Oscar the '71 F250 - Last updated 6-28-2007

[Zeke71250]

I thought about this for a while - and even though the kids wanted me to name the thing "Fordzilla", I've decided to call the truck 'Oscar'. So named because I plan to paint it the original Boxwood Green which - to me - heavily resembles the complexion of Sesame Street's 'Oscar the Grouch'. So 'Oscar' it shall be.


The only thing I've done to it so far is some light cleaning.

The bed had an old tire, step bumper, firewood, tool box, and rubber mat - I removed them all. It has many holes drilled in it from a past life as a gooseneck towing beastie. I swept out the loose rust and other particles. The worst of the rust issues are near the cab and next to shroud surrounding the aux filler neck. Makes perfect sense since the truck sits higher in the rear and water is a slave of gravity.

The aux tank filler neck is damaged from an accident. Need to straighten/reshape it. I imagine both tanks could stand to be boiled out and treated. Rubber hoses are bad too as the truck will leak from the bottom when the tank is full.

I cleaned out the interior a bit - finding several perforations in the floorboards - genuine Flintstone style holes on the left side - and severe weakness on the right side. Someone unwisely placed cardboard over what was probably a small hole on the right side - which only collected moisture and caused more rust.

I also gave the engine a bath to try and track down an oil leak.

Short term plans:

1. Find and fix the oil leak.
2. Fix wiring issues with the tail/brake lights.
3. Replace speedo cable.
4. Brakes all the way around (still has drums at all corners). Prolly do bearings/seals while I'm at it.
5. Change all fluids.
6. More cleaning and rust removal - followed by Rust Bullet or Por15 to stop further decomposition.
7. Figure out a way to plug the exhaust manifold leak because I won't have cash this year for headers.
8. Fix the fuel gauge.
9. Fix the aux tank.
10. Install shoulder belts.
11. Tune up, timing, and index the plugs - plus install one of those points eliminator kits.
12. Measure the stroke to solve the engine question (VIN says 360, past owner claims 390)

With the work and family schedule, just those items will probably take me the rest of the year... especially the rust work.

I've attached "before" pictures that were taken at the previous owners house.

[flyboy2610]

I never really noticed before, but Oscar the Grouch IS Boxwood Green!
I found out that NAPA can mix that color, and they'll get it spot on!
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=17097
Here's paint code sheet you can print off and take in with you:
http://www.fordification.com/images/72p ... s_MS01.jpg

Good luck with Oscar!

[Zeke71250]

Thanks for the NAPA tip. That'll be just the ticket for some of the hidden and high-traffic places on the truck - like the front of the bed, back of the cab, firewall, under the hood, etc. etc.

[rjewkes]

wow reading your posts i hear it in my head as oscar

[XLT]

Oscar is my favorite. Grouch is the way to go.

[ezernut9mm]

i thought that was the worst color, my friends dad had one that was that and a darker roof color, looked horrable, but with the white top it looks pretty good. keep it original! i will go back to the original paint as soon as i can afford it.

[Zeke71250]

wow reading your posts i hear it in my head as oscar

I'll have to start using the word "Crummy" a lot then.

[Zeke71250]

keep it original!

That's the plan - the VIN indicates it was never a two-tone. So it'll be Boxwood Green all over. That'll also spare the hassle of repainting the interior.

[Zeke71250]

Really started digging in after my oldest kid graduated (needed the garage for the party). I'm snapping pics and bagging/labeling each subset of parts being removed. Pretty much disassembling and removing the bed to start tackling the rust.

So far I've got the tailgate off and the lights/reflectors/emblems removed.
Removed the camper special tool box.
Cut off the exhaust.
Drained and disconnected both tanks.

.. and have just about got the gargantuan skid plate removed from under the auxiliary tank.

I've hit a snag with one of the bed bolts. After a little Kroil and some grunting and cussing (no compressor or impact wrench), I got three off. Now there's one spinning in place when I turn the nut from the bottom. I fear I'll have to either grind it off or drill a little hole in the head to place a set screw or nail to hold it in place.

[69F110]

Looking good! Smart move on bagging and tagging all the parts as they come off.

A must for working on a truck...ziplock baggies, masking tape, and a sharpie.

[Zeke71250]

Looking good! Smart move on bagging and tagging all the parts as they come off.

A must for working on a truck...ziplock baggies, masking tape, and a sharpie.

Agreed - and a digital camera helps too. Pictures area helluva lot better than my memory!

[Zeke71250]

Finally got the bed off. My oldest son and I wrestled it off last night. Kind of a turning point in the project because with the underside of the bed and a large part of the frame exposed, I can start knocking rust off and get the metal treated.

The cab corners are exposed too, so they can be fixed. I don't have a way to remove the cab, so I'm hoping I can jack up one end of the cab at a time - just enough to get some rust treatment brushed onto the mounting surfaces between the cab and frame.

Check the pics - there are four braces welded to the frame that don't look factory... or at least they don't appear on the "typical frame" picture here on Fordification. I'm guessing they were part of the gooseneck set up.

[dablack00]

Looks like your moving right along.

That spot where you are going to weld in some metal. Is that where the bolt wouldn't come out? Did you have to cut that bolt out. On the last three beds I have worked on, one of the front bed bolts has been hard to remove because the bed metal around it has rotted away.

Austin

[Zeke71250]

Looks like your moving right along.

That spot where you are going to weld in some metal. Is that where the bolt wouldn't come out? Did you have to cut that bolt out. On the last three beds I have worked on, one of the front bed bolts has been hard to remove because the bed metal around it has rotted away.

Austin

There's that shroud bolted over the aux tank filler neck - looks like water and dirt has collected there often over the years - the metal surrounding the base of the shroud is like swiss cheese.

The spot you're talking about is also there - one of the front bed bolts was completely detached from the bed - we just lifted the bed up and over it... it's still held to the frame by the nut. Pic of bolt and the hole in the brace below.

The two I had to grind off were the ones closest to the upper shock mounts. Those just turned with the nuts - rounding out the square holes in the process.

[rjewkes]

Cool. Always good to see progress. P.S. I think your previous owner is a liar about the bumper. I see plenty of trucks with both a nice step bumper and the Hitch setup.


if you still go roll pan thats cool i just think that without the silly extra brace attached to the hitch(guy musta been afraid it would fail) it would fit the bumper too. they might be real snug to each other but thats fine the hitch sticks out far enough to clear the bumper as far as installing the hitch.