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I’m new here and this is my first post. My son recommended these forums as a great place to get advice and ask questions. I’m sure I’ll have tons of questions, as a matter of fact I have several questions running around in my thick skull as I write this.
I just purchased a well kept 1965 F250 Camper Special 2 wd, manual 4 speed that stayed in the same family in Ohio for 60 years. The body has very little rust and no big dents or dings and has had one amateur paint job taking the truck from Rangoon Red to Maroon. I was told the original FE 352 motor started smoking and the owner took it to a shop to be rebuilt…but the shop owner had a newly rebuilt FE 390 that he wanted to sell and that was put in the truck. The original FE 352 motor came with the truck thrown in the bed! Bonus for me! Once I tackle all the projects to get my truck road worthy…my plan is to rebuild the original 352 motor, tearing it down to the block, having the block checked for cracks and then hopefully rebuilding it. Then if or when my truck needs another motor I’ll have one! Also the project of rebuilding a motor that is basically the same as the one in my truck other stroke length and bore will help me learn all about how an FE engine works.
I once heard that one way to keep your brain sharp was to learn new things, like a second language or how to play an instrument or take up painting, etc. I thought to myself, what about learning to “wrench” on an old truck? As my contemporaries are learning how to use Artificial Intelligence to self publish books, compose new music, create great works of art or launch the latest business venture…I yearn for something hands on that is as far from new technology as possible. A project (adventure) I can lose myself in.
I often yearn to discover a dark hole I can crawl through and find my way back to the 1980’s, a simple era before the internet, I was just reaching adulthood, giving birth to my son and trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up (I’m still trying to figure that out at 60). I am grateful for the life I have enjoyed so far, the highs the lows all of it. I don’t have any regrets, sure with hindsight I’d do some things differently, who wouldn’t. I guess growing weary of all the latest technology is a sure sign that I’m finally getting old.
So learning to “wrench” on an old truck should suffice in keeping the neurons firing. I think I found the PERFECT project! I wanted something the same age as me…for some reason that seemed to matter. It couldn’t be too complicated or technical, I wanted something all mechanical not electrical and being a farm gal I was drawn more to trucks than cars. I’m not interested in winning car shows, that will never be my goal, but I’m looking forward to meeting like minded people that carry the faint smell of old classic trucks and cars and have well worn calloused hands with just a touch of grease under their fingernails. These pictures where taken this past Friday and Saturday, Memorial Day weekend, 5/2026 My son and I, right after loading the 65 F250 onto the trailer in the rain. Got her HOME! From Columbus, OH to Jackson Creek, NC
Welcome to FTE, that’s a real nice truck. When you’ve time, post a bunch more photos, interior, engine bay, everything. Enjoy getting to know your new vehicle, and improving it as you go.
My 1965 F250 c/s truck came with some instruction notes that indicated that the previous owner suspected there might be a pinhole in the fuel uptake steel line inside the gas tank. The note reads, that the tank needs topped off before driving anywhere and that the truck is good for 20 to 30 miles before it quits sending fuel to the fuel pump. The tank is behind the seat and I can loosen the steel line from the top of the tank that goes to the fuel pump, but I’m not sure how to get the uptake line out of the fuel tank. Does anyone know any tricks to get that uptake line out of the tank? Is that a line that can be replaced? I’d like to drain the tank dry and then put a scope and light down in it to see how rusty or what kind of shape the tank is in. I’ll buy a new tank if I need to, but I don’t want to if it’s not necessary. I thought about putting a gas can in the bed of the truck and running a fuel line directly to the fuel pump to bypass the gas tank to see if that’s really the problem. The truck has an electrical fuel pump put in that’s not original. I’m wondering if that wasn’t done because of these problems and it didn’t fix the problem so now they’re suspecting it’s the uptake fuel line inside the tank. Also, the gas gauge doesn’t appear to work. I could use a few pointers on how to check if the sending unit needs replaced. See pictures. Fuel tank How to get tube out of tank? How to get steel uptake pipe out of tank? Gas tank behind seat, external line disconnected. Instructions that came with truck…Good to know! Instructions tucked into the envelope of paperwork that came with my truck
Welcome to FTE!
The fuel line in the tank along with the inverted flare fitting is one piece it is spot welded and soldered to the tank and cannot be easily removed and there are no replacements available. Replacing the tank is the simplest and safest thing to do. To test the fuel sender, it needs to be removed and checked with an ohm meter it should read 8-12 ohms with the rod full up and 60-86 ohms at the full down position.
I would suggest you buy a shop manual for your truck they are available on e-bay, Amazon etc. as originals, reprints, or CD's and thumb drives. Also, the advanced search feature on this forum is quite good at answering a lot of questions.
…my plan is to rebuild the original 352 motor, tearing it down to the block, having the block checked for cracks and then hopefully rebuilding it. Then if or when my truck needs another motor I’ll have one! Also the project of rebuilding a motor that is basically the same as the one in my truck other stroke length and bore will help me learn all about how an FE engine works.
LOL. Do you realize FE's are very expensive to build? And that the original 352 pistons you need do not exist? I would suggest you scrap that idea and focus your funds on the truck. It's going to need them.
Welcome to FTE. Nice find.
As has already been suggested, the shop manuals are a good idea. Tons of info and will learn a lot with them. Should download a copy of the wiring diagram too. I added a copy of that below. As far as the repairs that are needed, I would suggest that the notes left by the PO be used only as suggestions. For example, a faulty fuel cap could starve the engine of fuel after driving for a bit. Would be pound foolish to change the tank only to find that the problem persists. My point being, there can be many causes for the same problem. Good troubleshooting habits will point you to the correct cause rather than throwing money at mere possibilities. It's easy to pull the sending unit and get your eyes on the line in the tank. Maybe start there. Also, while those starting procedure tips might be helpful now, they are signs that something else is not right. A properly tuned engine should need 1 squirt, set the choke and then run. You could change a dozen parts there that "could" be the cause but learning to troubleshoot will get you right the first time (usually). Some people have tons of money to throw at problems. I don't. Also when the truck is stuck on the side of the road, things go much easier when you know what's wrong rather than you think you know. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
