Joe,
Your engine looks great. My computer savvy son will "soon" scan my color brochure and then I can email it to you.

In the mean time here are my thoughts: I have never seen the shields you have pictured. My catalog shows the 256 engine (which has the crossover pipes) with spark plug shields but not the combo spark plug/valve cover shields. The accessories should be black: starter, genny, fan belt pulleys, etc. Not sure about the oil filter and the pvc vent. I will search other color pics I have. On my pics it looks like the manifolds and crossover pipes are black, but yours look good.

Ooops, my son just said he doesn't know how to scan something becasue we got a new printer/scanner/copier and it isn't showing on his computer. MAybe I will take a pic and send it later. Or go to Earl's world and look at his '56 catalogs and whatever his show yellow should be red and the blacks should be the same.

Question: your aircleaner is different than mine. I have the same one that was on it when bought in 1977. Mine could have been changed out though.

Interesting note: my crossover pipe has a clamp on it like yours does. From what I have read from Ford literature the 2 sections of pipe were not to be clamped to allow free movement of the pipes as the expand and contract. I have not had any problems with mine in the last 34 years!!

Go to my gallery to see my air cleaner and pipes...

 

Yeah, this one is the original air cleaner. I also found, that the sticker listed in all the restoration books for the '54 air cleaner are incorrect. The one in your gallery of the detailed motor, it has the blue lettered sticker, I found this one to have the earlier type sticker. As far as the guy knows, this truck is absolutely untouched. The crossover clamp, I don't know, it looks like the tube had been changed at one point, maybe a leak or something. The shields, do have newer part numbers stamped into them. They have a B8C number, and a C something number. They are ridged around the ports, indicating they aslo have a sealing characteristic. I am wondering, if perhaps a plug wire burn issue, or a chronic exhaust leak issue, led to the grandpa taking the truck in and getting it addressed with an updated set up. I ended up having to put the gasket between the shields, and the heads, and bolt the manifolds up to the shields without gaskets. I made sure to put plenty of Permatex Copper sealant on them though. Oh well, it looks great, so that is all I am concerned with. I'll have the cap, and condenser, and carb kit in a couple days, and still need to attach the original plug wire routing clamps, with the new rubber retainers. Oh, I also had to track down a rotor clip for the distibutor shaft. This one was MIA, and had some tape on the end in a failed attempt to stop timing float. Might actually be why they parked it for "continuous lack of power." The condition of the internals, tells me the engine had other issues, such as the fuel supply, or ignition, but it absolutely had ZERO mechanical issues. Heck, none of the oil holes were even clogged, which was a pleasant surprise for me, and the machine shop guys.

Just added up the rest of what I will eventually need. In order to button this resto up, and have it completely finished, nearly concours perfect, the guy will have to spend another $2500-$3000. With what we have spent to date, and add the balance needed, we will have completely rebuilt this truck, from the ground up, front to back, on a $5500-$6000 budget. Considering the amount of degredation, in metal, and soft goods, and the level of detail put into it, that is a really remarkable amount of money. That is all parts, and the labor for the machine shop, so it really brings down to earth the ability for anyone to restore one of these trucks from the ground up. If you do the work yourself, you can have a restored truck on a tight budget.

As of now, I have totalled about 45-50 hours time into the truck, not counting the amount of time spent on here uploading photos, and sharing the experience.

 

Well, got the fan blade, and drive shaft in. That was about it for today. Spent most of the day enjoying Easter with the kids, and wife. Oh yeah, the most amazing thing.....I got this crap from the dollar tree. It's "LA's Totally Awesome" cleaner. I tell you what, spray crap down with that, and do a little wire brush work, and it literally takes the rust right off, along with any gunk and crap from way back then. I cleaned the distributor with it, and a brass brush, and the thing looks damned near new. Sweet stuff. I've spent $5.00 on cleaner, and another $20 on the more potent brake cleaner and stuff. Way cheaper than sand blasting, and just about as good.

 

I do have to agree with Abe that the heat sheilds are not stock to the turck. I do like them and I agree that they will be a good addition to protecting the valve covers, and plugs. Same with the clamp on the crossover pipe - I was specifically told not to add one many, many years ago as the flex is needed to prevent warping and to keep the seal at the crossover/manifold in good shape without stress - even thou a bit of exhaust does leak out from the joint.

I too have the same air filter that Joe does on my stock 239. I know it is a little rare and I have been trying to find another like this for years. My engine is a Dearborn - truck assembled in Kansas City. Maybe Kansas City and a few other plants used this air filter. It is pictured in a few photos found in the shop manual and supplement manual.

Joe, did you replace the fuel line or is that OE? Abe, which brochures do you have?

 

Hi Joe,
I'm not sure where in Oregon you guys are but in Texas dollars that restoration would cost more like $20,000. That truck must have been in
great shape - I think mine had 40 hours of labor in just re-doing the cab corners. It looks wonderful - congratulations on a job well done.

