1973 Ford F-250 catastrophic failure

I currently own a 1967 Ford F-250 2wd. I know, and I wish too, that she was all original, down to matching numbers, but some people just dont understand a true classic, which in my honest opinion, do what you want, but if you take the original engine, transmission, or both, keep them with the vehicle. I own Victoria, a 1967 Ford F-250 2wd long bed, unfortunately salvage titled in California. Shes still my baby even with not matching numbers and a salvage title. When I obtained Victoria, on believe it or not, X-Mas Eve of 2014, with what was a strong 73 390 fe big block, along from it being dumped (not litterally) into oil and needing a tune up, alternator, new valve cover seals, and a exhaust flange and donut (exhaust leak), Victorias 390 sounded pretty good for how old she was. Attached to her 390 was a strong monstrous C6 transmission. Beside from normal wear, a leak that was caused by loose transmission cooler lines, and needing a fluid change, due to no service records as well as prior owner was unaware of last time fluids were changed, Victorias C6 made me rethink a C6 transmission with how many little problems existed yet she ran strong and shifted strong for the first few months, then slight "slipping" started engaging. I visually inspected prior to issues starting, and noted transmission pan seal needed replacing. Please note, I was not able to replace transmission pan gasket before Victoria's catastrophic event. I wanted to be safe even though oil and transmission fluid looked good, so oil was done. I was told because of such high mileage and unknown exact mileage, by auto zone in Grass Valley, CA, to use 15-40 diesel. Right away I asked, "is there any negative effects of the diesel oil in a gasoline engine?" They told me there's actually additives not in regular oil that are in diesel oil to help "replinish" warn and exhausted seals as well as a few other things I can't recall right off. There were really no negative effects he gave me and I turned up little bad results online regarding diesel in old high mileage engines. So, I bought a jug of 15-40 Delo Diesel from auto zone for $20 I think max along with the oil filter. I did minor tune up in my opinion, changing the spark plugs, spark plug wires, distributor rotor, distributor cap, and alternator. I admit, how many miles are on Victoria's 390 and C6? My guess is as good as yours. Same goes with what number owner I am of Victoria. I can tell you that I have grown to like this big old truck and so has the family, even with it half dismantled in the front yard, not running right now. Myself, as well as many of my surrounding peeps that know my current situation, and that I'm at a total loss, have faith Victoria will run again even if it involves transmission and engine overhaul. Pretty depressing writing a story to get a question answered by a mechanic. Laugh out loud. So, about a week ago now, within the last week, Victoria seemed unnormally stronger than normal. It seemed like she had more horsepower and torque. It could be I added motor honey to my crankcase the prior day, but even for just adding a little "honey" there was still a larger than I consider normal amount of torque and power delivered by both the engine and transmission. I thought to myself, "nice, right on wanted power I knew she had but just hadn't gotten to see yet." That went on for about 2, 3, maybe even 4 days but no more than that. Maybe my thought was right, but at this point in time, with my circumstances how they are, I'm assuming my thought was a good one but wrong. Go figure, right? Nothings ever as easy of a fix as we make it seem to be. I thought maybe the transmission fluid was low because as we pulled onto the highway for the first time that day, first to second transfer wasn't necessaceraly hard, but it took slight second longer than normal. The same thing happened from second to third, but took a little longer than normal, as well as a little longer even than first to second, but it did shift. I know, when I, myself realized it took longer than normal to shift I should have had my girlfriend instantly pull off to check Victoria's levels. I went with my gut feeling which wasn't good in the first place, half ass. Pretty much my gut told me to tell my girlfriend to turn around and go back home but I didn't. I didn't even have her pull over or mention anything about all shifts being longer than normal. All I did was asked her to try to keep this speed if possible. Well, we got down the hill we were going down and started the uphill climb on the highway. As we approached maybe a little less than halfway up the hill, we had to speed up to get Victoria's weight of 3/4 ton up this hill. Going about 40 now, as we were a steady 55 to 60 miles an hour down the hill, my girlfriend went to accellerate like any other day on this hill, as we have to drive it daily, well this is where Victoria's catastrophic events begin, as when my girlfriend hit the gas pedal, well the engine revved and the transmission acted as though it was just weight to the truck. In drive, Victoria's automatic 3 speed C6 transmission failed to engage in what would have been third gear. I started worrying and stressing right away, as even though I got Victoria to restore and make my baby to pass down to my kids as a first vehicle, fully restored, I wanted to be able to personally park her, not off a tow truck either, laugh out loud, (first time I've had any classic come off a tow truck. I was depressed. As I thought and hoped if we pull over and fluids low that could be the issue, I took a long shot and put the gear selector from D (drive) into 2 (second) hoping, just hoping, that maybe, please, C6 at least catch in second. But once again, noyhing except for the rev of the engine. Now, heres my last hope before I start wondering if were gonna make ot to the top of the hill to safety. Just like drive to second and second to first, nothing except engine response to the gas pedal. Let's be honest here now, that's all it was was hope and thinking. That's what I get for thinking right? Anyway, we barely had the momentum to get up the hill, let alone around the corner into the parking lot, but we barely did it. I