just pulled the engine out of my grandpas old 56. Me and my uncle pulled the head off and found a seized up piston. we decided to go ahead and just rebuild the engine. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on where to get a rebuild kit that is good quality but not real expensive?fficeffice" /><O></O>

 

Try your local NAPA auto parts store. They might not have a kit per se, but might have all of the parts needed individually. Most all repro parts places sell the parts needed. Mac's Antique Auto Parts seems to have a fair price for all of the parts needed (when I priced out the parts for my 215, earlier version of your engine). I know that Kanter's carries them too, but they're more expensive.

After a rebuild, consider dressing it up like I did with my 215.

 

If you are looking for originality, go for it. If you are trying to get the truck on the road as fast and as cheap as possible.....get a chevy 350.

I love my 223 also in my '56, but at the end of the day I would have saved a good amount of money had I just swapped. At the time, I wanted to get the truck on the road the cheapest way, but I didn't know any better.

Some of the old "original" oriented members here may really frown upon my advice to go chevy or talk bad about Ford, but I'm just giving you an honest and strait-forward view from someone who already made the journey.


Do as much work as you possibly can. Don't know how? Learn. It's worth it.

 

Take a look at this website.
FORDSIX PERFORMANCE &bull; View forum - Vintage Ford Sixes

 

Good luck with the rebuild. You said the magic words-- "grandpa's truck". Do what it takes to fix THAT engine if you can. It will mean more to you. (I'd doubt a Chevy 350 will give you the same warm fuzzy feeling).

 

I just picked up my "grandpa's" 223 on Saturday. Had it rebuilt by a co-workers father in law. He charged my $150 to do the work and I paid for all the parts. I've got about $700 in it so far....and $300 of that was to have the head machined before he reinstalled it.

Now I need time to finish cleaning it and getting it painted back to the original Ford red.

 

Some great info y'all have given. I do plan on rebuilding the 223 because it's the original and like some of you said it was my grandpas. Back in 84 he had my uncle rebuild it and had bigger pistons put in it so I won't have to have any machining. My uncle ( the one who rebuilt it 27 years ago) has a big vat that we are going to dip it in. Has anyone put a bigger cam in theirs?

 

Looks good. The price for the rebuild is about right. I was quoted about $1k with parts that I would buy. Makes me want to pull my motor and rebuild it.

Your motor would look nice with some OFFY parts on it. The red paint would really complement the aftermarket hop up items.

 

I am hoping to get some help on my issue that I have posted in the fridge forum as well....


noticed a few extra oil stain spots and looks like it was coming from dip stick tube...also could see oil on top of valve cover from breather. I can take out dipstick and watch the oil spit out of the tube when running...I assume ring blow by? any ideas/suggestions on what to do next? what V8/tranny swap is easiest? thanks in advance..I added a bottle of that Lucas oil treatment to see if it will help anything...

 

engine is a 223 inline 6...might help. you know us fridge guys...

 

Is your breather tube/draft tube plugged?

 

don't know, I will look up in book when I get home. what is easiest way to check? pull off and try to blow through?

 

here is how my Draft tube is set up...is it correct?

 

That appears to be either a home-made PCV conversion, or a very early factory PCV. I'm not seeing a PCV valve anywhere, which means it would be sucking full-force on the crankcase. Are you having trouble getting it to idle? Is it smoking a lot? Early model draft tube shown below. California as I recall forced conversion of all engines to PCV in the late '60's, but there has to be a PCV valve to limit flow.

 

no problem with idle, doesn't smoke at all. runs great...just pukes some oil out of dipstick tube. some out of breather cap if driven long distance...