65 f 250 4x4

[frank long island]

I was given a 65 250 4x4 352 standard shift this truck hasn't run in 18-20 yrs was a runner then when I started to change parts this is a one orignal owner truck was a tire truck for a trucking co. with minor rot{ cab corners and lower tail light panel } floors are great body is straight with original paint and interior which is in great shape first question I think the motor has frozen from sitting what should I use to free it second is there any value to this I may restore it and use it as a driver it still has split rims which I will ditch as I have heard horror stories about them they were before my time this truck is younger then me thanks for your time

 

[scrapiron]

Here we go again,,do you mean two piece rim, or a lock ring wheel? What size tire?
Nothing wrong with a lock ring type if rust hasn't taken over.

 

[frank long island]

I didn't know there was a difference as I said before my time it has a ring and tire is 16 inch thanks

 

[s55mercury66]

Sounds like a nice truck, Frank. Post some pics if you get a chance. It is probably a Ford-built 4wd, but could possibly be a NAPCO, and I think there was still one more company still building conversions at that point. I personally would have no problem with the 16" lock-ring wheels, other opinions may differ. As you are probably aware, any FE from 332 to 428" will swap right in, the manual flywheel for the 428 might be a little hard to find.

 

[blucar]

I have a '66 F250 4x4, also two '59 F100's.. Been fooling around with Ford 4x's for over thirty years..
The '64-66 F250's are very unusual trucks, they have a completely different chassis and cabs than the normal F series trucks.
I can comment here on the FB forum, or you can PM me for any info you might need..

 

[blucar]

As I have already made mention, the '64-66 F250's are very unusual trucks.. If the truck you have is in reality a factory 4x, in lieu of a backyard conversion, the chassis is more similar to a 1 ton or bigger truck. The springs will not have rear shackles, they will have progressive roller blocks.
The wheel base will be shorter than a regular F250, therefore the bed will either be a step side or if it is a fleet-side, it will be the '57-60 style, being just barely 8' long. The '57-60 bed looks a little odd on the truck because the lines do not line up with the cab.
Ford came out with the Twin-I-Beam front end in '65, however they did not use it on the F250 4x's.. Since the front 4'x axle is a solid axle, Ford used the earlier '63-64 style of cab.. You should note that the cab has interior "running board" steps, like the '57-64's.. The '65-66 trucks do not have these inclosed steps, because they interfere with the trailing arms for the Twin-I-Beams.
If your truck has any rust-out in the cab, you will have to use patch panels from a '63-64 Ford.
You have indicated that the truck has rust-out below the tail-light, this would imply to me that the truck has the '57-60 fleet-side bed,, large round tail-lights..
Your stuck engine could be a problem.. I would suggest that you pore a liberal amount of Marvel Mystery Oil down the carb.. Let it sit for several days, then remove the plugs, and try to turn the engine over... Let it sit some more after you squirt MMO into any cylinder that oil did not run out of..
The 352's have not been made since the mid 60's, the more common FE engine is the 390, which was used my Ford up through the late '70's in most of the Ford trucks..
Only the FE series of engines will fit the bell housing in the truck you have.
The trans in your truck with be the New Process T-18 4 spd.. A very good transmission. The front axle will be a Dana 44, the rear axle should also be a Dana 44, however, I have seen a few Dana 60's in the F250-350's
If your truck is in fact a Ford factory F250 it is quite rare, one source I have read claimed that only 1,500 of these truck were built.
I have attached a pix of my '66 F250. the pix shows the truck in the "as found condition".. You will note the early style fleet-side bed. The truck also has front sheet metal from a couple of trucks. All of these make do repairs have been discarded in favor of correct '66 Ford parts.

 

[s55mercury66]

blucar, I have a couple questions on the '65-'66's. Which transfer case do they have originally, and do you know the gear ratios in yours? I also have some questions on the '59's, will PM those so as to not hijack Frank's thread.
Thanks, Don

 

[modeleh]

They used the Dana 24, 2 speed transfer case. Most had 4.56 gearing. My original 66 f250 4x4 has rear spring shackles, not progressive blocks as mentioned in a previous post. My truck has the 6800gvw package, I believe there was another optional higher gvw package and may have used the slider setup. They ran on a 120" WB. Dana 60 rears in the F250s, 9" rear F100. Some used the F350 front fenders which had a larger wheel opening as shown in the pic above. Optional wheel sizes up to 19.5". Used the 4 spoke steering wheel from the F350. 66 F100 4x4s used the 65-66 2wd style cab and matching Styleside box, first year of coil spring front suspension on half ton Ford 4x4s.