World-O-FC's

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#BF0000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="009005a0dvldal.png"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WorldOFCs"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B>     | </B><B> </B><B> </B><B>  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>World-O-FC's</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> I am the luckiest man in the world, married to the absolute best woman ever.  Why she puts up with me, I'll never know.  (No comments from the Peanut Gallery, please)  For whatever reason, she agreed to let me bring home an FC-150 in all its glorious beauty:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id71.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Front Left"><U><IMG SRC="14fc8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> This is a late-production FC-150, serial number 65548-25986.  Note the sheet metal instead of the more common small windows behind the doors.  This is the "Standard" model, with the extra windows only fitted on the "Deluxe" version.  The front bumper has been modified with what appears to be pieces from another bumper underneath.  Apparently a tow bar was once mounted on the protruding vertical pieces.</div> <bR> <div> I'm not especially crazy about flatbeds, although this one is solidly built.  A large hoop at the front protects the cab.  The side rails can be removed.  The truck has twin tanks, with an identical tank on the opposite side:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id72.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Left Rear"><U><IMG SRC="151c8810.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="129" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> If you've ever been around FC trucks, you'll know they are very prone to rust, especially at the lower corners of the cab.  Most FC trucks were used/abused commercially and typically didn't see care like a private vehicle.  While far from perfect, this truck is the most rust-free example I'd ever seen.  The paint is not original and who knows what is underneath, but it certainly appears solid.  Forgive me for bragging, but check out the front left corner of the cab from underneath:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id73.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cab Corner"><U><IMG SRC="156c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> If that wasn't enough, check out what convinced me to make the purchase.  This truck has an ultra-rare T-98 4-speed:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id74.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Shift Knob"><U><IMG SRC="15ec8c20.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="194" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> A lot of dehokifying needs to be done on this truck.  For example, check out this view of the dash.  Whoever added the aftermarket gauges must have had one heck of a bad day when it happened.  Note the extra hole without a gauge.  The parking brake lever is directly underneath that hole.  Imagine drilling this hole only to find it obstructed underneath.  Where brake fluid has lifted the top coat of paint, light green is visible underneath.  Between that, a small oval tag which reads "USA" or "GSA" (along with some unreadable numbers), the T-98, a rear Powr-Lok and the Standard cab, I wonder if this is an ex-Forest Service truck:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id75.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dash"><U><IMG SRC="160c8730.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="115" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Not until the truck was home did I even notice that the factory fiberglass fender flares are in excellent condition.  On most FC trucks, these are long gone or broken.  Those big drug-dealer tires sure add to the steering effort.  I may swap back to something closer to the stock size:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id77.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fender Flare"><U><IMG SRC="170c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Another nice feature is a windshield in good condition.  These are expensive and not easy to find.  Per the tag on the license plate, the truck was last registered in 1990, although it was supposedly used on a regular basis after that on an orchard in Quincy, Washington.  The unusual front bumper is a bit more apparent in this view.  I'm not sure about the gap in the bottom, as there doesn't appear to have been a winch mounted there:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Front"><U><IMG SRC="169b5c80.jpg" border=0 width="181" height="200" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, a sunroof was added at some point.  It is not too obvious when viewed from a distance, as the roof is above normal eye level.  This view is from the bed looking forward.  Note the heavy bar which is part of the hoop on the flatbed:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sunroof"><U><IMG SRC="175c8860.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="134" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> At least the sunroof opens for ventilation, <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pressure BuildUp"><U>a good thing considering my fondness for microwave burritos</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> Seventy-two ripsnorting horses are available from the stock F134 engine.  The engine barely ran when I first looked at the truck.  I didn't pay too much attention to this, knowing that regardless of the engine condition I'd make the purchase due to the T-98 and lack of rust.  I discovered the crankcase full of fuel due to a ruptured diaphragm in the fuel pump.  With the fuel leak repaired and several oil changes to flush out the fuel, the engine still smokes badly.  Compression and oil pressure are excellent, so hopefully the problem is nothing more than stuck oil control rings.  With the seats and doghouse cover removed, access to the engine is excellent:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id78.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Engine"><U><IMG SRC="172c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> The brakes need a bit of attention, too, don't you think?  This view shows the leak coming from the front right wheel cylinder:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Leaky Wheel Cylinder"><U><IMG SRC="17ac88b0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="139" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Wish me luck getting this baby back on the road.  I sure am excited to have such a solid truck as a starting point.  For the moment, no major work is planned because I have other projects in work.  </div> <bR> <div> This is actually the fourth FC truck I've owned.  Here's the first one, which had major rust, a seized engine, years of neglect, etc.  It has since been sold:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FC 1"><U><IMG SRC="183c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> From a distance it looked okay, but it was really a collection of rust in the shape of an FC-150.  Here's my daughter helping me check the floorboards:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FC 1 Floor"><U><IMG SRC="185c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> My second FC made the first one look better.  It too has since been sold:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FC 2"><U><IMG SRC="192c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> That truck had sat derelict in the rainy Pacific Northwest for at least ten years.  Anything not rusted was covered with moss:</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FC 2 "><U><IMG SRC="194c8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <bR> <div> Although these first two trucks have been sold, I still have the third one.  It can be seen <A HREF="id70.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Auburn FC"><U>here</U></A>.</div> <bR> <div> For more information about FC trucks, be sure to check out the fantastic <A HREF="http://jeepfc.www5.50megs.com/index2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://jeepfc.www5.50megs.com/index2.htm"><U>Forward Control Page</U></A>.  Also, see the rest of my Jeep fleet at <A HREF="http://www.vernco.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.vernco.com"><U>Vernco.com</U></A>.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> .</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>