So I turned 21 this past week and decided to take on a new project. My father passed away a few years back and left behind this old pile of rust. I remember when it was running we used it to get wood and haul stuff around town. I can still remember the way that y-block V8 sounded. So naturally, i would like to restore this for nostalgic reasons and i just think it would be a sick looking truck! I have a little experience doing body work, and feel fairly comfortable with that part of the restoration (kind of looking forward to it actually) but dont have very much experience with engines (which is what i think is going to be the real project here). I plan on doing this in stages- Stage 1) Gather information, ask opinions, get estimates. Stage 2) Get the truck running/ mechanically sound. Stage 3) Restore/ Customize the body. Here are lots of pics, followed by what im sure are the first of many, many questions to be asked in this thread. The Beast- Vin Plate Dektop background-worthy ford emblem pic this ones chipped off Windows seem good good side of the bumper bad side One door has a keyhole, one does not. Does this mean doors were swapped? Cracked rear glass A Bed of Rust- The truck was actually storing old oil so maybe it didnt rust through TOO bad LOL Straight body Dent rusty door
As i understand it, the passenger-only outer door lock is one of the differences between a standard and deluxe cab truck. That looks like a lot of work, but should be well worth it for you. Good luck!
Well i guess thats all the pics i can post... Heres a link to the rest of the pics http://s52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/magicwhiteguy/ So, on to my questions- 1) What do you guys think? 2) Is this a "3 on the tree" because the shifter is on the steering column? 3) What are the shifter positions? Top is park, middle neutral, and bottom drive? 4) I tried to "turn the engine over" by rotating the crank, the radiator fan would rotate, but when i put a lug wrench on the bottom where i thought the crank pulley was the nut on the pulley would start to unscrew, and couldnt get it to rotate the other way (told you im a motor newbie) 5) What are the first steps i should go through to start this thing up after years of sitting? Flush radiator, change oil, new gas, new battery/starter/ plugs, etc? 6) Is it a good idea to start hitting spots with WD-40 or PB-Blaster that i know ill be working on? (bed mounts, various body mounts, etc) THANKS FOR ANY INFO! -Andrew
Oh yeah- 7) I can Decode the first section of the VIN, whats the rest of those numbers? 3.70 is axle gear ratio right? 3LD is... light duty trans?
Diamond in the rough. Yea keep the y-block, lot's of great new parts for the y-block now days. Keep at it and it'll be a killer ride. We just received (not the way I wanted to get it) a 57 panel my late father-in-law, left it to my wife. Lot of cool memories.
Sorry to hear that Saxon. Yep... lots and lots of body work here. I think it would be nice to do it in sections, notice looks are last on my list If i could just get the thing to run I'd be real happy.
It was common couretesy or something along those lines to put the lock cylinder on the passenger side only,it encouraged you to enter the vehicle on the curb-side instead of the street-side. BTW,if you push on the door handle the opposite direction that you would to open the door,that locks it.
Awesome truck to start with... I just picked up a 59 custom cab yesterday!! Got to Mac's Antiques (google the site) and get you a catalog, then go to dennis carpentar's site and get another catalog, their both free!
Done and Done. Are there any other good books for the orphan years, or any essential general restoration guides i should be reading?
You have a lot of work ahead of you. Fortunately these trucks are getting more popular everyday, so finding parts seems to be getting easier. I agree with saxonhous that Y-block is a keeper. Check out http://www.y-blocksforever.com/ and http://www.ford-y-block.com/ for lots of information and parts for that motor. I'm jealous since I'm stuck with a 460. Good Luck
3 on the tree is just a standard H put on the column, Meaning pull back and go up for Reverse, back and down is first, forward and up is second, forward and down is third. The middle is neutral. Start hitting any bolt you expect to take off with PB-blaster for a couple of weeks. Sounds like the Y-block might be stuck, take out the plugs and pour a little diesel down each hole, and try it again in a week.
So is that the correct method then.. turn the nut on the crank pulley to turn the engine over? Clockwise or counter-clockwise?
If the engine doesn't turn then try putting some Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder and let it soak for a few days. Then try turing the crank clockwise to see it if she loosens up, careful not to strip the bolt. You will need all the stuff you mentioned to get her running, plugs, points, wires, etc.... Looks like a great project and a great way to remember somebody. Good luck.....
Right, i turned the nut to the left (counter- clockwise) and the crank pulley nut came loose, i didnt really turn it all that hard clockwise though, how hard should i have to turn it?
