Cletus' 2,300 mile roadtrip in a 1973 Ford F250

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44) 10/21/2014 at 20:56 • Filed to: None

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AWWWWWW YISSSSSS! So my friend has this bitchin truck. (Not pictured) It's a 2WD 1973 Ford F250 with a 390 and a three-speed manual trans. It's also booger green with a fresh holley carb, slightly taller shocks, headers and a new floor welded in. He lives in Spokane and has offered to sell it to me for $1,500.

I'll be in Spokane for a wedding (not my wedding) in July and I think I'll buy it then and drive it all the way back to Toronto. My friend has owned the truck for about a year and it's been a reliable driver for him.

Things to do, figure out how to import an old vehicle into Canada, figure out if this thing has appropriate rear gears for the highway and then hit the road! In July of course.

I'm so excited! More on this as it develops.

Spasoje > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:00

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Sounds awesome!

I can probably assist you with the importing bit, seeing as I imported a 1973 car from Europe into Canada not too long ago... Long story short, if it's 25+ years old, there are no federal hoops to jump through. Just pay taxes on its value and you're ready for the provincial stuff! :)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Spasoje 10/21/2014 at 21:01

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Cool! So insure it over the phone, and then safety and insurance inspection once back in Canada?

And what car did you import?

Spasoje > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:06

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Pretty much.

Your job is made much easier since you're driving it over (i.e. no port clearances to deal with), though make sure to double check the US export procedure. They usually want 72hrs advance notice that you're bringing the truck over along with a bunch of paperwork proving it's not stolen or anything.

Oh, and this is what I imported.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:23

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Ha, I actually know where this is

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Spasoje 10/21/2014 at 21:23

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Solid advice, thanks!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 10/21/2014 at 21:24

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holler-ado

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:25

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How can you miss Glacier National Park while driving through Montana? Also stop in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on the way through if you have a chance, it's a nice little town on some lakes.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 10/21/2014 at 21:29

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Both good ideas!

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:29

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Its in Aurora near Parker Road and I-225. Hey, If youre ever in Denver we gotta meet up and you gotta see SpecialBuick62 and his 62 Buick Special. Ist 95k original miles, original interior, 2nd paintjob (original color), its 80% original, Hes the 3rd owner and its his 2nd car. It has a 215 V8 with a Rochester 4 Barrel and a 2-speed Powerglide Automatic

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:31

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Yes! They're both great areas. Especially in the summer. Minnesota will have tons of Mosquitoes but the roads in the country are nice and it's a really nice area too.

zwoof > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 21:42

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YES!!! Do it, you won't regret it! I bought a '74 F250 (360ci, C6 auto) about 2.5yrs ago when I was living in Montana for $750. It has a little surface rust, but the only work it absolutely needed was a carb rebuild. I did some other little maintenance stuff (plugs, wires, belts) just to do them. June last year we moved back to Florida, so I hitched up a 6x12 Uhaul with the wife and kids following in the minivan. 7 days later we arrived without a hiccup, used less than a quart of oil....but didn't pass many gas stations! It was my daily driver here for the first 8 months or so, and I still take the kids to school and do Home Depot runs in it. This is my third F series of this vintage, and I wouldn't have any other truck.

Spacegrass > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 22:13

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You ought have no issues (apart from silly paperwork of course). Looking forward to the story, this is an epic trip I'd want to make.

Tohru > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/21/2014 at 23:05

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It looks like you're going to be taking I-94 across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Right near the map marker that says "35h 2,311 miles" is Wisconsin Dells. Dogapult and I live about a half-hour from the Dells. We should grab lunch!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Tohru 10/22/2014 at 07:44

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I'd be down! I'll post a more accurate route when the date gets closer. It would be awesome to meet up with other opponauts.

Old-Busted-Hotness > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams 10/22/2014 at 08:34

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Here's a couple tips:

Don't try to make it all in one go. I drove from Cleveland to Helena once, stopping only for gas, piss, and food. 30 hours straight. By the time I got there I didn't know who or what I was.

Do Montana and whichever Dakota you decide on in the daytime. Not that there's much to see, but night there is unlike any night you've ever experienced. Dark like the bottom of a coal mine. I saw the black dog so many times I gave him a name.

Bring along some 5-gallon gas cans. It's a long time between fuel stops out there. You may not need them, but it never hurts to be prepared. Also check the spare tire and jack, for the same reason.