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.
My Uncle contacted me a few months ago with a truck that he used to use for his stage lighting company back in the 70's. I turned it down because of logistics and finances at the time but I've been thinking about it lately so here ya go.
It's a 1966 F250 4x4, 352 V8 with a 5spd. He was positive it had a 5spd because he remembered easy highway cruising and I believe confirmed via shifting it into 5 gears not counting reverse last fall. It has onboard air, a PTO winch rated to 8k or 12k lbs. And a later model year bed. The story was that he bought it in 1972ish from a Ford dealer that had received it after it wasn't picked up by the buyer or something and then used it as a dealer service truck hence the white paint. It was apparently special ordered to be ready for a tow truck/wrecker conversion but that never happened and it got a bumpside bed instead. So that is why it got the winch, trans, onboard air, and overload springs. It had Ziebart undercoating for awhile until he found out how bad the stuff can be and scraped it all off and continued giving it routine oil sprays with clean oil (didn't want to get it dirty). My uncle owned the truck until 10-15 years ago when he sold it to a friend who has put maybe 100mi/yr on it since and kept it garaged, the deal was that my uncle got first dibs on buying it back if it went up for sale and his friend was thinking of selling so my uncle called me. My Uncle also confirmed the mileage on the odometer as not rolling over yet.
I attached some picture, maybe when I scrape together some cash it will still be for sale, if someone wanted to decode the warranty plate on this storied truck that would be great!
BTW, this same uncle sent a 1969 mercury cougar out a few years ago in gorgeous condition that we still have. It was sold new by my grandfather to the family when my dad was the only kid not off to college yet and they could get something better than a station wagon. 71k original on that one!
Originally a four speed from the factory - it's not easy to put a 5 speed in these older 4x4 trucks without some work. I'd be curious what they switched it out to, since there are not a lot of 5 speeds that will bolt in.
F26 = F250-4x4
Y = 352 2V
E = Mahwah, NJ Assembly Plant.
804766 = 1966, assembled January 1966
120" Wheelbase.
J = Rangoon Red
F260 = 4WD, 6,800 lbs. GVWR
581: 5 = Red crush vinyl and red wicker pattern vinyl / 81 = 81A Standard Cab
A = NP435 4-speed
25 = Dana 60 Rear Axle / 4.56-1 / Non-Limited Slip / 5,200 lbs. Rear Axle Capacity.
Dana 44 Front Driving Axle / 4.55-1
6,800 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.
172 net HP @ 4,000 RPM
11 - Boston, MA - District Sales Office
Not a special order truck. This one was bought off the lot.
Thanks for the info, it is an interesting truck and when I get a real job after graduation that isnt a poorly paid internship I will try to pick it up.
Apparently there was some floor board repairs done at some point and it comes with a set of spare front fenders. Initially I was turned off by the rust but if I take the bed off anyway it really doesnt look too bad.
I believe the only 5spd direct or overdrive at the time was a Clark, were they available bolted to an FE? it has a 352 or 360 based on what my uncle remembered and I know the 360 wasnt offered until a bit later.
According to my 1966 Salesmans Facts Book for Light Trucks - the F250 4x4 could be ordered with the following transmission choices available under the RPO.
TRANSMISSION:
Std: Warner T-89F 3-Speed
Opt: New Process 435 4-Speed
If yours were a factory installed Clark I do believe the warranty plate would show differently than it does because that would have been a special order.
If you haven't read it yet, here's one 1966 F250 4x4 where a Clark was swapped in.
Peter here on FTE has one. It replaces the tailshaft on the NP435 so it makes some of its own room. I offered him a good amount and after some time he came back in agreement, but by then I'd talked to my buddy and since he said parts would be near impossible for it I decided maybe not, but do wish at times I had. Yes, some people would kill for what I offered him....Lol. Click on this link here.
My buddy has the Bostrom shock absorbing seats in his. They are super comfortable. Called the Viking T-Bar. It was a DSO option in the F/N/NT/T-100/1000 series trucks and available RPO in the C-series cab over trucks. I found some in a dump truck for sale and scored them.
And that is A/C underneath the center jump seat. He took the passengers seat and moved it to the middle and installed a second Viking T-bar for the passenger.
Let me know if you have other questions and I'll try to answer them.
Just a bit more info and pictures of one that was on eBay for sale some time ago. My buddy that has one said the oiler is the same as one used on a Briggs and Stratton lawn mower engine.
I appreciate these facts. My Uncle said he will try to track down any information and pictures he has of the transmission. It is still for sale so I need to start saving my pennies and finding some garage space. Easier said than done in California
Time for some resurrection,
My Uncle says the shifter has an OD marking for 5th (I realize shifter ***** are not exactly a reliable indicator for anything)
Here is a pic of the casting numbers on the transmission, and he will be sending me some more pics of the transmission in the next few weeks.
Transmission casting numbers and tag. Triangle logo has two F's in opposing directions.
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.
