which means I need a lot of legroom, and this is not an extended cab, or super cab or whatever Ford calls theirs, so the bench seat does not go back far enough.

My neighbor has offered to install a set of 89 Mustang bucket seats he has taking up space on his patio. I will take him up on the offer next payday.

You are right about the fuel pump. I am very glad it gave up in my carport, and not on the freeway. And although I doubt it is the original one, there is no telling how old it is. I am sure the one in there now will last a long time. And to be honest, a 30 year old truck with 287,787 miles on it is going to have some problems.