Recently I bought a 1953 f-250 that's in very good shape. It has been in the western US it's entire life and has no rust other than a little surface rust (I live in colorado). It looks great and runs good. I'm going to use it as a delivery and advertising vehicle for my business.

The truck has the original 215 six, granny gear 4 speed and 486 rear end. The main seals, oilpan gasket and valve cover gasket leak a little. They leak enough that I want to replace them. I've been all over Concours, Egge and Dennis Carpenter's websites and haven't found front or rear seals listed. Where do I find them?

Also, the valve guide seals seem to need replacing (smokes only at idle or when going downhill and not on the gas, and not all the time then). Since the truck will be used to advertise our company, I don't want it smoking at all. Is there anything tricky about valve guide seal replacement on the old 215?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks a ton,

Paul Moore
Colorado Springs, CO

 

Welcome to FTE

1-EAA-6700-B .. Timing Cover Seal ~ Fits: 1952/60 215 & 223 I-6
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2-C9OZ-6701-A .. Rear Seal-Rope Type ~ Fits: 1952/64 215 & 223 I-6 & 1965/79 200/250 I-6.

2-B7AZ-6701-A .. Rear Seal-Split Lip Type ~ Fits: 1952/64 215 & 223 I-6
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12-C5AZ-6571-D .. Valve Seal-Umbrella Type ~ Fits 1952/64 215 & 223 I-6 & 1965/76 240 & 300 I-6.
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1-C0AZ-6710-A .. Oli Pan Gasket-Rubber ~ Fits: 1952/64 215 & 223 I-6.

1-C0AE-6710-D .. Oil Pan Gasket-Cork & Rubber ~ Fits: same as above.

 

Thanks!!

Paul

 

In my experience, that kind of smoking is worn rings, not valve guide seals. Do a compression check to find out. After you get readings all around, put a couple of squirts of oil down thru the plug hole and take the reading on each cylinder again. If the reading is higher, the rings are worn. If it is the same (or nearly), it is the valve guide seals.

Good luck.

 

Welcome to the board!!

I'd try your local auto parts stores, NAPA, Autozone, etc for the seals, you might be peasantly suprised.

Once you get things situated here take a few minutes and read through the thread at the top of the forum about pictures and try your hand at setting up a gallery. We'd all love to see some pics of your truck. (we can almost always understand a pic but sometimes we have a devil of a time dealing with the written word....lol)

Bobby

 

Thanks, Randy. I'll try it.

Paul

 

Bobby, I'll attempt photos. The posting rules at the bottom of this page say that I am not allowed to attach files, so I'll try a gallery.

The truck has a dumpbed that we guess was installed by a truck equipment company when the truck was new. It was a farm truck in Western Kansas for most of it's life. Then it was used to haul gravel on a small ranch in Wyoming. It was then purchased by a collector in New Mexico, who sold it to the guy I bought it from.

Everything works. The dumpbed works great and the hydraulics don't leak at all. It's mostly original, but the seat is non original (much more comfortable, however), as are the headliner and door liners. All the instruments work. It's still got the 50th anniversary horn button. There is one very small spot of rust under the right edge of the hood. That's about the only real rust we can find (other than a small amount of surface rust).

Since it's not been used much for the past five years, I'm going through the truck little bit at a time to make sure it's mechanically safe and sound. Within the next two weeks the kingpins will have new kits installed (already have the parts). The brakes are great; the tires are new; all-in-all, it's in pretty good shape.

It seems to have lockers or some type of posi installed. Also, it has synchromesh in every gear except first. I didn't know they made full synchro tranny's back then!

The only real concern is the engine leaking and smoking that just started. The repair shop that shares the building that my business is in changed the oil Monday. The used 10W-30 instead of straight 30 weight and that's probably why it started leaking (the leaks started the day after they changed oil).

Thanks for the help and the suggestions so far. As I become more knowledgeable regarding old Fords, I'll definitely throw in my two cents worth, but my opinion isn't worth anything at this point.

Thanks,

Paul

 

Here's a link to the gallery. Let me know if you can access it.

Paul

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...&albumid=31369

 

Paul,
Great looking truck!! and great looking dogs as well

How much have you run the engine. Have you had it up to temperature a few times? If its set without running for awhile then there is a chance the maybe the rings are slightly stuck. You might just try running it for awhile and see what happens before doing anything drastic.

As far as your opinion? you can danged sure toss it out there, we are equal opportunity truck guys around here, we'll listen to you.....might even agree from time to time....lol

Thanks for getting the gallery set up so fast
Bobby

 

Thursday I made two deliveries and went to lunch in it--about 30 miles. It's been up to temp about 4 times in the last 8 days or so. As I said, the leaking and smoking were--I think--the result of multi viscosity being used at the last oil change instead of straight 30 weight. It didn't smoke or leak much at all when I got it.

Paul

 

Welcome and congratulations, it`s very rare to find one this nice.

 

Look at the Rating Plate inside the glovebox door. Is the DSO 2 digits or 6?

If two, the bed was installed after the truck was delivered.

If 6, it was done by Ford...either in house, or sent to a local body manufacturer. When Ford or the body manufacturer finished installing the bed, the truck was delivered to the original selling dealer. If Ford installed the bed, there's no markings. If an outsider that Ford used installed the bed, there should be a builders tag somewhere.

All the wood used in Ford cars & trucks, whether pickup beds, station wagons, panel trucks...whatever, came from Ford's own stands of timber on the upper Michigan Peninsula. Not only did Ford own the land, but the sawmills and even the ships to transport the wood to Dearborn.

btw: Whatever the DSO number is...it can be decoded, and the city where the truck was ordered from will be known.

1953 F250 4 speed transmission: Borg-Warner T-98

 

Thanks for the info...I'll look today.

Paul

 

Bill,

Today I decoded the VIN and found the DSO #--there isn't one, just two asterisks in the box where DSO is supposed to be. That probably means the bed was installed after the truck was delivered. There's no manufacturer plate--it's probably long since gone. However, it probably does mean the dumpbed was put on upon purchase since there were two asterisks in the DSO location.

According to the VIN decoder, it was made in Kansas City; is a conventional truck; the current engine and transmission are stock (215 6 and 4-speed synchro).

Paul