Some trucks are built to work, and others are built to work hard. This 1975 Ford F-750 falls squarely into the second category. Listed out of Pearisburg, this heavy-duty Ford started life as a fire tanker and pumper in Chinquapin, North Carolina before being retired with just over 13,000 miles on the odometer. Since then, it’s lived a much quieter second life, used primarily for hauling firewood and pallets of concrete rather than responding to emergency calls. You can see the listing here on craigslist; thanks for the tip, Jack M.!
The current odometer shows roughly 19,000 miles, which aligns with the seller’s description of limited use after its fire service days. Under the hood is where things get especially interesting. This truck has been converted to a 6-71 Detroit Diesel inline six, backed by a 13-speed Roadranger manual transmission. It’s the kind of drivetrain combination that’s more commonly found in long-haul rigs than vintage medium-duty trucks, and the seller describes it plainly: it pulls strong like a freight train, just louder.
With a 25,600-pound GVW rating, this F-750 is no lightweight. It rides on a two-speed Eaton rear rated at 18,500 pounds, fitted with 3.70/5.05 gears. The truck also features twin 70-gallon fuel tanks, giving it the range you’d expect from something built for long days on the job. The seller notes approximately 5,000 miles on newer 11R22.5 tires, along with new front and rear axle bearings and seals, and new brake cylinders all around. Hydraboost power brakes help bring all that mass to a stop.
The setup is finished with a 12-foot flatbed that’s described as being in like-new condition, making the truck immediately useful for hauling or worksite duty. Inside, newer bucket seats with lumbar support have been installed, and the seller reports that the truck runs, shifts, and stops well, with good heat. There’s also a roof-mounted air conditioning system; the compressor isn’t currently installed, but the compressor, drive, and lines are included. While this Ford is far from a daily driver for most people, it’s easy to see the appeal. It’s a retired fire truck with a serious diesel conversion, low reported mileage, and recent mechanical attention. According to the seller, it’s simply more truck than they need at this point.
For the right buyer, this F-750 could be a unique workhorse, a show-stopping industrial toy, or even the foundation for a creative build. Trucks like this don’t come along often, especially with this kind of backstory and hardware.
Would you keep a former fire tanker like this working as intended, or turn it into something completely different?
Good Lord!!! It’s truck week at Barnfinds!!!
Keep them coming!!! Thank you Elizabeth for writing this up, and Jack for finding it. This is great!!! A Detroit 6-71 and a 13 speed will definitely keep you busy. This is the kind of truck I’d hop into after dinner or on a weekend for a fun drive. I’ve always loved the sound of a 2 stroke Detroit ( although I’m sure gentlemen like Howard and Geomechs, Stan and others will honestly tell you that a nice quality pair of ear muffs would be mandatory if you drove one of these for a living every day.
The truck itself looks really good too. Very solid. It has Juice brakes ( not air brakes) which is fine for a truck this size. I’m hoping this goes to a good new home preferably a large garage or a barn to keep it in nice condition and out of the elements.
Once again, thank you for the write up, I enjoyed it, and ALL the trucks making it on here.
-Dave
I can attest to the earmuffs, or should I say that I should’ve taken some advice and worn them more often. I have little doubt that driving and fixing Detroits contributed heavily to my tinnitus. But I can still hear for the most part.
Tinnitus, that smoke alarm that screams in your head 24/7. The boss says, “Didn’t you hear the brakes squealing?” “If it ain’t louder than what I already hear then no!”
Went to test drive a Hummer H-1 wagon back in 2005. It had a Turbo Diesel in it, and I could literally NOT hear the salesman talking sitting in the passenger seat it was so loud! I did not purchase. The other option was to pay $25,000. to have the Chevy 502 crate motor installed and convert to gas. They started out with the Chevy 350 in them, but the beast weighed 7,000 pounds and the 350 couldn’t keep up.
Very good write-up Elizabeth. Interesting truck with several unique modifications. In a sense, kind of like restomodding an old car. Appears to be in good shape. I hope the right person finds it, “that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
I liked revving out the Detroits too Dave. But never drove one daily. Plenty of gears in this one to make all the noise you want 😃. One of the cleanest 50yr old trucks I’ve seen in a while. 👍 Thanks Elizabeth.
