The timeline and plans reflect the owner’s original account.
Reed wanted an old Ford while living in California and chose a pre-1975 truck with the state’s smog requirements in mind. His 1969 was a short-bed F-100 4x4, not a factory Highboy. He had heard it might be one of 37, but did not know whether that claim was true.
About a month after buying it, a burnout on dirt blew both head gaskets. Pulling the 390 FE to replace them was an early lesson. By five or six years into ownership when he shared the account, Holley Sniper EFI and a fuel tank relocated under the bed were the listed changes. He wanted a restoration and original-paint touch-ups that would bring back its 1969 showroom appearance.
Read the owner’s original account and build details
Shared by @69ford97
Truck year:
1969
Ownership when this account was shared:
5 or 6 years
How the truck came home
I knew I wanted an old Ford. I was living in California at the time and wanted a pre-1975 truck so I wouldn’t have to deal with smog requirements.
The memories behind the truck
About a month into owning it, I did a burnout on dirt and blew both head gaskets. That meant pulling the 390 FE and replacing them — definitely a learning experience early on.
Build details, in the owner’s words
Holley Sniper EFI system
Fuel tank relocation to under the bed
Plans at the time of the story
I want to restore it and touch up the original paint to make it look like it just rolled out of the showroom in 1969.
More from the owner
It’s technically not a Highboy since it’s a short bed F-100, but it is a 4x4. I’ve also been told it’s 1 of 37 made, though I’m not sure how true that is.
Keep the old Ford story going
Find your kind of truck in our Bumpside merchandise, or choose a year’s front end from the Grille Series.
Visit Highboy University for truck guides. Read Bumpside vs. Dentside: Ford Truck Generations Explained, then meet the people behind Harry’s 1977 Ford: From a Cheap Challenge to Alaska.
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