Ben in Austin

 

Oh, this is all just parts. I am changing the cab out, not fixing the rust on it. There are just way too many sections that need replaced to make the cab worth it, at this time. The truck was actually very rough. Rust in the entire bottom half of the cab, as well as the roof around the drip rail. There's also the typical rust in the rear fenders, and the hood. The hood support is also broken. The doors are rotten in the bottom, and one front fender has a little spot of rot in it. All the wiring, the panel board interior, and the entire drive train needed gone through. I guess, it's in average condition. The nice things, that it's mostly a matter of cleaning, and repainting, most parts, and replacing what's bad. You can build an entire truck through the mail, so that makes it easier as well. Since this is the age of the internet, it also makes it more affordable, by being able to shop around, and compare, without driving all over the civilized, and not so civilized, worlds.

 

Wow Joe you're doing a great job. I admire your energetic pace.

 

Thanks Joe - I was wondering about my truck picking skills as our's was all rotted out in the floorboards, cab corners, lower door sills, etc. I was thinking about going up to Oregon to get these perfect truck bodies. You were wise to to just get a better/new cab - We've been welding & grinding away now & are finally just beginning to see light ahead.

Ben in Austin

 

Nice build. Keep em coming

 

Not much new to report. I did get the park brake cables installed, and finished up the rear brakes. Bled the brake system, and it all works nicely. Got the column tube tightened up, and installed the shifter parts. Rebuilt the carb, and installed the plug wire grommets, and mount tabs. I guess, it looks as though the chassis is pretty much finished. I am a stand still until the owner gets more funds sent over Mondayish. Will be digging the F-600 (the one that's been collecting dust in an undisclosed location) to scavenge the cab, hood, and doors, and original glass. Then, I'll part the rest out, and sell it off. Next on the order list for this '54 is, radiator, cab mounting parts, pick up the starter, and generator, fill the engine with oil, and get it all primed up, install exhaust with correct clamps, and hangers, fire the engine. Get the cab stripped, initial body work, primed, more body work, and painted, then installed. After the cab, will be running boards, then front sheet metal. It won't be much longer, and this truck will be driving.

 

WOW...Joe didn't know you were into another project...looks great...keep it up in 'ol Madras...I moved back to Bend but have my truck in Redmond...PM me I have a question about dropping an axel...maybe you can help

 

Well, no word from the owner in several days, which is really wierd considering the family history of the truck. I'm patiently (impatiently) waiting for more funds, as I have hit a dead end, with no room to procede. Without more money, and parts, the project is stalled. I'm ready to fire off the motor, but cannot, due to a lack of exhaust (need it muffled to hear for issues), and a lack of a radiator (gotta break the cam lobes back in, and can't without cooling). So, until further notice, the project is dead, or at least on hold. I hate relying on others, and their schedules. On the bright side, I got the Big Job pulled out of the back yard, and if the weather gets to being decent, I can start its axle swaps.

 

Oh wow, I have to do some major updating here....




I need to get more pictures uploaded too.

Owner sent more funds...engine runs great, nothing like the sound of an Y-block. The fuel pump arm broke off inside the engine, so I had to fire it by filling the carb bowl. Fished out the pump arm, and put another pump on it, and it runs quite nicely. Had to replace the throttle shaft in the carb, and change out the top of the carb to one that would accept the trucks oil bath air cleaner. New radiator from Mid-Fifty looks great, and is the 4-row look-a-like to the original 2-row. Shouldn't have any trouble keeping it all cooled down. So far, I've driven the chassis, and am trying to get the video from my phone uploaded so that I can put it on here. Hopefully soon. Beyond that, we dug the old F-600 out, and stripped it of its cab, and doors, and hood to use on the '54. I got all the major dings, and dents straightened out, and worked over, and should have front cab corner Friday. Meadow Green paint has been ordered, and will be here via FedEx on Monday. So, this weekend, I will have the truck in etching prime. Monday, I will primer the cab, and doors, and front end metal, and work them over with the sanding blocks and squirt color on Monday night, or Tuesday morning. Tuesday eve, the cab will go on the chassis, after I wet sand it smooth. Once it's in place, I'll take the buffer to it, so I have a better place to stand when doing the roof. I should have the entire front half of the truck in place by Wednesday, and have parts starting to go in. Once the cab is on, and the running boards are on, I'll prime, block, and color the box, and rear fenders, and cut and buff them too, and put them in place towards the end of next week, or the beginning of the following week. Right now, I am down to ordering seat foam/burlap, and bed wood. The price of the wood kit went up, so I'll be hitting home depot, and using the neighbors router. I should still be able to have it all assembled, and ready to go before the end of the month....

 

Impressive stuff.
I can't wait to see more pictures and the video.

 

great work Joe, I saw you mounted the solinoid on the frame rail...very cool