Vabow's 65 F250 4x4
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 951
Likes: 574
It's my first 61-66 ford truck, It's rough and needs a lot of work but is mostly complete. It is missing the radiator, hood hinges, seat, passenger door glass and needs windshield. I have removed the plugs and was able to spin the engine over by hand a few revolutions. Someone has put new plugs in it recently. They were all hand tight and clean, the carb looks to have been on fire and is rough. I have a yfa off my 68 that ran great so I swapped it over.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 951
Likes: 574
Removed to points and installed a pertronix 91261. Swapped in a battery, filled the bowl on the carb and it fired right up. I have only ran it a minute or two but it seems to run good. No bad noises and runs smooth. Drained the old oil and changed the filter. Oil came black but no water metal in it. Now I need to find a radiator so I can let it run longer.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 265
Likes: 112
From: South Houston
great looking truck.
Dont clean a thing in that engine bay. that weathered/tired/patina look is amazing. So much character.
Dont clean a thing in that engine bay. that weathered/tired/patina look is amazing. So much character.
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Lead Driver
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Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,014
Likes: 1,565
From: Seattle
On the back edge of the driver's door near the latch - any warranty plate still affixed? If yes post it and I'll decode it for you. No matter what though, the warranty plate doesn't tell what 'back-of-cab' equipment it came with originally like a flatbed so there is no telling on that sort of thing. Later years they did start putting that information on the plate but not in the earlier years.
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,014
Likes: 1,565
From: Seattle
F26 = F250-4 x 4
J = 240 1V 6 cylinder
E = Mahwah, NJ assembly plant
696789 = June 1965 assembly month - 1965 model year
*Blank wheelbase length - a little odd as most would be 120 inches
*Blank color code - makes sense for military vehicles
F260 = F250-4 x 4 6,800 Lbs. Gvwr.
481 - 4 = Light beige crush vinyl and light beige wicker patter vinyl - 81 = 81A Standard Cab
N = New Process 435 4-speed granny low
B5 = Dana 60 4:56:1 rear ratio locking differential
7000 = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. A different number than the typical 1965 F250 4x4. Wheelbase length might have factored into that, too.
129 = Horsepower @
4000 = RPM
83 = Government sales office
0212 = Domestic Special Order number - obviously not bought 'off the lot'
The wheelbase length isn't shown. Would be interesting to take a tape measurement of how long the wheelbase on this new truck is. If not 120" then they may have needed one or more custom length driveshafts.
All 1961-1965 F100/250 4x4 and 1966 F250 4x4 trucks were spec'ed at the 120" wheelbase length so anything other is unique.
J = 240 1V 6 cylinder
E = Mahwah, NJ assembly plant
696789 = June 1965 assembly month - 1965 model year
*Blank wheelbase length - a little odd as most would be 120 inches
*Blank color code - makes sense for military vehicles
F260 = F250-4 x 4 6,800 Lbs. Gvwr.
481 - 4 = Light beige crush vinyl and light beige wicker patter vinyl - 81 = 81A Standard Cab
N = New Process 435 4-speed granny low
B5 = Dana 60 4:56:1 rear ratio locking differential
7000 = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. A different number than the typical 1965 F250 4x4. Wheelbase length might have factored into that, too.
129 = Horsepower @
4000 = RPM
83 = Government sales office
0212 = Domestic Special Order number - obviously not bought 'off the lot'
The wheelbase length isn't shown. Would be interesting to take a tape measurement of how long the wheelbase on this new truck is. If not 120" then they may have needed one or more custom length driveshafts.
All 1961-1965 F100/250 4x4 and 1966 F250 4x4 trucks were spec'ed at the 120" wheelbase length so anything other is unique.
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,014
Likes: 1,565
From: Seattle
Here's the decode from @yankee721 truck which you'd noticed has the same front bumper and grille guard. A 1966 but it has some real similarities. You can see the 120 for the wheelbase length and 6800 lbs. GVWR in this case. Scroll up a few posts from where this link takes you and you can see the actual plate of his. Interesting thing about that warranty plate is they never snapped off the extra portion what goes with the warranty card in the glovebox paperwork. So many subtle nuances in these trucks.
1966 f250 4x4 bell housing, help! - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
The code for the 240 did indeed change between 1965 and 1966 from J to A. And the NP435 from N to A.
Pasting here for easy comparison.
F26 = F250-4 x 4
A = 240 1V
E = Mahwah, NJ assembly plant
860808 = May 1966 assembly month - 1966 model year
120 = wheelbase in inches
*Blank color code
F260 = F250-4 x 4 6,800 Lbs. Gvwr.
481 = 4 - Medium beige crush vinyl and medium beige wicker pattern vinyl - 81 = 81A - Standard Cab
A = NP435 4-speed
25 = Dana 60 4.56:1 ratio non-limited slip
06800 = Gvw Rating
129 = horsepower @
4000 = RPM
83 = Government sales office
0348 = Domestic Special Order number - typical when color code is blank
1966 f250 4x4 bell housing, help! - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
The code for the 240 did indeed change between 1965 and 1966 from J to A. And the NP435 from N to A.
Pasting here for easy comparison.
F26 = F250-4 x 4
A = 240 1V
E = Mahwah, NJ assembly plant
860808 = May 1966 assembly month - 1966 model year
120 = wheelbase in inches
*Blank color code
F260 = F250-4 x 4 6,800 Lbs. Gvwr.
481 = 4 - Medium beige crush vinyl and medium beige wicker pattern vinyl - 81 = 81A - Standard Cab
A = NP435 4-speed
25 = Dana 60 4.56:1 ratio non-limited slip
06800 = Gvw Rating
129 = horsepower @
4000 = RPM
83 = Government sales office
0348 = Domestic Special Order number - typical when color code is blank
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 951
Likes: 574
Thanks for the info, This truck had a factory looking wood flat bed. It is falling apart but I believe it to be original to the truck. It is painted green and is held together with flat head fasteners and square blots. The wheel base is also 120 inches, I checked it with tape. I thought it looked short on my 16ft trailer. I am more used to 67-77 trucks with 131 wheel base.
Lead Gopher
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 10,014
Likes: 1,565
From: Seattle
You can see that Ford listed the F260 Model Code as being 6,800 lbs. GVWR from 1964-71 (this is from the 1964-1972 MPC). Yet yours is stamped 7000 in the separate number rating. I need to finish my way back machine so I can go ask the relevant people how these things came to be...
