68 F250 "special" Camper Special Project

[cash667]

Exhaust done!

with flexpipes directly after the headers:



I´m runnig my dual setup on the passenger side to keep space for an AUX tank on the driverside:


I´m actually a Flowmaster fan - but for this build I try some more decent mufflers. I purchased rumble Exhaust turbo mufflers (2.5" I/O)
I´m very excited how the sound will be.


I build my setup to end in behind the passenger side rear wheel - I just need some 3.5" tips to get the exhaust finished.



I also renewed my dash pad with some vinyl - it´s not perfect but absolutely better than before:



And my next little conversion is the power steering pump. Since I don´t like either the Ford Thomson and the Saginaw pumps, I´ll try something diffrent.
I figured out that a 80s Mercedes Power Steering pump has about the same pressure as the original system - but with a newer and less noisy design. It´s even not that leaky like the Ford and Saginaw pumps because it´s better designed integrated reservoir. You´ll have to make your own mounting brackets, but that´s not that big deal. Mercedes was also using V-belts this time so you can use the pulley which is already on the pump.



The pressure port on this pump is 5/8-18 inverted flare, like the saginaw pump. You can use a borgeson adapter fitting to make it work with your original pressure hose. You just need a M18x1,5 fitting with a hose barb for the return port on the pump to get the return line connected.

I just need a few things to get this finished - I´m very excited how it works. I´ll let you know

Cheers from germany
Chris

[390FE1972]

I really like the look of your dual exhaust system, I want to set up something like this when I get to that point. My truck has the aux gas tank as well.

Thanks for sharing

[hfdco4]

Really good work Chris, you are making good progress!

[cash667]

new progress!!
exhaust is finished with the 3.5" tips...looks really good




I was able to put the cab back on the frame. With the right tools a 20 minute job




So I started to install all pedals, brakes, steering and the cluster:







I replaced the clutch linkage with a better design:




My steering column swap worked very well to this point. Hopefully I can try my new powersteering system this week and with this working properly I´m done on the steering topic. Brakes are already bleeded and no leaks appeared yet. Got good pedal pressure.

the box is also back from blasting and primed so it just need´s the final coating. There was absolutely no rust holes in it



Cheers from germany
Chris

[hfdco4]

Looking real good!

[sargentrs]

Great work!

[DuckRyder]

Nice work.

Love the exhaust...

[cash667]

made a bit of progress
front end is loose put together to verify all things fit in place. I also finished the wiring on the front end and I´m nearly completely done with my new electrical system.






And I got the rear window installed.



I really hate this butyl sealant stuff...
I´m a bit afraid of the windshield...I`ve just done that on my cougar before and that wasn´t easy at all. And the truck glass is way bigger and it needs to have the chrome trim installed in the rubber first before it comes into the cab. Hopefully this will work.
Tomorrow I pick up my new windshield and we will see if it fits good or not.

By the way: my mercedes benz steering pump conversion works very well. It´s super quiet and you have perfect steering assist with engine in idle. It´s easy to turn the wheels with the smaller 15" grant steering wheel even with the truck not moving. Love it.

Cheers
Chris

[cash667]

got the windshield installed and everything fit perfect





looks really good with the blue shade on top.
So I installed the driprail trim aswell to get the cab done in the near future.


I also finished my battery tray (had to make it myself because the original was gone) and front electrical system:



other Topic: I needed to recurve my distributor since I want to have 14° initial timing on my 460. With the 13L slot in the distributor the total mechanical advance was to much and so I welded the 18L slot a bit closer and file finished it to be a 10L slot.


here is the mechanical advance curve I got with my setup:


what do you think? Advance coming in to early or good for a low RPM Truck?
The vacuum advance is limited to 20°. It´s not that easy to test total advance with mech and vac combined, but I got a max advanve of 40° combined with reving the engine up to 3K RPM and no load on it. I think that´s ok for now.

Any advice on this?

Cheers
Chris

[cash667]

Making process on the front end:
got the fenders ready (but still need one side trim):



since I dont have the original camper special sidemarkers I converted to some german brand classic sidemarkers. They look really decent and to be honest, the originals are to big for my taste:



grill an bumper installed as well:




and I did a first check on the roof markers, still need to order the new lenses:





Cheers
Chris

[Fordkid68]

Awesome work!! Getting close to being done. It must be hard to find parts in Germany.

[cash667]

Awesome work!! Getting close to being done. It must be hard to find parts in Germany.

Thanks Fordkid!
Yes- especially big parts are hard to come by because of the very expensive shipping from US. But the most mechanical/rubber parts are available from Rockauto, and they have really good shipping rates which makes it affordable.

And for some parts which are even rare in the US you have to be creative Trim pieces are really hard to find...
Fasteners and standard hardware like exhaust pipes etc are quite easy to get here, even windshields are no big deal.


And I made some progress the last days:

got the headliner installed, chrome trim polished and it looks really good:



ordered a new carpet and got it right into place:








and I started to upholster the old bench seat because when your on the drivers place you think you fall out of the cab.






I love this cab lights - really good looking with the new amber lenses:


Cheers
Chris

[Fordkid68]

looks great! Those cab lights are cool, I'm putting cab lights on mine too. Did you use a template for placement? And what is that steering wheel out of?

[cash667]

looks great! Those cab lights are cool, I'm putting cab lights on mine too. Did you use a template for placement? And what is that steering wheel out of?

The cab lights were already on the truck when I bought it. So I have no idea if there is a template anywhere.

The steering wheel is a grant Classic steering wheel, it‘s made for Mustang etc. Since I converted my steering column to a 69 Cougar column, the Grant 69 Mustang steering hub fits to my Truck.
I dont know if a Grant hub will fit on a stock truck column, but I think so.

[jurrien]

Nice work, like the idea of the Mercedes power steering pump!

Hi from the Netherlands