Just picked this up in the middle of North Dakota on the way home from visiting Grandma and delivering some equipment for a college buddy in exchange for some repairs on my '13 F250.
1976 F250 "Trailer Special"
Truck has almost zero rust. A few dings and some surface rust but otherwise solid. Needs some interior stuff but otherwise pretty good.
The real kicker is I got it for $4k. Was listed at 7 then marked down over the last month or so to 4500. It doesn't run but I could see in the listing photos that somebody started an EFI swap and never finished. Once there to see it I found out the engine has been rebuilt, brand new aluminum radiator and dual fans, new fuel tanks, the EFI (cheap summit branded one), and indeed it is rust free.
Around here i could probably get it running and double my money but I want if for a fun family cruiser for all 5 of us and probably set it up as the racecar tow rig too. Because why not have an extra cool tow rig.
Great deal on it. Love that green. People get pretty excited about the bigger cabs so you could be in the money quickly if you don't want to keep it in the end.
Sweet! I've always liked that generation of Ford truck.
Zindo
New Reader
3/30/25 6:38 p.m.
Whatever you do, don't paint it! I love the way that looks.
Hard to pass up at that price. Even if it was bone stock, it looks very clean.
Which engine? For some reason I'm thinking 400M.
DarkMonohue said:
Hard to pass up at that price. Even if it was bone stock, it looks very clean.
Which engine? For some reason I'm thinking 400M.
Has a 460 and I'd guess a C6
Zindo said:
Whatever you do, don't paint it! I love the way that looks.
Not intending to but ......
I wouldn't be mad at something like this long term
Been doing a little research and cane across some old PDFs of the Ford brochures while trying to figure out what all was part of the Trailer Special package.
Looks like it was cooling upgrades, wiring to the rear, the big mirrors, biggger ALT, and some gauges.
It also appears like this is in addition to the "Camper Special" stuff...or at least some of it. Mainly the aluminum moldings/trim, and the longer wheel base for more weight between the axles.
I didn't find a mention of a brake controller. So maybe the one under the dash is just a 70's aftermarket one and not factory.
What must have been options was the 460 engine and AC.
I think the XLT trim is responsible for tge two yone paint and interior.
Yeah that's awesome. I love the look of the round headlight dentsides.
Boy, I'm into this! I have always thought the square gauges on these trucks are super cool. Great find!
Asphalt_Gundam said:
Has a 460 and I'd guess a C6
Oh, that's excellent. You can bin the aftermarket injectorator and run factory EFI.
In reply to DarkMonohue :
It's been on my mind.
I don't know if i really want to track down and swap a factory ECM. But I've messed with 460 stuff enough to feel it would be absolutely worth it to run the EFI heads over the carb versions. Smaller ports but way more efficient and the exh port is night and day better.
I developed some CNC porting packages tor both around 12 years ago. While the carb head could flow better on the intake by a good margin the exh was awful. The EFI head was a smaller port and very efficient for its size with a good exh port. I felt it was a no brainer to use the EFI head.
With fuel efficiency and towing power in mind I think it would be a good switch if i got ahold of some heads and an intake. But skip the silly throttle body and go with something more carb flange style
I approve of these type of shenanigans.
Your Ford is the same year as my Dodge.
Mid-70s trucks are awesome!!!
In reply to Recon1342 :
Yes they are.
This will be my third 70's truck build
Getting started on it today.
Somebody did not know what they were doing....wires and hoses everywhere, fan and fuel pump getting power directly from ECU without relays, fuel pump under the hood and return line not hooked up, multiple vacuum leaks, ecu switched power wire was just jammed into the battery post.....
Step one is cleaning up and fixing the wiring and vacuum leaks.
Even Binx likes the Truck
Solid progress today was brought to a halt with the discovery of two pin holes in that "new" gas tank.....
Huge disappointment on that as I was getting really close to being ready to start it up.
But I did get most of the wiring cleaned up, fuel pump mounted and forward lines run.
Decided to say screw it and ordered New tanks, sending units, straps for the front tank, filters, bulkhead fittings, and tank selector valve. Was thinking I might weld the holes up, or JB Weld.....and just figured its not worth the effort of either not working of being worried about it failing since its the bottom of the tank and would be the only one in use at first. Besides, the peace of mind with a completely new fuel system will be worth it. And since I'll have to wait for stuff to show up I can just go ahead and replace/make hard lines for most of it too. Selector valve is for a newer EFI truck so it has the proper return to the tank in use also.
Battery I have that fits won't hold any mention worthy amps so I'll need to pick up a new battery too. Wife thinks we can save the sagging headliner but her vote is replace the carpet. Honestly I think a good carpet scrub will do ...probably try that first.
Had some help from my buddy Ross yesterday in getting the rear tank in and diagnosed the fact that previous owner(s) had wired the ecu tack signal to a straight 12v key on power as well as having the distributor/plug wires in completely the wrong order. Best guess is it was both 180 out AND 351/400m firing order instead of the correct 460 order.
Then went to time it only to realize the timing pointer is missing. Was able to beat guess it off of pictures and get the engine to run!
The help
We tried bleeding the brakes only to find a small amount of pedal with the fronts. Not worth trying to drive.
Today I gravity bled the rears and shockingly there's a brake pedal again! I decided to throw the new spark plugs in due to it sounding like a miss at idle. Little rich but all looked like they were firing. Timing light was showing a lot if estimated advance. Moved a ton when reving up so I dug out some HEI parts and put heavier springs on and a little more initial advance. That did wonders for it. Had the fan trigger wired backwards and after fixing that It was time to go around the block. Ran ok. Wants to stumble at stop signs but doesn't die, seems to shift gears ok, its rumbly, and slow as heck.
Actually, it's excels at converting gas into noise. Excellent old truck vibes!
First family ride around the block happened the other day. Will be covered in the next video
