Emma takes the stand(s)

[robbkramer]

Here's Emma, my newly purchased '69 F-250 Camper Special, up on stands. My goal in this first project is to make her road-worthy and that includes a complete brake refurbishing, a carb rebuild and some attention to the engine (which runs nicely despite the dire condition of the stock carb), new carpet, new headliner, some electrical issues in the dash and aux. tank and some general re-organizing of the harness around the engine. These photos are about mid-project. I've got the brake drums off and have been busy getting rid of rust and deposits; I've installed new hardware on the front and will start on the rears today. The cab has been cleaned out and I'm repairing some wear and tear on the floor panels to get ready for the new carpet. The carb isn't due back for another week so I'm going to dive into the engine area this weekend. If all this goes well, I ought to be out and about in February. Some oddities; of the four drum brakes, one has a completely incorrect brake adjuster lever, one has a completely disconnected brake adjuster, one has new shoes, three have very old shoes; two nuts on a rear U-joint are about to fall off, there's a mystery wire hanging down from the back of the cab and another one near the aux. tank, and the clutch rattles like a can full of rocks until I put some pressure on the pedal (somewhere there must be a pedal adjustment screw . . .). This is my first Ford and I'm having quite a bit of fun so far---very easy to work on! I'll update with progress pics if anyone is interested. I'm really eager to get that carpet installed . . .

emma 1.jpg

emma 4.jpg

emma 5.jpg

[BobbyFord]

Looks like a good, solid truck to start with

[robbkramer]

Yeah, I think I lucked out on this one; there's another 69 F-250 for sale here locally for $800 and it's not too bad either. Interesting that two have been for sale; it's a small town here.

Looks like a good, solid truck to start with

[19ford71]

Looks like a pretty solid truck. Just curious, whats the story behind the name "emma"?

[basketcase0302]

Emma looks happy by the drooling under her wheels!
Not a bad looking bump, and looks like you caught the floor sheet metal just in time.

[sargentrs]

Looks to be in good shape. Congrats!

[Manny]

Very clean truck without the rust disasters. Twin tanks true campers special with the 2 1/2" front shoes??? Nice i like this truck. I am digging that headache rack on the bed there. Been thinking about building one for my rig. Got any more pics of the truck and the headache rack

[robbkramer]

Very clean truck without the rust disasters. Twin tanks true campers special with the 2 1/2" front shoes??? Nice i like this truck. I am digging that headache rack on the bed there. Been thinking about building one for my rig. Got any more pics of the truck and the headache rack

Yup, twin tanks and 11/2" front shoes. I'll put some more pics up of the rack and truck; the rack is pretty nicely done (local welder I think) and looks good, not bulky. The black really sets off the color of the truck I think. Going to rebuild the wheel cylinders and put all the brake hardware on tomorrow (if it's not snowing that is!) so I'll get some more pics. I pulled the valve covers off yesterday and it looks like the heads have been completely rebuilt--NICE.

[robbkramer]

Emma looks happy by the drooling under her wheels!
Not a bad looking bump, and looks like you caught the floor sheet metal just in time.

Boy did I; there's one spot on the driver's side where the side panel meets the floor just in front of the brights/dimmer switch that I have to figure out how to repair. Other than that, everything is just surface rust. Whew!

[robbkramer]

Looks like a pretty solid truck. Just curious, whats the story behind the name "emma"?

I wish I had a clever story about the name but honestly, it just came to me as I was falling asleep. I asked my wife the next morning "sooooo, ya think this truck is a male or female?" She blinked and said "in that color, a lady, definitely." So, Emma it is. I don't know how these things work but she hasn't jumped off her stands and squashed me yet while I'm working so I think all is well . . .

[Manny]

Cool stuff good explanation of the name, and neat you've got good stuff all over. Sure cannot wait to see more pictures of the whole thing

[robbkramer]

Cool stuff good explanation of the name, and neat you've got good stuff all over. Sure cannot wait to see more pictures of the whole thing

Finally got back to work! Here's some pics of the rack and a bit more progress:

emma 2 (1).jpg

emma 2 (1).jpg

[Manny]

Cool that shows me how to build mine now. Just going to be a little different to fit a toolbox in as well. Man that bed looks good too clean truck!!

[robbkramer]

Cool that shows me how to build mine now. Just going to be a little different to fit a toolbox in as well. Man that bed looks good too clean truck!!

Cool. I'd suggest running the angle iron all the way to the end of the bed if you don't mind covering the holes for upright braces. My other rack does that and I welded tie downs to it on each side. The whole thing is stout as hell that way and if you toss a hay bale off the top of a stack, for example, you can't dent the top rail of the bed . . . not that I'd ever do something careless like that, just saying

[XABN82]

Whats a silverado?