My FREE 1971 F-250 Camper Special Resto

[1971 Farmer-250]

I recently (March 2010) started restoring a 1971 F-250 CS that was given to me for FREE with a recent rebuilt engine, rebuilt tranny, and broken flex plate. I'm not going with a fancy restoration, I still intend to use the truck for what it was meant for. It will also trailer my '70 Mustang around if it ever leaves the body shop. Here are some before & progress pix:

Before:
This it what it looked like when I first picked it up, lumber rack, bed liner, stickers (Nothing wrong with RAIDERS, will actually be keeping the license plate frame!), purple window tint, large mirrors, damaged bumper & grill, damaged PS fender.




The interior was/is pretty SHOT! None of the gauges or lights worked inside and was missing many of the original switches, missing radio, butchered door panels, torn seat and arm rest, missing headliner, and a broken original AC unit.

[1971 Farmer-250]

The first thing I did was remove the eye sores.

I took off the lumber rack (that was welded on!), tint, stickers, and bulky mirrors. Immediately started looking better.




I then removed all the damaged body parts: grill, bumper, valance, PS fender. I also found some smaller mirrors at the local wrecking yard off a donor I'm sure I will be visiting again






Next it was time to replace the PS fender & valance and remove all moldings, lights, bumpers, rope ties, antenna, windshield wipers, and get ready for sanding

[1971 Farmer-250]

I burned the motor on my compressor so the sanding is on hold for the moment. None of the gauges or lights were working when I first got my truck so I decided to tackle the interior & wiring while I figure out a compressor fix.

I started with the wiring, when I removed the gauge cluster I found a nightmare of a harness. Many of the wires were just CUT, and never connected again. All it had working were after market ignition switch, a toggle switch for the wipers, and only the headlights and the rear left signal light worked. This all made perfect sense since I found out one of the previous owners was a Meth Head.

Here are some pix of my wiring experience:





Here you can see the wire rats nest and the old broken a/c unit I had to remove



The harness was in such bad shape I ended up having to remove all of it from headlights to dash and replacing it with a junk yard jewel.



I removed all the switches, wires, and the complete a/c unit since the compressor and condenser were missing anyway



After 4 trips to the Salvage Yards I was able to round up these Junk Yard Jewels for the interior: Gauge Cluster, Wire Harness, Door Panels, Arm Rests, Headliner, Glove box liner, Wiper Switch, Ignition Switch w/Key, Original Ford Radio, Cigarette Lighter, Complete Heater Only unit to replace the old A/C









I still can't fix my compressor ($$$) so I'm moving on to the engine. It has an exhaust leak for sure, and needs new valve gaskets and possibly intake manifold gaskets too. The engine is DIRTY, lots oil and grime, so I'll be spending some quality time with the wire brush and degreaser.

[FormerMarine1981]

Sharp looking truck, I want to go to the salvage yard you go to!

[Caseys71]

Sharp looking truck, I want to go to the salvage yard you go to!

Agreed! I'd say you lucked out on the FREE truck for sure, you're going to have to point out some free trucks to me .The truck is looking great though man! You are making a LOT of progress considering you've just got the truck and I am looking forward to the next update .

[69rangerf100]

lookin good

[1971 Farmer-250]

I've been busy here in Northern California with the Pear harvest and haven't had much time to work on the F-250, my workday starts at 4:30am and ends at 2:30pm. BUT I still found a minute here and there to finish the engine & compartment fix & cleanup. Here are the before & after pix:

Here is what it looked like when I first got it


And here is what it looks like now


Here are some other angle before & after pix:BEFORE




DURRING




AFTER








I'm waiting on the original air cleaner decal, as soon as it arrives I'll have some more original before and after pix.

[69rangerf100]

now that look awesome

[FormerMarine1981]

That looks great, you can come do that to mine anytime

[wt4speed#2]

Nice thread. Great progress with those"bankers hours". What year is the Impala I see in some of the picture. Another one of my soft spots(my Pops had a '63 "SS" that he kept out in west Texas for me to drive in my high school years. Loved that car, he offered to sell it to me when I graduted, don't remember the particulars on the deal,but i turned it down. And I found out later in life(after his passing) that I took apiece of Pops heart when I didn't take the car, still makes me think when I see one) Sorry for the book keep up the great work.

[1971 Farmer-250]

Nice thread. Great progress with those"bankers hours". What year is the Impala I see in some of the picture. Another one of my soft spots(my Pops had a '63 "SS" that he kept out in west Texas for me to drive in my high school years. Loved that car, he offered to sell it to me when I graduted, don't remember the particulars on the deal,but i turned it down. And I found out later in life(after his passing) that I took apiece of Pops heart when I didn't take the car, still makes me think when I see one) Sorry for the book keep up the great work.

Thanks, if you see a green Impala it's a friends '63 two door sedan I did some engine work on, if you see a primered one with red wheels it's my '64 4dr Hardtop. My dad had a '62 and a '64 when I was growing up, he had to sell when my brothers came along so I found one last November and have been fixing it up for memory sake.

[1971 Farmer-250]

Finally got my decal in, totally worth the $7.50 S&H charge on a $4.00 item. Here are some before & after pix:

















Onto the Body! Taking my truck to my buddies garage this weekend where we'll sand it and paint it the original Box Wood Green.

[fordman]

where did you get the blue foam thing to lay on? what did it cost?

[1971 Farmer-250]

where did you get the blue foam thing to lay on? what did it cost?

That blue foam pad is a back and knee saver! I got it at either WalMart or KMart, it's intended for swimming pools. I think it was around $20.

[Florian]

Wow! Excellent work! The before and after pics are unbelievable! Hope mine turns out as well as yours