had my girlfriend turn Victoria off, for obvious reasons. I checked and just to be safe, I added a bit more transmission fluid, you know with the hopes it all works even though it wasn't low? Well, I let the fluids of the engine and transmission settle. While I took what I consider to this day the longest ciggeratte break I've had in my life. It may have been true or it could have been all my thoughts going through my mind about my baby. After about six, maybe seven minutes, I asked my girlfriend to start the truck again. Episode 2 of Victoria's catastrophic event starts here. Remember, before I go on, my girlfriend shut off the truck, so yes, spark and fuel are there and out of the question. Victoria wanted to start and wanted to start to save her truck souls life, but after trying unsuccessfully on and off for about 10 minutes, with no luck at all, I got beyond the black and red point and started pacing to calm down to start visual inspections and perform tests I could where we were with what tools I had in the bed. I tested for spark and it was a positive. I tested for fuel and, believe it or not, yep, Victoria's getting fuel. At this point, ya I got some major issues, but the transmission wasn't on my mind. I was and still am more concerned with why Victoria's 390 wont start after being shut off manually, not dying or forcing itself to shut down, if you know what I mean. The ignition was turned off by key, so technically the engine was too, so why the no start? Upon further visual inspection, having fun like we all do when we have no other choice but to wait for a tow truck, I had my girlfriend one last time try to crank the engine over, once again being hopeful, as always. Still nothing, and from what I could hear, her engine was cranking faster than normal. Also, I noted, as well as noticed, obviously in order to note it, that I'll be damned. Now, on top of transmission failure is what I've come to the conclusion of even though it may not exactly be, in a way it is to any mechanic, I had a serpentine belt that no longer turns either when cranked. The belt route is just Vicotrias water pump, harmonic balancer/crankshaft, and alternator. I thought maybe timing chain broke, I mean, like I said, my guess on miles is as good as yours, probably about 700,000 now, as the odometer rolled over a month ago for the first time SINCE IVE OWNED HER. I got the thought that maybe the timing chain broke, I didn't even think at that point about the timing chain jumping teeth. Victoria made it home off of the tow truck, and off came her front clip. I then started simple, let's test starter and alternator just to be safe. Well, let's just say that I could hear my starter on the tester both times it was tested from the other side of the auto parts store. It honestly sounded stronger on the tester than it ever has in the truck. Both passed both tests. Next, I wanted to get a timing chain view, so I removed my fuel pump and shined in a flashlight. There is play, not sure exact amount, but I know its more than normal. I can hear compression in the engine, it sounds good still, even though I'm going to rebuild her 390/C6 combo, with a little insight to my problems. I have concluded, but am not perfect in anyway, so I may be completely wrong, but I gotta rebuild engine and tranny. I started little removal pf pieces here and there. Water pump, starter, alternator, front clip including radiator, bumper, hood, and rocker arms removed for tear down to rebuild. With the no serpentine belt movement, I can hand crank with good resistance, the front crank/harmonic balancer, so would that remove seized balancer bearings or even dampener? Also, my flexplate I can turn by hand with starter out and Victoria in park. Could she have broken a crank? I also noted that, hold on, let me think, I don't care, I'm saying it, excuse my language, I hope you guys get a good laugh from my question/story, but who let the three stooges meet up with the three musketeers and on top of that which idiot was in charge or did they just put it where it fit and call it bueno for nacho break? I mean this, and its no lie at all, I know Victoria's title says salvage, but still, dont you agree, put a vehicle back together right, right?Your gonna tell me, and I already know it, how did you not notice that. Before now? But, the six dudes we now have from the three stooges and three muskateers decided to do I know, they call it "work", but I grew up around mechanics, I consider myself a pretty reliable, reasonable, knowledgeable, fast, and honest back yard mechanic, and this "work" these idiots performed, is what I like to refer to as, and sorry to say this, I'm not racist and excuse my language, what I am looking at is a jerry rigged so far 390/C6 combo, possibly more to come. I had five spacers on the front main support on the drivers side under the front xlip, and none on the passenger side. And that's not even the worst. Wanna hear about starter bolts or the bell housing bolts? Oh, ya, scary and funny maybe a little in a way, but not too much. So, the starter was held in by none of the right size screws and out of three starter bolts, one was short but snug and the second was a bolt/but/washer combo. The funny part is, when I got the starter out, oh hey, look, theres bolts greased to the engine between engine block and starter. Really guys? Come on. Still strong good looking starter and starter gears for a loose starter with movement for nine months, loose the whole time, installed by prior owner I'm pretty sure. Now let's laugh at nigglet number 4, who had one simple task of make sure these six bell housing bolts (engine/transmission) are tight, well, ya he kinda got tired im guessing after the second bolt cause I had one bell housing bolt just chilling, and one on the same side of the engine snug, while the last bolt, number three of six, was finger tight. This is where I stand on Victoria. I'm at a total loss and only thing I can think of is complete engine/transmission overhaul. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time and help. 253 am from grass valley, Nevada county, ca. Please help me have hope and faith in Victoria's revival.


Daniel T
22 year old lost and stumped classic restorer