(56 F250 w/ 6 cyl (223). In the past 3 weeks I've had to replace the coil, points, fuel pump, water pump, and have radiator rodded out (30% blockage).
Now I have no compression on the #1 cylinder, and water in my oil. What do you think?..cracked head?.....I'm about ready to pull it out and throw it over in the holler. Maybe upgrade to 302.

 

Maybe just a bad head gasket?I'd sure get that coolant out of the cylinders/crankcase ASAP if you plan on keeping it.You can pull the head,buy a gasket and have the head checked for cracks,I think, at a machine shop.If the compression is otherwise good,I'd try to make the current motor last as long as possible,unless you've got money to burn.One good thing is you won't have to replace those parts again for a long while.If you start on a new , different motor,your possibly heading down a long,expensive road.

 

well water in the oil tells me blown head gasket or cracked head like you said. just remove the heads and take a look at the gaskets. a new head gasket should be pretty cheap.

 

And 6 cylinder heads are not known for cracking, so i will agree with the head gasket.

 

On the bright side, theres lots of folks out there that will practically give away a straight 6. Lots of folks pull the 6's out to install V8's. Keep your eyes open on the classfieds here, on Craiglsist, over at the HAMB, etc and you might find one pretty cheap.

Its worth pulling the head to see if its a head gasket. Nothing says its the holidays like having everything break all at once......

Bobby

 

True I got a 350 block strait out of a machine shop cleaned up and ready to go with all the internals and a dress up kit from a guy moving to Alaska and couldn't take it with him for a $100 bucks lol but thats for another project. if i was you I would keep that 6 and rebuild it. I have heard lots of good things about those engines being a work horses and lasting forever sorry yours had to be one of the only bad ones.

 

Check out what Col. Flashman's done with such a humble "work-horse".I like it,and would be proud to put that in the "old" truck(48-52) I hope to someday have.

1958 Mercury M100 4x4 - '58 223c.i. I-6

 

Col. Flashman's nice!

I've done a little to my 215, but it's not running so well now after a few months of being great.







I'm at a point now where I'm thinking to either yank this motor out or use a spare 215 that I have to rebuild completely so I don't have to worry about it.

 

so you were never able to pinpoint the problem??

 

Not yet. I should post an update in my original post.

 

In the process of pulling the head. Hoping it just a head gasket. But, I'm never that lucky. I figure since I have it off, might as well have a magna flux done, and check for a possible crack. Thanks to all for your replies!

 

I was just looking thru this thread and spotted a Spectre fuel pressure regulator on your truck! Get rid of that POS ASAP!! It may not be "the" problem, but especially if you have it turned down to 1.5 - 2.0 psi, it will do all kinds of bad stuff. They are bad ju-ju. Get a Holley 12-804 at AutoZone. The Spectre regulators are my personal crusade, I fought one for a year, til I threw a gauge on the line downstream of it and saw it see-saw between 0 and 5 psi at idle. At higher flows it would apparently lock open or lock closed, depending on its mood. If nothing else, check for a filter screen on the inlet, up inside.

 

Looks Nice. I really like the clear bowls on the carbs

 

It's a Mr. Gasket fuel regulator. Not sure if Spectre and Mr. G are the same. I have it turned up to 4. I don't see any room to mount the one you suggested in my line.

 

The holler sounds like a good place for it.
Don't waste any more time or resources on the six banger and get started on a 302 conversion,,,