76 F250 Camper Special Tow Rig

[Joshgt87]

If anyone knows of specific headers that fit nice with this I’d love to know. I’ve heard shorty headers from a 5.0 fit and I’ve also heard 351 mustang swap headers fit. I wonder if equal length fit? Or if there are any longtubes.

[Jacksdad]

I went with BBK Fox body shorty headers because of the heads I'm using (GT40P from a '98 Mountaineer), but I'm still a good way from switching motors so I can't tell you how they'll work in a bump or dent. The plug location can be an issue with some headers but these are one of the brands that fit, and I'm banking on the extra space we have over a Mustang making them an easy bolt on. I guess we'll see

[IN2FORD]

I went with BBK Fox body shorty headers because of the heads I'm using (GT40P from a '98 Mountaineer), but I'm still a good way from switching motors so I can't tell you how they'll work in a bump or dent. The plug location can be an issue with some headers but these are one of the brands that fit, and I'm banking on the extra space we have over a Mustang making them an easy bolt on. I guess we'll see

I used Ford Racing shorties on my Windsor. They are also good to use on GT40P heads. Anyways drivers side fits good. Passenger side is another issue. The collector is partially over the frame rail so the exhaust shop had to make a quick bend to clear it. Probably could clearance the frame some.

Barry

[Jacksdad]

Good to know. With it being a mix and match engine, I figured if there is any modification needed, pulling a shorty header and modifying it would be a lot easier than trying to get long tubes out once the motor is in place. I'm replacing the entire exhaust system anyway, so tweaking the headers or making a new front pipe that clears everything is not going to be a deal breaker.

[Joshgt87]

I’ve made a good bit of progress since my last post. I’m getting really close to starting it up. For the headers, I went with a set from Hooker that were designed for an 80 Bronco with a 351. I did have to dimple them pretty good in some spots. I know a lot of people will say I ruined them, but I watched an episode of engine masters where they beat one of the pipes almost completely closed and only lost 1 hp. It wasn’t a deal breaker for me, they fit really really good other than that. I also had to slightly grind the driver side perch. The passenger side header fell right in with zero issues.






I haven’t decide what I’m gonna do with them yet. They are so easy to get out though that I’m gonna start it and burn the factory paint off then I’ll deal with, weather or not I’ll get them coated, or wrap them. or whatever.

[Joshgt87]

I got the front dress put on the engine as well. I also addressed the motor being slightly crooked by changing to 302 mounts. I don’t know if it was me or what but it seemed to fit way better.

As for the valve covers the fit was terrible. Every bolt hole was at least 1/2 a hole off. I had to file the holes back then modify the gasket to fit. But I really love thw way they look.

My champion radiator came in and it at least looks fantastic! Well see how it does, the internet gave it pretty good reviews overall.

[Joshgt87]

And here is how it sits now. New alternator, wrong pulley, but got the belt on, and plug wires. I’m super close. I need to figure out how to hook up the power steering pressure hose. Also the 4r70w shift linkage. I’ve re ran my exhaust, and I ordered stuff to put an H pipe in it. Basically just 2 flanges so I can unbolt and remove the exhaust.



I’m not going to run that air filter either. For one, I think the 390 must have back fired and caught it on fire. Cuts it looks really rough. It looks like it’ll let anything pass through it.





Also for some reason if it rains, there is water that always drips on top of the air cleaner. I know that rubber seal is missing so maybe I’ll replace that. But I don’t wanna take any chances with this new motor.

[Manny]

That's sexy looking in there!! Was going to reference engine masters yeah them headers are fine! Looking sharp!! The air cleaner oil is suppose to help with the water. However my big bronco has one of those water pre wraps on it. The dually too....

[Joshgt87]

Well she's up and running! I've had a laundry list of little issues but some of it was to be expected. Some of it not. It's been one of the worst new engine startups I've ever done. I had the distributor one tooth off, but i could twist the distributor so much I thought it was fine. There wasn't enough adjustment though. That one was on me. The next one on me was trying to set the base timing without actually removing the vacuum advance. Real amature hour ! Finally the biggest one that through me for a loop was the o2 sensor wasn't reading. I didn't realize how dependent the FAST system was on it. It can't function without it really. I'll post a better update a bit later. Thanks to all those who've helped! I've still got a lot of plans for this truck!

[IN2FORD]

Well Done!!
Barry

[popeyes71]

I think we have all been there on the silly mistakes on a start up, glad you got her running! Looking forward to seeing more of her.

[Joshgt87]

I have a huge update. I know most people use Facebook now a days but this seems like a better platform for a build. I had some really bad luck with the truck. After putting about 4k miles on it, on the way home from work one morning I stopped in the road, then floored it and that was it. It spun the rod bearings and a couple mains. It always had low oil pressure and I had lots of trouble with it from the start. I pulled the motor and went through it again. The crank was so bad my machinist had a stock replacement. I didn’t measure anything, just tossed it back together. Drove it to work one time and on the trip home it started knocking. So I sold the truck on December of 2018 out of anger. I later learned that the new crank had the rod journals turned .010” but I never measured them. That was a very hard lesson learned.

I bought another truck years later and went through it and it was a fun truck but I always wondered about the green one. I messaged the guy that bought it and one day, months later out of the blue he messaged me and said he still had the truck. No motor, no trans and lots of good parts missing.

So I went to look at it and there she was, stuffed off in the woods. Still on new tires, still on the drop beams, paint still looked decent. I was freaking pumped. So a few days later I bought it and picked it up.

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I have so many memories building this, it was a huge project for me. I always felt like it defeated me. Now I feel like I have a chance to win this time around.

Loaded up on the trailer.

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[Joshgt87]

All cleaned up and ready to be worked on.

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I worked out a deal with a buddy and got an engine for the truck.
I have such high hope for this project this time around.

The engine going in is the original engine out of my mustang that I’ve owned since I was 18. I sold it to my brother, we built it to a 331, with good heads and all the supporting hardware. Then he ran into some problems and sold it to a good friend. So the engine sat for 15 or so years wrapped in a bag.

I’ve since gone back through the engine just to make sure it’s still good.

My plan is to do a single turbo, and a zf5 transmission. I’m slowly gathering parts and I’ll post as I go.

[Joshgt87]

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[Joshgt87]

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I also found all the old accessory brackets from the mustang. Cleaned and painted them and put them on.