Take your time. I pulled the plugs on a 30yr barnfind flatty and put wd40 and marvel mystery in each plug hole for about 2 weeks before it turned. But it did and after replacing, ingintion parts, fuel pump, and rebuidling the carb. it fired. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4gbgkD6CIU
Sounds like a plan for tonight . just how liberal should i be with the WD-40? and can the marvel mystery oil be found at any auto parts place?
Just pull out each plug and dump a decent amount of MMO (marvel mystery oil0 down each cylinder and then just let it sit, don't get in too much of a hurry, let the oil soak in.
You're going to learn a whole bunch of new stuff and develop a lot of new abilities, very soon! Remain calm. Have fun.
enine could be 239, 272, 292 or 312. look for knob on dash w/od or solinoid on side of trans tailshaft. would be overdrive. thats good. look for oil lines (mickey mouse) to rocker covers. means cam bearing spun shutting ogg oil to rockers. also probably vacuum wipers. change over to electric or get booster type fuel pump (little vac lines coming out top of pump. also get manual as y-blocks have funny stuff like timing marks on side of gears pointing i think to left and something like 32 links apart. find out. also fist 9" ford rear. good!. yours is only square truck w/ single headlights. keep it. also i think easy to dual exhaust by turning manifold upside down and swap side for side. not sure on that one though. lots of tri power manifolds on ebay. or find 57 up 4 barrel manifold, will fit hooley four barrel like later carbs. used to have a few of these in old days. one w/430 lincoln. animal!...goood luck
It is not a 239,how do I know? The intake. And if it is the original motor it will be either a 272 or 292. 312`s did not come in trucks.
Dang... Thats one bed that has seen alot of action lol. Im builiding a 65 f100... and let me tell ya. your in for a heck of a ride.
No, it will start in gear, even if the clutch is out, so be carefull. I'll bet the engine is a 272 or 292. No real way to tell without tearing it apart. Turning the engine will take some grunt, probably need a good long pry or cheater bar. You might alo take the plugs out to rotate it, it will not build compression that way and turn easier. Another way to turn it I ave done (although not the best way if you are not sure if it is stuck or not) is to pull it with another car/truck with the tranny in gear, foot off the clutch. This will make the engine spin. Good looking truck, I've owned a few 60's. Same basic design, different hood and grill. Here's my 1960 4x4:
9/16/08 UPDATE: Well I bought a few cans of PbBlaster and gave the truck a shower. I might be buying stock in this company. Got the clutch to engage and can shift through the gears, all instrument pannel switches seem to engage, parking/emergency brake works, and, the best thing: THE ENGINE TURNS OVER!! Sprayed some PbBlaster w/ marvel mystery oil in the cylinders and let it sit a day, went to spray some other stuff down and gave the crankshaft a try and it turned right over! I sprayed some more in there to let it soak a little longer. Spark plugs were black. Cooling system (freeze?) plugs leaked antifreeze and came out upon inspection. Generator seems to turn freely with crankshaft/ radiator fan assembly. So here's what im thinking... I remember my father saying it ran when he parked it, meaning he drove it to its resting place of 10 or so years, put it in park, and either cut the engine off, or let it die one last time. I believe that this truck had a bad carburator and as it wasnt a daily driver, just a woods vehicle, it never got the priority for a few hundred dollar carb rebuild. So, with the way everything else has been going (clutch seems to work, trans shifts through, etc) I might just need a carb and the usual tune up parts Questions- 1) How long should I keep spraying down cylinders with PbBlaster/ oil before I get a battery, etc and try to start it up? 2) What all is necessary to replace before attempting to start it? Id like to keep costs way down so if i can reuse spark plugs/ generator/ plug wires/ original distributor, etc to diagnose whether or not i can go much further with this project without getting too expensive, that would be awesome. I would like to diagnose parts as i go and keep it cheap. Pics: Overdrive? Silver/chrome button: Coolant (Casting? Freeze?) plugs: Might have to flush this sucker...
I'm sure there is a bunch of people on here that could give you a lot better advice but. I would start by.... Replacing that freeze plug, Fluids change, oil etc. never hurts, You can clean up the plugs and use them temporarily, inspect and clean out the dist, cap. Was there a air cleaner on it? Looks like from the one pict that there may have not been? Might want to check if anything has dropped down in to the intake (or setup a nest) If it is turning over fairly easily, then you could try and turn it with the starter, if not let it sit some more. If it turns easily get a battery or pull one from your car If it turns with the starter without any weird sounds, dump a little gas down the throat and see what happens. Chances are that it'll need more then this but this could keep you busy for a day or two. Eventually you'll want to do a compression test to see if a rebuild is in order (which is never a bad idea anyway).
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