For the longest time I thought (and the previous owner thought) that my truck was a "Camper Special". It has all the stuff from a Camper Special on it, but no "Stinkin' badges". It is also an F250.

Some details for the experts on this site. It is a 1976 F250 Supercab with the long box. It has the racetrack side mouldings and bumber bars. Factory installed all steel rear bumber and Ford/ Motorcraft branded fibreglass bed cap. Underhood it is a 460 with C6 transmission and Dana rear end. It has the extra battery mount and wiring with extra solenoid. It has the Power steering cooler, transmission cooler and what looks to be a factory engine oil cooler driven off a sandwich type mounted between the filter and block. It has dual tanks and facory tank switch in the dash.

Suspension wise it has 8 lug 16.5 by 6 inch wheels on the front and 16.5 by 9.75 or 10 inch wheels on the rear. heavy duty rear springs with towing excess leaf on the rear. Front springs have been changed so I can't tell.

The only badging on the truck has Ranger XLT, but it is in the racetrack side moulding. On the rear pop out windows it has Supercab in fancy script. It has factory wheel trim and doggie dish hub caps. In the interior it has 2 jump seats and shoulder belts. Thats about everything I can tell you guys other than the serial number, F25JKB02627.

What do I have?

Eric

 

Your VIN decodes to this,

Built in: December 1975.
Truck Series: F250 2 Wheel Drive
Engine: V8 - 460cid, 4BBL carb, 239 HP
Assembly on: Kansas City, MO

model year is 1976, but built in Dec '75. There will be more info available with the numbers on driver side door

 

The VIN decoder on this site only gives the following, which you apparently already know:
Your VIN number: F25JKB02627
Your Model Year is December 1975.
Truck Series: F250 2 Wheel Drive
Engine: V8 - 460cid, 4BBL carb, 239 HP
Assembly on: Kansas City, MO

Unfortunately, many of our trucks during the years have been given upgrades, changed appearances, etc. However from the description you have given it does "sound" like a Ranger XLT (which came with the racetrack trim). The supercab letters on the window are standard order for all supercabs, the rear seats were optional for either side seats or folding bench. Bumper bars (I assume you mean mounted on the front bumper with rubber inserts?) were options for any trim level truck. If the wiring battery tray, etc. are factory directly linked to the harness it may have been a camper special, but there would be a holes unless filled, where the badges would have been attached to the side. a number of the other items you list could have been specific options, but if I recall correctly (I'm NOT an expert, and you may receive many other facts) the camper special did have the tranny cooler option in the package, along with the rear sway bar and additional leaf spring. The cap was an option also (and getting rather hard to find in decent condition! Is the compass emblem still on the side near the front?)

I did a search for what exactly was included on a camper special (as opposed so a SUPER camper special also) but couldn't find what I was looking for. I'm sure someone else will have a more concise answer, but at least this is a start for you! Good luck with your truck!
Dak

 

Rockstone beat me to the post on the VIN... :-)
Dak

 

Some further information off the door tag;

Wheelbase - 155
Color - F
Type GVW - F259
Body - EVM
Trans - G
Axle - 38E
Max GVWB - 08100
1976A7

It also has the big brakes on the front, 2 jump seats and when I got it, the most awful 1976 button brown vinyl dash and interior panel covering, fuzzy door panels and gothic looking wood headliner storage bins. The paint was two tone dark golden inserts in a chocolate brown base, . It was a real time machine as the sliding back window had NHRA Winternational decals on it from 1978, original Vancouver Canucks hockey decals from the same time period and in the 'glass cap decals from the Eighties Formula Atlantic Series. By the way the cap does have both of the compass emblems, but one is in extremely rough shape. As well the rear door is missing from the cap.

The engine has been rebuilt once in its life with a balanced rotating assembly, different cam, increased compression, ported heads and Hedman headers.

The original owners lowered the truck by reversing the axle on the rear leaf springs and cutting the front springs and having the front I-Beams bent to return the wheel camber to the proper range. Its great returning this to reliable running condition and takes me back to my youth every time I start it up.

Eric

 

[quote=23racer;8683252]Some further information off the door tag;

Wheelbase - 155 ----------- 155" wheelbase (obviously)
Color - F ------------- Dark ginger metallic
Type GVW - F259 ------------- F250 - 8100# GVWR
Body - EVM ----------------- are you sure this is correct? M not showing for trim
Trans - G ------------ Auto - C6
Axle - 38E ------------ Dana 60 - 3.73 ratio
Max GVWB - 08100
1976A7

Hopefully someone else can fill in the gaps.

 

Russ, thanks for the information. Everything sounds right and I went out to the truck to take another look at the Body Code. It does say EVM, hmmmmmmm........

The plate is in very good condition so it is hard to make a mistake. What is very nice is that the truck spent its whole life in the Pacific Northwest as a tow vehicle with only about 10 years as a daily driver in Vancouver B.C.. Everything is in great shape except for the front cab mounts and a line around the rear supercab body on both sides. The water leaked in the rear window, when the truck was sitting at a Ford Dealership for about 5 years, soaked the carpet and rotted out the body from the inside out. I have purchased all the body patches and floor patches and have them installed. I just need to clean up the body some more, paint it and away we go.

Based on a lot of conversations I have had today, its going to be impossible to replace the front tires and I only have 1 tire I can use on the back so it looks like all aftermarket wheels when I put new tires on it. Darn I liked the way it looked with the stock wheels.

Eric

 

Why can't you use your wheels? Are they they old split rims? Most places will not mount tires on them because they have a rep for being dangerous. Probably mostly operator error. Lots of choices both in stock looking, and custom wheels in the 8 lug pattern though. Good luck with your project. Post a picture of your truck when you can.

 

The issue is the lack of availability of streetable 33x12.5x16.5 tires for the rear and 9.50x16.5 tires for the front. Right now I have a choice of BF Goodrich and BF Goodrich for the rear and Cooper and Cooper for the front (or a Firestone 10 ply). I am uncertain as to the load capacity of the rears and I have Coopers on the front and they aren't the best in the wet.

The rims aren't split rims, just stock kinda reversed rims on the rear and the skinniest looking rims you have ever seen on the front.

I need about a month then I will start posting some shots. Thanks for all the help guys and if anybody has some more information on the truck, I appreciate it.

Eric