Looking to buy my First Old' Ford Pickup - Need Help!!

[Derekxj]

Hello Everyone!!!

Derek, from NY here. Let me start by saying that while I am a young guy, 27, ive got nothing but love for the old. I grew up working on classics, turning wrenches since i was in diapers literally. You know the story..........All the toys always came apart, and got put back together on the regular.
Anyhow like i said, we had several mustangs. 65 and a 66. a 65 pontiac tempest, old fishing boats. pretty much everything.

My first truck was a 98 Jeep Cherokee XJ, that i had for 5 years and put a LOT of time, love and money into. It was real nice, however was stollen while i was at work years back. About a year later I scored my 97 Jeep wrangler. ( Yes, always been a jeep guy ). Again.........alot of blood sweat memories and tears into this thing building it up exactly how i wanted it. 410 Yukon gears. ARB lockers, 4.5" suspension life on 33x10.50 Mud's. Now however, its come to the point where my jeep needs more work than i have the time and money to give it, and am thinking im going to be letting it go soon.
I also daily drive a 84' VW rabbit with a diesel in it, and am currently restoring a limited edition 91' VW cabriolet for the girlfriend that there were only 400 made of. So yes, i like the uncommon, and my abilities are diversified!

NOW for the truck im looking at buying. Their not easy to find in decent shape here in the tri-state area......I just missed out on two AMAZING deals on mid-70's highboy's. Complete, clean trucks. ive also realized i like the " bumpbodies" as you folks call them MUCH better.

Now I just came across a real nice one, but im concerned as its a bit of a frankenstein.
Its a 1972 F250 cab, on a 74 F350 dually frame. The truck HAD a dump body at one point, but this guy's removed it. Its got a 390, 4 speed with 4x4, which is EXACTLY what i want drivetrain wise. The dually i could do with or without, but I do like the fact that it is one.
He mentinoed that theres a small spot on the frame that could use welding, and that the floor pans were done at one point but are showing their age. Asking 1k for the truck, and allegidly it runs and drives locally around his property all the time.

[Calfdemon]

from SoCal...

Not sure what help you want as I didn't see a question.. . Were you asking if that is a good deal? The reality is that a lot of these trucks become "Frankenbumps" over time. Hell, my 69 crew cab is a frankenbump with parts from 67-72 all over it (along with some modern upgrades). If the truck looks like it was put together well and it is what you want, then $1000 does not seem like a bad price. Hell, it sounds like a steal! So make your decision on whether you like the truck or not, not on what others think. You are going to make it what you want anyway and again, $1000 is a great price as long as it is not a rust bucket!

Good luck! and...

[Derekxj]

from SoCal...

Not sure what help you want as I didn't see a question.. . Were you asking if that is a good deal? The reality is that a lot of these trucks become "Frankenbumps" over time. Hell, my 69 crew cab is a frankenbump with parts from 67-72 all over it (along with some modern upgrades). If the truck looks like it was put together well and it is what you want, then $1000 does not seem like a bad price. Hell, it sounds like a steal! So make your decision on whether you like the truck or not, not on what others think. You are going to make it what you want anyway and again, $1000 is a great price as long as it is not a rust bucket!

Good luck! and...

Thanks alot for the input!! I guess mainly, my question was yes is it a good deal or not, how are these old 390's ? I know the 360 was a good engine, are the 390's hearty engines? The truck has one bad spot in the pass. side frame rail, JUST before the back of the cab. Its a rust hole that looks like it may be about the size of 3 quarters next to each other. Looks like theres another small spot on the frame on the driverside right above the center of the rear leaf. My welding skill's are just fine, and cant see plating these spots to really cause me any trouble in the slightest bit. The tub looks to be halfway decent, and someone retrofitted the interior with some modern buckets, .

I hope i dont lose this one.........I've been looking for a high-boy for a really long time. For me, the truck will primarily be used to A. cruise on weekends. B. Do light sidework and carrying lumber and materials. C. Going out on the local Long island beaches, its one of my favorite things to do to relax.....and fish. I would definetally build a nice wood flatbed for it!

[Derekxj]

Fine fine........here are some pictures















The frame spots dont look TOO bad. Looks like some cutting..........some welding, and she'll be stronger than ever. Thankfully its not box - frame that loves to rot from the inside out like my beloved jeep. The cab doesnt look terrible, the corners look like they'll need to be replaced but that can always come later. Unknown mileage......i hope it wasnt beat up too too bad from hauling the big dump body and heavy loads.

[Calfdemon]

Looks like a good truck and $1000 appears to be a good deal. Especially for a highboy with a good drivetrain. The 352, 360, and 390's are all FE motors and are basically the same with different internals. They are all pretty much bulletproof and will run forever if taken care of.

Not sure what a previous owner did to that hood though... Are those dual hood scoops?? Are they actually open? Not sure what he was thinking there, but to each their own I guess.

[Derekxj]

Looks like a good truck and $1000 appears to be a good deal. Especially for a highboy with a good drivetrain. The 352, 360, and 390's are all FE motors and are basically the same with different internals. They are all pretty much bulletproof and will run forever if taken care of.

Not sure what a previous owner did to that hood though... Are those dual hood scoops?? Are they actually open? Not sure what he was thinking there, but to each their own I guess.

Thanks for the info on the FE's. I figured it was almost bulletproof, as alot of old ford engines were!!!! Mileage is unknown.

YES to the hood scoops. What the heck right??????? If i do wind up getting this. Those hood scoops, and the visor and sidesteps will all dissapear very quickly. They look like the stick-on LUND scoops that became very popular in the late 90's........And i hope to whatever higher power is looking down on me that someone didnt cut the hood under them, like i have seen done before. Cutting up a 72' highboy hood for stick on scoops?

The frame rot both concerns me, and doesnt concern me at the same time. You can see the spots......not that sourcing the steel would be a big deal but, does someone sell replacement patch panels for a 74' F350 frame? I've searched this forum up and down for people repairing frames with similar conditions and have come up with practically nothing.

[lennyp]

from Massachusetts.

[Derekxj]

Thanks!!!!!!

[Madman]

Colorado

[Mancar1]

Welcome aboard from Gerber, Ca.

[Derekxj]

hey gents, so i Went and saw the truck friday night.

A few things..........and big big things that are currently stopping me from going and buying it right now.

1. from ALL of my research i cannot for the life of me find a 74' F350 4wd. Did ford make one???? If not maybe this truck is more of a frankenstein
than i originally thought!!!!

2. Its been used as a property truck for quite some time. who KNOWS the last time this thing went over 10mph.....

3. The 4 speed shifter, well. first gear, which is granny low doesnt seem to go in 110% because the shifter is eating the dash....or vise versa?

4. The owner told me that most times, he has been un-able to get it to shift into 4WD.

5. When i heard it run, there appeared to be a REALLY bad exhaust leak. upon looking, it was surely a compression leak. the rear pass. side spark plug was rattling around. I hope this spark plug wasnt broken off in the head, and that it was just lose.

6. Truck had bad pedal fade......surely a bad master cyl. This isnt really a big deal.


How difficult is a clutch job in this truck?

How difficult is adjusting linkages etc etc ?

Im just kind of concerned about A. the gear ratio's in this thing and if it will be SCREAMING at like 4k RPMS trying to do 50 mph.

Im also nervous about how long its going to take me to make this thing even halfway reliable for the road.

Also, what i've read about these dang trucks, the steering system that looked liek it had some leaks makes me REALLY nervous. I dont need a truck of this size, and this age having the steering wheel lock up on me and kill me!

[fireguywtc]

from Texas!