OK, Im headed to the salvage yards. Im looking for Ford or Dodge wheels, correct?

 

Ford pre WWII, because that's before widow makers came on the market. Dodge, but 1.5/2 tons only. The FFPWs and M37s have 16s that won't clear your drums, and have a 5 x 6 7/8" pattern. Also a great source are IHCs of any year. They seem to have relied almost exclusively on Goodyear for their lock ring rims. Stu

 

IHC? International's?

 

Correct. Stu

 

It's been 50 years since I've worked on a Y block, so I can't help you much on parts. I always got engine parts from my local Motor Bearing and Parts parts house, they had a full machine shop where I had my machining done as well. The site I linked to in post #18 are Y block specialists, you might try asking them. don't buy any hard parts until the engine is disassembled and everything has been boiled clean and inspected/measured by your machine shop/rebuilder to see what condition it's in. Good possibility it may need to be bored, and that will determine what size pistons and rings you'll need. You seem to be in a hurry to get the truck back on the road, in the long run, unless you can do the assembly work yourself, you might be ahead by buying a rebuilt short block if you can find one (you would likely have better luck looking for a 312 ci block) and have the heads cleaned and the valves ground and new seals, at least that way you will get a warantee.

 

I've used the folks listed in the link. I've found them knowledgeable, easy to work with and decent quality parts. The Best brand gasket set is the nicest set I've ever used, bar none. On my last order, they made a mistake but quickly corrected and shipped the correct part overnight on their dime.
272s and 292s are still easy to find. and parts more readily available. Unless you're bound and determined to rebuild the engine right now or it has serious problems, why not consider running it a bit. Pull the rocker shafts and clean. Make sure they are oiling. Some times a small caliber bore brush down the cylinder head in the oil passage will get the crud out to where oil will flow again.There is about an inch offset between the block and head and there is one of the problem with Y blocks. On rare occasions the flow blockage will be in the area of the cam bearing that feeds the rockers. By all means go to John Mummert's site. Keep us posted.
items in Falcon Sales e-Store store on eBay!

 

Finally, I figured it out. Pics of my 1954 F600.

 

Stu/Ray
Great advice. I really appreciate it a lot. It's been almost 20 yrs since I turned wrenches for a living and I've forgotten so much. Since joining the Army I have either been short on time or money so I haven't had a project to play with for a long time. I changed the oil and serviced the truck this evening as well as replaced the exhaust from the flange back. Then took it for a country drive. I really enjoy it. I am a little impatient to get most of the work going. I'm trying to line up the paint job so I want to have most of the other work done when possible. Plus I have an event I host every fall at the Lake of the Ozarks and I would like to have the F600 and my brothers '51 Chevy 2 ton done and there for others to see. But I want to do it right the first time.

 

here:


That's a really clean truck! Where did you find it?

 

Kirk - I just remembered that several years ago, I think it was in 2005, I drove to Arizona on one of my back road adventure yard tours. I stopped at a place west of you, between Nevada and Deerfield on US 54 as I recall, and chatted with a guy. He had an old IHC Loadstar for sale. It was sitting on a set of 22.5s with really nice rubber (at the time). The truck was sitting in the weeds a short distance off a side road. To get the wheels I'd have had to buy the truck, pull the wheels, then resell or scrap the truck. At the time that made no sense. But if it's still sitting there it might be your perfect donor. I've got the guy's name and phone number if you want to track him down. You gave me your phone numbers so I can call you with more description of where the truck was sitting. Let me know if it interests you, and when it would be a good time to call. Stu

 

Thanks, it is in really good shape, I am very blessed to have found it. I sat up late Sunday night looking at dump trucks on craigslist and it popped out at me. It was a hundred miles south of me in Willow Springs MO. I got up the next morning and couldn't stop thinking about the old truck so I called. After talking with the owners wife and hearing how nice the truck was,
I skipped work, got a buddy to skip, and beat a path down there. I bought it after a short test drive and drove it 100 miles home. It was one the happiest days of my life, right under the birth of my children (don't tell my wife, haha).

 

Here you go Joe. I got pics up.

 

That would be awesome. I sent you another number. Between the two you should be able to get in touch with me anytime today, Im off work and going to some yards. Deerfield would be perfect. I was a Ford mechanic at the dealership in Nevada in another life (prior to the military). I know the country pretty good and have family there. When you give me the info I'm gonna call him and then send my brother-in-law to check it out. Thank you much. On a related topic, I'll be back at the yard that has several trucks today. I'll take some pics and start a new thread of what I find there with contact info.

 

And very nice pics they are too! I think you found a really sweet truck there.

 

Thanks Joe. I made a deal with a guy today and he's going to pit it in his shop a week from Monday and pull the fenders doors and hood off and repaint everything in original color. Same time myself and a friend are going to go through the engine. Body guy says he only needs a week. I'm very excited. I put 50 miles on the truck today.

Stu,
I got in touch with guy in Deerfield. He sold the old truck he had. But he gave me another number of a guy he said he knew still had a set. Thanks for the help.

I didn't get access to the yard I wanted to today, I guess because it's Good Friday. I'll keep trying. If anyone wants to send me a wish list I'll keep an eye out while I'm hunting.

I found a nice 54 Chevy (rare) grill today in a yard getting ready to get crushed. If I get a chance I'll go back and take it off.