1969 F250 Ranger Project

[Earthling789]

I'm new to this forum, and have picked up a lot of good information from reading FORDification.com and this forum for the past two weeks. The info here is some of the best I've found for '67-'72 (and more) Ford trucks! I hope I'll be able to contribute even more as my project progresses....

Here's some photo's of my recent acquisition - 1969 F250 Ranger, 360ci w/4-speed manual tranny...
I'm the 3rd owner (second owner bought her from an estate auction in June 2010 and only put 1100 miles on her).
The engine and transmission was rebuilt by a local Ford dealership in 1999, and has (documented) 24K on rebuild.
She needs a major tune-up, power-steering has a busted hose, brakes need bleeding (pads and lines are good), shocks and a few other little things like that.
I've already put in a Center Support Bearing and U-joints on the drive-shaft to clean up the vibration.
Other than that, she's pretty sound mechanically... for a 42 year old truck!

What she really needs is some TLC on the body-work to take care of mother-nature's assault on the steel!

Let me know what you think about her

[CNM67]

Hey dude nice truck it's been kept really clean. Im looking forward to seeing what you do to it.

[Earthling789]

Thanks for the welcome...

Yeah, the truck has been kept in a barn most of it's life, and the original owner babied her for nearly 40-years. From what I can tell, she's been out in the weather for most of the past 10-years and parked downhill so water has set in the bed and rusted out pretty bad up there. But overall, she's in great shape, even better shape than my '84 F150 which is ready for the junk pile! I can't complain any about the condition she's in... especially since she only cost $500!!

I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with her yet, but I do know I won't start any body work until Spring 'cause she's not in any desperate need. The interior is all original, right down to the carpet, radio (works), and seat (which is still quite stiff and springy with only a couple of little tears in seams). Right now, I'm just concerned on making sure she's mechanically sound enough to drive. I've been getting my parts list together this weekend so I can give her a tune-up (plugs, points, wires, etc.), rebuild the carb, set the timing, flush and fill all the fluids, etc. should be enough to keep her on the road until I can really dig into the body work. I was thinking about aftermarket wheels, but after getting a good look at the originals, the are not chewed up (and original caps are not dented or dinged), so I think I'll just get them blasted, coated, and painted in the Spring. After rust repair and a nice two-tone paint job (thinking New Lime - original color before someone sprayed it white - as a base, and Norway Green as mid-line accent), but I'm open to suggestions if anyone wants to toss out some ideas!

[Earthling789]

Update:

I've rebuilt the carburetor (man, was it a gunked up mess), and with all the other tune-up work I've done over the weekend, now she fires right up and idles smoothly... like she's supposed to. Still need to install a new choke cable... I think the one on her currently is the original and the cable is rusted to the jacket... no movement

I installed a better air-cleaner (14x3" chrome Mr. Gasket w/washable filter), new Bosch plugs and wires, new condenser, points, rotor and cap, changed the oil, tranny fluid, replaced all hoses on PS pump and all new fluid, flushed/filled radiator, set the timing, and I spent most of the day on Sunday bleeding the brakes / flushing out old fluid.

Brakes are still a bit "soft", and fluid level dropped in the front reservoir after driving a bit last night, so now I have to track down a leak on the front end... probably a leaking connector hose?

Overall, I think she's ready for daily driving... now, I just need a visit from the tire fairy

[forrestbump]

Nice Truck! Great Price! You're making excellent progress as well.

To be helpful in your brake issue:

Brakes are still a bit "soft", and fluid level dropped in the front reservoir after driving a bit last night, so now I have to track down a leak on the front end... probably a leaking connector hose?

The front reservoir feeds the rear brakes, so I'd recommend you check the rear brake wheel cylinders plus the flexible brake hose also.

I know...It does seem counter intuitive, but the rear reservoir (the one closest to the firewall) feeds the front brakes and the front reservoir feeds the rear brakes.

[Joshpow]

Nice ol truck. Just noticed the shift knob. It looks like an MTD lawn mower knob! Thats a pretty nice ol survivor you found there. Is the bed repairable? Good luck on a nice ol project. Be careful with the bosch plugs. Im not saying theyre bad but had the porcelain fracture on a set in my wifes ranger one time and im skeptical of bosch now. Your call though man. not trying to diss bosch just saying make your call man. take care. If you was located near Southwest Va i could point you toward a bed that looke to be pretty nice!

[Earthling789]

All,
Thanks for the nice comments... She's a really nice find (thanks to my wife, actually... she's the one who found it on Craigslist and made the initial phone call ).

Forrest,
Thanks for the insight, it did seem a bit bassackwards since the larger reservoir (back one) should be feeding the front. I've got a tail-pipe running pretty close to the passenger rear flex-line, so I'd be willing to bet that my leak may be there. Or it could just be some dry-rot, so I'll just be safe and check the stainless lines, connectors, and flex-lines all the way back to be sure.... don't want to lose my bakes on the country roads I drive daily!

Josh,
Not sure about the shift knob, but you may be right I'll live with it for now, until I really start dressing up the interior, and I'll probably get a wood ball to match up the door panels / dash.

I would have to agree about ceramics on Bosch plugs, but I've had bad plugs from pretty much all manufacturers (especially Champion and Autolite) in the past few decades... I expect all of them to have a bad one in the mix from time to time, but the Bosch 8mm wires were on sale and had a mail-in-rebate for 8 Bosch plugs... so I couldn't pass up the deal

As far as the bed, it is probably repairable, but a lot of work (several holes, a decent amount of rust in the corners, fenders, etc)... which I just don't have time for right now. Replacing it with a better one would be an easier option. I'm in Eastern Ky and have family near Whitesburg and Neon... how far would that bed be from there? Got any pictures or a price to go with that offer? Shoot it to me in email if you don't want to post it up here... I'd sure appreciate finding one in better shape, if its affordable, that is...

[Joshpow]

the zip where it is located is 24271. ill make sure he still has it and get a price for you. Seems like he priced to me rather affordable.

[Joshpow]

guy still has the bed and is asking 350 for it. hes supposed to send me some pics to upload for you.

[Earthling789]

Great! Thanks Josh... I'll be looking forward to the pictures!

[Joshpow]

Ill get you pics as soon as the guy sends the pics. he is gonna email them sometime soon I hope. Talked to him this morning and hes supposed to get back to me soon. Is the seams bad or just the floors and wheel wells on yours? You interested in a bedside toolbox for it? I got a good box, lid, and the piece of bedside to install it in a truck if you might be. Let me know on box and Ill let you have pics as soon as I get them.

[goldies67]

nice truck!

[Joshpow]

hey no prob. if the guy ever gets back ill post you some more info and pics on his bed. hes being slow! sorry.

[Joshpow]

If you do end up getting a bed somewhere I can send you pics of how to haul it without hurting it. hauled my ol trucks bed home on it the way Im talking bout. you may already know what im talking bout. Here you go. clamp it with camper clamps or c clamps!! works like a charm.

0724111316d.jpg

[Joshpow]

Hey you got an email to forward the pics and info to? Ill send on the email he sent me and his contact number.