76 F250 Camper Special Tow Rig

[Joshgt87]

Thought I'd start a build thread for my F250. Have plans to make a solid truck for towing a camper and whatever else it can handle. I'm super excited and so is the wife! I plan to lower it with I beams and a shackle kit, maybe air bags in the rear to help keep it level while towing. As far as the motor goes it's a 390. I've just pulled off the carburetor and tore it down to rebuild it. The motor turns free but it's been sitting for years. I've rebuilt several 302's but never one of these. I'm gonna get it running and do a compression check and see where to go from there. I'll update as time and money allows. I'm super pumped about this rig! I had a 79 when I was 16 but lately I've been driving hondas, which I do love, but there is something that just speaks to me about this truck . It's massive size, it's simplicity, I just love it! Thanks for looking folks!

[cdnwillyg]

Okay Josh I'll be watching! I too am doing a Camper Special build but a 68 Mercury.
So the rule is lots of pics or it didn't happen and way more fun to follow....good luck!

[Joshgt87]

Right on thanks man! Here's a few more after some cleaning.

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[cdnwillyg]

The old girl cleaned up pretty nice.

[popeyes71]

Wow, she cleaned up well! Enjoy!

[Joshgt87]

I was really excited to get off work this morning and start working on it. There were ants everywhere I figured they'd made a home inside. I pulled the carb and started the cleaning process then decided to locate the ants. I found them and unfortunately some bad news. No big deal I can deal with the pans. What was weird was that it was a vin code "G" for automatic transmission which was in it, but then I found a strange linkage. It turned out to be a clutch pedal previously hidden buy the carpet. So I guess they went automatic, to manual, then BACK to automatic !!!

[Joshgt87]

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[Lone Ranger]

Sweet truck. Where did you find it? That thing was mossy! Looks like a fun project welcome and good luck.

[cdnwillyg]

As you mentioned, the pans need to be done but of all the body work, that is the easiest and cheapest to do. Interesting that they left the clutch pedal under the carpet!!!
Good luck on the build!

[Joshgt87]

I have a buddy that has a buddy that has a small "salvage" yard of these trucks in his back yard. Very nicely organized. Really good dude too. I pulled both fuel tanks Saturday morning and they are more or less trash. I called a radiator shop about dipping them and they said it would be $72 per tank. I can get one from rock auto for $75 to my door. So I'm not sure what I'll do on that yet. However, I thought about the possibility of upgrading the rear 19 to the 38 and then getting the 22 gallon center tank cleaned and get all that working again. 60 gallons of fuel would be nice on one hand, but on the other it won't be a daily so I'm not sure if I want 60 gallons of fuel sitting in my driveway going bad . Thanks for the warm welcome and wishes guys!! This is an awesome website! Maybe next week I may have enough stuff to fire her up, hear it run, do a compression check, then make a decision on what I'm gonna do with the engine.

[Joshgt87]

Well I got it started. I was pretty happy, but that went away very quickly . Things went from bad to worse. The carb was spitting fuel back out so I knew there was a valve issue. I pulled the passenger valve cover and found #1 intake valve not moving. Turned out to be a stuck lifter, then I found a bent pushrod on #6. I decided to tear it down and go through it cuz the cam is probobly trash from the stuck lifter. After pulling the heads my cheap truck lost its luster. Apparently it's been rebuilt and its looking like they left the snap rings out of 2 wrist pins. So I'm not exactly sure which way I'm gonna go at this point.

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[Manny]

Don't know where your at but know of several decent fe's that don't have the scratches in the walls. Sadly a lot of them snap rings pop out as they aren't install properly. Its a nice old truck and worthy of a new heart and pans. Again got lines on motors several 390's i know floating.

[Joshgt87]

Thanks man I'm in northeast Arkansas. I have some buddies looking for me as well. It's easy to get discouraged but I really wanna get the truck going! I love the looks of it! Thanks for the encouraging words!

[Manny]

Thanks man I'm in northeast Arkansas. I have some buddies looking for me as well. It's easy to get discouraged but I really wanna get the truck going! I love the looks of it! Thanks for the encouraging words!

Plot your course and time to Lawrenceburg, TN. I have a friend there with several fe's that were running decent and should do you fine for drop in or rebuild cores. You may find something close by but will help you anyway I can. How these things get done..

[cdnwillyg]

So Josh are you thinking at all of rebuilding your engine or did I miss something as to why you can't? That would seem the the best and easiest route to go and then you know what you have vs another used engine.