1968 F250 Camper Special / Santa Cruz

[dmcintyrelee]

Hello all,,,
Just scored this baby in a shack in Capitola... She's a 1968 F250 camper special. 4 spd manual trans with a 390. looks to be all original however I am not entirely sure. It's classified as a commercial vehicle but I am guessing it is because if the weight? (3/4 ton cap.)
I'm super hyped and am looking for lots of info including what the original camper shells might have looked like and where I can (reasonably) find one as well as any possible performance modifications, realizing of course this truck was intended for hauling and low gear heavy duty action. She's got some crappy rust in the top rain gutters, minor cancer in a spot poking through, some surface rust here and there and in the bed and one minor dent in the truck's side. Here's a pic of what it looked like the day I drove it home.. for $1100

thanks for any info!

DML

[fireguywtc]

from Texas!

[sargentrs]

from Georgia! She's a beauty!

[Kurt Combs]

Nice truck! Commercial plates in CA are required of all pickups, including El Caminos. I have heard you can sign a document that you will not haul ANYTHING in the back and be issues regular car type plates. This is something I heard years ago, so don't believe it until you ask DMV. Besides I wouldn't give up those blue plates for a newly issued set!

[1970FordTK]

Welcome from North Carolina.

[dmcintyrelee]

What's up everybody... thanks for the info on the commercial registration Kurt...
Pretty much the most I will be hauling in this thing are surfboards!

I really want to find out about what types of camper shells go good on this particular model.

[Kurt Combs]

Surfboards? Commercial plates it is.....

[dmcintyrelee]

She needs better side mirrors....
any recommendations??

[robroy]

Good morning DML,

It's great to see another member from this area. I grew up in Bonny Doon and am now out in Salinas, but I'm looking to move back to the Santa Cruz mountains soon. You'll find a few other members here from the Monterey Bay area as well.

Your new truck looks great! I also wanted to make my F250 fast, and I've made some progress in that regard, thanks to an amazing amount of FORDification guidance. My truck would be even faster if I'd actually listened to all that advice. In case you're curious to see my ride, here's an index to its threads: Main #50 Project Thread: 1972 F250 4x2; 8,100lb GVW; FE+T18.

Robroy

[dmcintyrelee]

Thanks Robroy... that's quite an impressive archive on your truck.
Good to meet local members as well,, I am new to this website as this is my first classic truck. It's pretty much the coolest car I have owned to date and I have had a '56 Bel Air, '63 Fairlane and a '58 Lincoln. What do you know about the grills? I saw a member here who has a 68 with a 72 grill I think,, looked cool.
What transmission are you running in yours? Good to meet you!

-DML

[robroy]

Good day DML,

Thanks Robroy... that's quite an impressive archive on your truck.

Thanks! You can see how much advice I required to make any progress with it. I feel like my truck was FORDification-built.

Good to meet local members as well,, I am new to this website as this is my first classic truck. It's pretty much the coolest car I have owned to date and I have had a '56 Bel Air, '63 Fairlane and a '58 Lincoln.

Compared to your other rides, saying that this truck's the coolest really means something! I think these trucks are excellent as well. I always stare them down when I see 'em around on the road.

What do you know about the grills? I saw a member here who has a 68 with a 72 grill I think,, looked cool.

My fav's the 1967 grille, which I'm planning on ultimately swapping on to my truck (my truck's name is #50). Have you seen Keith's page on Bumpside grilles? It's here: Identifying 1967-1972 Ford Pickups

What transmission are you running in yours?

It's a T18 (presumably the truck's original transmission), which I had rebuilt a few years ago. My fantasy's to install a 4:1 first gear T19a one day, but I'm not sure when I'll get around to doing that.

Good to meet you!

Good to meet you as well!

Robroy

[dmcintyrelee]

THanks RobRoy...
that ID page is solid gold for me right now! It's really cool to see your progress with #50,, I call mine "the boss" seems fitting
My 68 has no headliner, I'm guessing that cannot be normal. It's a good thing though because with the rust in the cabs top rain gutter I have to get in there anyway.
I would say that is one of my top issues right now, getting that hole plugged and that rust treated at a somewhat affordable cost.
Hey after looking at your 'zilla wrap bed lining project, I wanted to ask you how much if quiet'd up your cab??
mine is loud as hell inside...

thanks for all your time!

-D

[XABN82]

Nice looking truck... Welcome to the site.

[SANDHOG]

Your west coast jr mirrors are sweet, dont change them. They probably still have the Ford logo on the backside. If anything replace all hardware with stainless, you will be very happy