Justin Schlosser of Beaverton, Oregon, was flipping through 4-Wheel & Off-Road one day when he spotted a '59 or '60 Ford that looked just like one that was for sale two blocks down the street. Naturally, he had to have it.
The vintage rig probably looked like a simple project at first, especially since Justin is an automotive painter by trade, but he quickly learned that most of the modifications on his newfound '60 F-250 would require some fabrication. The aftermarket isn't exactly brimming with goodies for ancient 4x4s. However, there is a ton of restoration parts available for older trucks, and we've included a list of a few Ford specialists in case you don't believe us.
But a back-to-stock restoration won't cut the mud at an event such as Oregon's Foster Lakes Mud races, where we spotted Justin's pickup. So here's a look at how a 37-year-old 4x4 can be made to stand on huge meats, spin 'em through the goo, and look good doing it.
Justin straightened the thick...
Justin straightened the thick old sheetmetal and used PPG Deltron products to shade it '86 Ford Truck White and Nassau Blue. The purple and blue pinstriping was done by Spiderman in Beaverton.
The axles are the factory...
The axles are the factory Dana 60 rear and Dana 44 front, both with 4.56 gears. The truck sat pretty high when stock, but not enough to clear 39.5x15-16.5 Swampers. That's why Justin had the springs re-arched 2 inches, added a 2-inch traction lift, trimmed the fenders, and lengthened the driveshafts to match the lift. Rancho RS 5000 shocks were used, but the dual steering stabilizers are from Black Diamond.
The stock T-case is a Dana...
The stock T-case is a Dana 24 with a 1.86:1 low range and a PTO port. It's in the stock crossmember, but Justin custom welded all the crossmembers that were originally just riveted in place. The 390 blows through a pair of Flowmasters.
Justin likes the interior...
Justin likes the interior because it's all steel, a novelty in today's airbag era. He spruced it up with blue and white upholstery to match the paint, then added a Grant 14-inch wooden wheel to replace the stock 18-inch rudder. An Auto Meter Sport Comp tach counts revs, and all the wiring was put in order by Sparky's Electrical Service.
The stock engine was either...
The stock engine was either a 139hp, 223ci inline-six or a 172hp, 292ci V-8. Neither had the required Wheaties, so Justin's F-250 uses a '75 390 with a Competition Cams 270H cam, an Edelbrock Performer intake, and a Holley 750 double-pumper. Power steering wasn't available, so a GM box and Ford pump were used for the upgrade. The tranny is a creeper T18.