I too am a happy camper, and hope this stuff continues into more than next week. This is really cool, however,,,this was never an option on any of the F750s I saw or drove. Most of the medium Fords were still gas jobs, or a small V8 Cat, never a “fuel converter”( converts diesel fuel into noise). This was put together strictly for fun, and I’ll admit, a Detroit and a 13 can be fun, for about 20 minutes. The 2 speed rear, would in effect make this a 26 speed? I’ve shifted practically every transmission known, but never this setup. I recognize that shifter from the bigger Louisville trucks, where this setup probably came from. Keep you busy, fo’ sho’. Pretty inept for any kind of commercial application, and so many jokes, slam your finger in the door, to get in the proper frame of mind, you had to drive them like you were pixxed off at them. That “HydroVac” braking, say your prayers there, and not sure about a tanker, more like a brush rig, still perfect for the hobby farmer, and no doubt an old trucker had this rig. Very cool.
Boy, I can imagine driving one of these, stuck in low range. Just drive it like you stole it, is a good general tip for driving a Detroit.
Howard, those Cats they used them were the 3208…I would have much rather had the 6-71 Detroit any day. FWIW
Howard
My 1949 Mack EHT has a 10 speed moonshine.
Bet you never saw one.
It looks like your average pickup going down the road these days…
That’s a good write-up, Elizabeth!
Someone was sure dedicated to the installation of this engine. I used to see some Ford 3/4 ton and 1-ton trucks running 4-53s. Some looked good and some looked like something the cat drug in. There was even an article in an Off-Road magazine 50 years ago (50 years ago? Seriously?) where a guy switched out the dull, boring, whisper quiet 360 V8 for a 4-53 in a ’72 Ford F250 4×4. Hey, a chance encounter got it featured in the magazine.
This one is good; I’d love to drive it, although, the mechanic in me looks at the rear part of the engine and wonders about performing overhead adjustments and/or changing out an injector.
Occupational hazard, I know. Every party has a pooper; that’s why we invited you…
Now THIS is what I was hoping for!!! I never had a chance to drive a 2 Stroke Detroit but have driven a couple with the more modern Series 60 ( very nice engines). I was wondering what Geo said about how in the heck do you get back there to work on it?. Thank you again for writing this up and the great comments too from Geo Howard Stan and everyone else. Rex is right, many modern pickups sadly are not far off size wise from this one.
-Dave
60s and 71s? I can’t think of any way to describe how far apart they are!
Unlatch the dog house cover and set it out, just like on the 90 series Chevy/GMC trucks they came in..drove many of them..
Guy came through the shop with an F250, 4-53 aluminum block (BIG weight saver!) 28 mpg.
Wow! geomecs, you just hit a memory for me. I hadn’t heard that pooper phrase in almost 50 years! It was a favorite of my late wife. I enjoyed seeing this truck because it was repurposed. I/we often see old firetrucks for sale that really have no other purpose other than parade duty. Due to their ultra heavy springs/suspension, weight and top speed incapablilties. I’m surprised that this is just a flat bed and not a dump bed. I have never driven anything with more than 6 transmission gears. But I have driven something (I think a bobtail) with a 2 speed rear diff. I’m sure that I did more damage than good before figuring out how to properly shift it. I would love to try driving (and learning how) something with that many gears. Any time something is repurposed into something useful or fun, I’m all for it!
I think I can shine the light on not being able to get to the back of the engine for maintenence, (that’s a big word for me), but if you look at the interior pic you will see a big ‘dog house’. I think that comes off fairly easy and the rear of the engine is right there. Then you can just lay in the floor and wrench away.
Hi Woofer, I agree, I drove a short L8000 with a 238 and half the motor was in the cab and had that shifter. I believe the mechanics still hated it,, :0
You’ve heard my 238 stories, one in particular, that L8000 was a single axle tractor, did my “Bloomington” run, about 4 hours one way( and 4 hours back), parked my truck in the garage, went home. Come in the next day, my truck is gone. I asked the mechanic where it was, he said, we changed the oil last night, upon restart blew a rod through the block. I mean, I drove that truck, foot to the floor for 8 hours the previous day, with no concerns. So, they put a NEW motor in it, I figured, FINALLY, some power,,,it didn’t drive any different than before.
Yes, that doghouse would have to be removable. Over the years I was in the shop, I got used to working on engines, half in the bay and half in the cab. It didn’t matter who built them, that was the order of the day. Of course there was still the one that some dorab engineer designed that all but required the reinvention of the wheel. Case in point: 290 Cummins in an IH Fleetstar; #1 sleeve comes out through the engine bay; #2 requires lifting a corner of the cab; #3 thru #6, through the cab.
Counterbores?!?!?!? And he expects to pick it up Thursday?!?!? This week?!?!? Hey, I heard the Hino guys are looking for a mechanic; I can put a paper sack over my head and work there.
