1972 Camperspecial

[Prairie Gamer]

Hey guys

I recently brought home a 1972 f250 camper special for my very first project .
I haven't done a lot of work on vehicles so I'm very proud to say that my 390 runs like a champ, the c6 tranny is weak though and probably needs a rebuild or a replace. I'm going to start painting the blue beast and I'd like to do a frame off restore but that seems pretty unrealistic for the time being.

This truck was bought brand new in '72 and was used as a pickup sprayer on my our family farm. With the new equipment "ole blue" got to pull a 1000 gallon water tank on a tandem bumper pull car trailer. My grandpa was driving home one night and hit a cow so the grille is off of what I believe to be a 1970 f100. The 390 was rebuilt about 5000 miles ago but the transmission was weak so its been parked for the last 4 years. It only got started to be moved so my grandpa could mow underneath it.

I like to believe that its a diamond in the rough. My brother started sanding the hood down some time ago and got sick of it and rattle canned it black, so I'm trying to finish his project and start my own project.

Anyway, I figured if I put some progress up on maybe I can get some feedback and help.

[Kurt Combs]

There are a couple of ways to maintain or rebuild an older vehicle. You can do the frame off restoration and spend an enormous amount of time and money, the frame on which is really fixing everything that is broken and all the cosmetic stuff, or the way I am doing it, fix and drive. I am replacing what breakss and making minor upgrades as I drive my 72 on a daily basis. I waxed it last summer and started getting positive comments from strangers about my nice truck. I just changed the engine and tranny and somewhat detailed the engine compartment to get rid of all the old crud that had built up over the years. Next I will go through the interior and rattle can all the painted surfaces and change the seat for a good junk yard version. If something breaks I fix it. Next week it is getting new brakes in the auto shop at the college where I work. Some day I am going to rebuild the window channels in the door. I have no plans to do the whole thing over at one time. I don't have the money nor the time for such a project, besides then I wouldn't want to park it in the Safeway parking lot for fear someone would ding it. My point is; fix what is broken and make it safe to drive. Then clean it up and make all the rims and hub caps match and you will have a nice daily driver.

[Racer Z]

Welcome to Ford Trucks and Fordification.

I have a 70 base model and a 69 CS parts truck (both F250). As much as would like to do a full frame-off restoration, I don't have the time, money or space. I'm doing the fix while I drive method. I am slowly going through the entire truck and doing a pseudo restoration. Sometimes the truck is down for a week while I address something, usually it's just a day or two at a time. It's my preferred daily driver as well as my work truck/weekend tow-vehicle. ATM I've got a Datsun motor/tranny set sitting in the bed. Last summer we drove it from California to Ohio and back.

Just my personal viewpoint, but specific questions should be asked in the related forum section. Project updates is more of a public vehicle log book.

[Prairie Gamer]

So I've been sanding the beast down to the metal with a friend of mine and we have shot primer on the hood. This is kind of a rolling restore for me, I would like to keep it running while I work on it because I'm working on it at 3 locations depending on the day and the help I have.

So my first question is what do I do about cancer on the top of the box? There used to be a tool box that sat on the drivers side bed rail, my plan was to sand it down and treat it with rust away and bondo it or do I have a better option for it? I can get pictures up tomorrow of it if that would help.

I'm also having carburetor issues but I think I can find that in another thread.

[Kurt Combs]

The best repair depends on how bad the rust is and how durable the repair will be. Pictures would help.

[Prairie Gamer]

Sorry, I was gone for a week in D.C. in for close up so progress has stopped. Today I installed an old tach that was in an old Ford f100 (Not sure what year.) What wire do you guys use to run the back light? I used a test light but I couldn't find a wire that I could get too.

[Prairie Gamer]

I was having a bad vacuum leak so I decided to attempt to rebuild my carb, Well its done now but I'll have to wait till tomorrow to see if I even put it back together right.