1974 Ford F-250 Crew Cab

I don't know even know where to start on this one so here goes. One of my employees ran up to me and said, "Hey, I found this 4X4 Crew Cab in Texas for sale", so I bought it over the phone and then found out it was a 2X4 Crew Cab. So OK, I like driving the 2X4 Crews more anyway.

The dealership I bought it from said it was an awesome running truck. Well, it could be driven but if I had went far I would not have made it back! They did put new rotors, wheels bearings, brake calipers and new pads, they just didn't tighten anything up. Now, I didn't know this for a couple of years because I had it in storage.

Then, when I started liquidating a nearly 20 year automobile collection, I decided to work on this one I think at the end of last summer. First thing I was going to start taking pics and then it was like, OK, how do you have a basically rust-free truck from Texas, with carpet or insulation or whatever nearly dragging the ground because the front floor boards are missing, ugh!

That's where the work began. OK, let's put floor boards in. Then I remembered the transport guy saying one of the MAZZI wheels was broken, I thought, nah, just the finish. Nope, sure enough, 2 spokes broke in one. No problem, I buy one. Nope. Have not made that style in 10-15 years. OK, so I go order new wheels and tires and when I put the front ones on, I realize the rotors are loose. Anyway, we repaired all that.

Then it's like let's clean this engine bay. Wait a minute, where's the fan shroud? Then it's like, how do you break the fitting on the A/C compressor? Oh well, I don't like the A/C mounting brackets anyway. I'll put a new compressor on it and replace the stand up compressor brackets with powder coated laydown compressor brackets, like on a car. Wait, those are not even the right water pump to fan bolts. Oh no, the fan clutch is locked up. Wrong bolts; should be studs, fine thread, ugh!!! Now, I gotta re-tap them and put correct ones and new fan clutch!
Hey, I could go on and on for 2 pages and could not list it all. Bottom line, 5 months later, it's a very nice dependable truck.

Note: the right front fender was dented and they painted half of it black. I made it look presentable, hind sight, I should have just replaced it. It would have been easier, I can still do that, and I can repair dent in the hood. The clear coat was peeling on the bed so I did strip that, primed it, and repainted.

P.S. New K&N oil filter and 20w 50 VRI high-zinc racing oil. Motor has great oil pressure. New A/C compressor, all belts new, new carb, new fuel pump, new battery, a little custom work on carb, custom ignition timing, if it looks new it is. The motor that came in this truck was yellow! Can you imagine? This truck was a root beer with gold metal flake from factory. This truck came factory with 390 4BBL. It had a 2BBL carb sitting on a 4BBL intake when I got it.