How about the Brigadier with the 6V53T? #3L, you gotta remove that cab mount!!! No I’m not working for “Yaminfurinatewa,” they pay in yen.
Okay. Good morning, everyone! I haven’t contaminated this page since last year. Hope all of you continue to tune into this page for another year. Just thinking, this has got to be 14 years on BF for me. Who was it on Hemmings that referred this page back then? Name is on the tip of my tongue; I’ll remember it as soon as I log off.
Did more transmissions than engines, not always enough room to slide that tranny back to clear the throw-out bearing, work through the inspection hole to unbolt the clutch, slide it back on the input shaft, do what ya gotta do then reverse procedure to install.
Hydraulic brakes, but they left the air compressor on? Is that a series/parallel switch on the right fender?
Happy New Year to all my friends here! geomechs and Jim Randall this is for you!
I had an excellent tech working for me that explained that he was in line to be hired by Fisher Body. His father was a honcho there and was guaranteed a spot when someone retired or died. Trying to find a good tech is always hard to do. So you hire one when you find one. So one day he comes to work and informs me that he got the call. A few weeks later he called to complete his final work package. He said ” You can’t believe what I’m doing! I have the perfect job! I get to tear down or replace parts on a pre-production car. And when replacing or repairing a part is virtually or stupidly difficult. I get to go to engineering and hit the offending engineer over the head with the part!” I’m loving it! Plus, none of the parts are dirty or greasy!
Yes, that sounds like a near perfect job. We had a family friend who was an engineer for Chevrolet Division. I remember Dad talking to him about what his job was and he responded quite casually: “I sort fly $htt out of pepper.” Sometimes that sounds like a good job too because a mechanic’s job is to sort out the proper ratios of fly$htt to pepper…
Always said if engineers had to work on some of this stuff things would be a lot different.
Wow! geomecs, you just hit a memory for me. I hadn’t heard that pooper phrase in almost 50 years! It was a favorite of my late wife. I enjoyed seeing this truck because it was repurposed. I/we often see old firetrucks for sale that really have no other purpose other than parade duty. Due to their ultra heavy springs/suspension, weight and top speed incapablilties. I’m surprised that this is just a flat bed and not a dump bed. I have never driven anything with more than 6 transmission gears. But I have driven something (I think a bobtail) with a 2 speed rear diff. I’m sure that I did more damage than good before figuring out how to properly shift it. I would love to try driving (and learning how) something with that many gears. Any time something is repressed into something useful or fun, I’m all for it!
Sorry about your wife. I have no doubt her passing left a huge void in your family’s life.
That saying, it just popped into my mind. My younger sister used it all the time back 40+ years ago. I just forgot about it after that…
One other note. I love hearing about the 2 cycle GMC diesels. When my Dad got out of the army. (Approximately 1950) He worked for Greyhound in the maintenance shop. He truly loved those old 2 strokers. Talking about trying to get them started on below zero days with diesel soaked rags, starting them on fire after being stuffed in the intake and other crazy stuff that they did. Dad’s been gone now 25 years in March but it is good to hear stories about those engines. It makes me feel closer to Dad.
Thanks guys!
I rebuilt hundreds of the old two stroke Detroit diesels I for GMC buses and nova buses !! I miss them so much the sound was great broke them in on a dynamometer! Enjoyed every minute!
you never see these with high miles
When I first looked I thought it was a dump truck it would serve better if it was
This is an interesting truck!!!! The 6-71 and 13 speed are a major overkill!!!!! With a 6-71 the operating range was 1800 to 2100+ RPM the 2 speed is useless. The 5 speed main and 2 speed rear would have worked good, but would NOT have bolted up!! And either way I hope the rear has been changed as even 3:70 on the high side would not be terribly fast as the 6-71 is only turning about 1/2 the RPM’s of the original gas motor. This truck will make someone or a farmer an excellent weekend workhorse only sadly that flatbed does NOT have a hoist under it.. The 25,900 GVW would keep you out of CDL range with regular plates, BUT this truck will haul a lot more, with antique plates the CDL is no problem. And forget the Juice brakes, I would rather drive and work on airbrakes any day!!!!!
Would you need a CDL to own/operate this?
As Brocky stated, “with regular plates” not in most states. The fact that it is “juice brakes” also keeps the from needing “an air brake endorsement ” on your license. 26,000 GVWR and over requires commercial license in most states. Why do you think most “pusher”/larger motorhomes also have the 25,900 GVWR listed as the max weight? Constant out of state “business use” or just business use automatically requires a CDL in most states. Even for a vehicle less than 15,000 GVWR in Nevada. I would love a chance to drive this truck.