No, my ’66 F100 isn’t the only one of its kind still prowling the streets here. There’s several still, and this is my current favorite, because it’s blue, which just happens to be my favorite color. Or colors, that is; blue and genuine patina.
I had a chance to buy a really clean blue and white F250 like this at the St. Vincent’s donation lot a few years back. The asking price was like $1200, but I’m sure I could have gotten it for less. But what was I going to do with another one? And it had the V8, which is the 352 FE. Nothing against that solid chunk of iron, but I strongly prefer the Ford big six. And given the almost utter lack of issues with my 240 in hard use for over 33 years, it was a good call. Now if this had the 300…
This one’s also teamed up with the automatic. More no-no for me. But that Custom cab looks to be considerably less spartan than my stripped-out stripper cab. It looks so…plush. I would feel weird riding in that to the dump.
And a bed cover! No, this would never work for me.
Nice to look at, though…
The timing gears instead of a chain is what makes the 240/300 six so durable.
Funny you mention that! That’s the one and only major mechanical repair I’ve had to make. The cam gear is made of some brown fiber (to run quietly) and they’re quite prone to failure! I replaced mine with a HD truck steel set, and now it sounds like it has a blower.
And how often do timing chains break?
That fiber gear is known to be the weakest link on these engines. 🙂
Ford used a nylon cam gear back then in everything. Had them in my 302, 289, 410, and 352. When I got my truck the first thing I did was pull off the water pump and timing cover to look at what was left. A quarter of the teeth were down in the oil pan around the oil pickup which is typical. Put in a double roller timing set. Ford said the nylon made for a quieter engine, which in my V8 engines, I heard no difference.
Red Block pushrod Volvo’s and Chev 194-250-292 also used cam gears made out of that pressed fiber crap. Chains don’t break often, but they do. Saw one on a SBC where one of the woodruff keys got pushed out when the damper was installed. Said key floated around in there until it got caught in the sprocket. Snapped the chain like a rubber band, and bent the nose of the crank. Also bent some valves. (yes small block Chevy’s are interference engines) This was in a marine engine running WOT@4200-4600rpm. Smokey Yunick once said it takes about 70,000psi to pull a chain apart; yet they broke all the time in NASCAR engines back in the ’70s
Sure does look good I agree and it might even have the original license plates. I wonder if the engine heat cooked off some of the paint over the decades?
The blue and white combo is your favorite combo. Just so happens that when I bought my F100 in 2006 it was blue and white at the time of purchase but not original. After my front suspension is done, king pins finally done, I’ll have to do a story on it’s transformation back to original. That is after the one on tearing into a front suspension which I didn’t do when I did the body and interior.
That colour set has a great period feel, IMHO
For colors my favorite is the turquoise blue(?) green(?) and white.
Looking at this top photo my first thought was look at all the slots and swirls…with LESS chrome and bigger wheels, this could almost pass as a latish model truck. Though that interior would give it all away, even with the chrome it’s too spartan looking.
I got offered a similar pickup many years ago but turned it down it wasnt registered but had a 351 Cleveland engine fitted the fuel consumption could have been an issue outback OZ did not have cheap petrol and it used lots but now Im beginning to wonder if I made the right choice I like that one.
That bed cover is one of the roll up style that retracts into the metal box at the front of the bed so it won’t interfere with (over)loading it with a front end loader.
I’m not a cover guy either, but if I was going to do one for a work truck this would be my preferred style.
Now if I was going to do the 1/2 ton sedan route then I’d want a water tight, rigid, locking cover so it can be used as a proper trunk.
Paul,
Could/Would you explain why you like patina?
I think I get it, but you describing it would help me understand it better. Thanks.
I like it if it’s authentic, as it’s a natural sign of aging and exposure to the elements. restored cars or ok up to a point, but all-too often they’re poorly done and like sort of “fake”. I generally prefer originality.
Patina is the equivalent of wrinkles. And FWIW, I do not like women’s faces that have been “restored” either. Looks fake too.
Aging is an inevitability, and I’m fine with seeing its effects, on cars as well as on people.
I like your take on that.
On faces too.
Thanks for the quick reply.