I just became the owner of this and was wondering if I could get some help with a few questions.

It's a Ford Dump Truck and I am pretty sure it is from the 42-47years. I have not had a chance to lookat it up close as of yet.

I know very little about truck restoration, especially medium duty trucks like this. I am afraid that I will probably try re-sell it but am not 100% sure. I don't have a lot in it but don't have a good place to put it. I love the style of truckthough and was hoping to get something to use to haul my antique hit miss engines around town with.[/SIZE]
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From the photo I am attaching, can anyone see something that would identify what year it is?

<o</oDoes that look like original paint? I am guessing from the funky looking ripples in the front that it may have been repainted?

The truck does not run but the engine will turn over. What was typical original engine that came in something like this? Somewhere I read that a lot of the trucks like this have had their engines replaced. What would be the best indicator of an original engine?

As I stated previously, I am completely ignorant when it comes to restoration of things like this.

 

well i,m not a specialist,but if i understand right. model started in 1942 that year the ford script on hood was rivited. 1943 ,44 and almost all the 1945 were for the war effort. 1946 and 1947 had a stamp ford emblem and all so the war years. someone wil come along a maybe correct me ,but thats what i think. serial number could sort this out!

 

i'd have to say '46 or '47

 

Me too, looks right for those years.

 

I agree with you guys too.

 

Where are going to pick it up? If you do not have a home for it , or you think it is to much for you to put right( back on the road ) let me know . I may have a new home for it.

 

New project Chris?

 

Just went in and filled out the paperwork. They had a heck of a time trying to figure out the year. Took a number of phone calls and some head scratching but they figured it out.

It's a 1947 1 1/2 ton. I checked out the title that came with it, it's had the same owner since 1958.

The truck is in west central Idaho just outside of a city called Lewiston. It's about a 3 hour drive for me. I got the vin number now as well so I will have to see if I can find some more information on it.

If I could re-sell it for what I have in it, I would probably do it.

If I keep it, I would want to get rid of the box and build nice looking flat bed for
It. I got a little more information about why it won't start. The guy who tried claims its an electrical problem. Not sure how he came to that conclusion but will go with it till I figure out otherwise. Don't know when it last ran.

I am curious to find out the cause of the ripples on the front are from. I will find out next Tuesday when I run up to get it. Wonder if some rust has been painted over.

 

Just called to set up a time to go look at it it was able to get a little more information. When they were trying to get it ready to move they tried to start it. They were Not getting any spark. The original owner said the truck was being used till about a year and a half ago so it has been sitting for about a year. This at least gives me some hope that the truck is reasonably sound.

Makes me wonder what it's going to take to get it operational.

 

The points can oxidize over time if the truck hasn't been used. There's a good chance that if you remove the distributor and clean and gap the points it will start right up.

 

I don't have a truck from the forty s yet
Still looking for a forty s coe cab for my van out back!?

 

I have been searching around for as much information on the ignition system on this truck as I can. Is there just one set of points or 2? I found some photos I think but I don't know what year it's from. What I did find seemed familiar to me. The points actually looked a lot like the points from a Rotary magneto except a mag generates its own current instead of using a battery. On the old engines that I have restored, dirty points have prevented the engine from running in a couple of cases. I doubled over some 220 grit sand paper, slipped it between the points and then pulled it out when the points were closed. Repeated this a couple of times and the problem was solved.

How are the points in a truck like this typically cleaned?

The other problem I have had is a bad coil. I have a number of mags that are dead because of bad coils. I guess if the truck has just been sitting since it last ran then I wouldn't expect the coil to be bad but that could be a possible problem.

What would be a cost effective replacement coil that would work with this truck? Same goes for the points, would a local auto parts store be likely to carry points that would work on this truck?

I guess I need to verify what engine is in it before I get to carried away. The probability of the engine having been replace at one point is pretty good isn't it?

I am wondering what I could take with me to see if I can get the engine running when I pick it up. It would be less of a pain to load it on the trailer if I could drive it.

 

The "ripples" are from poor metal work.

 

Went and looked at it today and was pretty happy with it. Having serious doubts that I want to sell it. It will be a lot of work to fix but it's a challenge I may not be able to resist. Going to take quite a bit of work.

I popped the hood on it and I think it could have its original engine. I think It's definitely the older style flathead engine. Doesn't look to be on bad condition

 

That's the right engine for a 47.

Charge up the battery, replace the points and condenser, bleed the brakes, gas it up and take it for a drive.