46 FORD 6 CYL INFO.
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46 FORD 6 CYL INFO.
I have a 46 ford pick-up with a 6 cylinder L block(original motor). Just starting on the restoration process and I'm noticing that is hard to find pictures or information on the six cylinder, there's alot of info for the 8 cylinder but not so much for the 6. If anyone can help point me in the right direction with any illustrations or original photos to go off of I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Houston
Welcome. You are right, it is much easier to find information in the V8s. Have you heard of the Early Ford V8 Club of America? It is a club dedicated to the preservation and restoration of 1932 to 1953 Ford products. The club has recognized experts who you can contact with specific questions about your truck. Their website is earlyfordv8.org
Which engine series is in your truck? Originally it would have had a G series motor with a crab style distributor mounted to the front of the engine. If someone has swapped it out for a later motor it will probably be an H series, with a post style distributor in the middle of the driver's side of the block. Both of these motors are 226 cubic inches. There is a very small chance you have an M series motor. These look like the H motors but have 254 cubic inches.
A good starter book is James K Wagner's Ford Trucks Since 1905. He is also the commercial / truck advisor for the Early Ford V8 Club.
Any of the Ford repair books from that era that you can find will help you too.
Can you post pictures of your pickup?
Which engine series is in your truck? Originally it would have had a G series motor with a crab style distributor mounted to the front of the engine. If someone has swapped it out for a later motor it will probably be an H series, with a post style distributor in the middle of the driver's side of the block. Both of these motors are 226 cubic inches. There is a very small chance you have an M series motor. These look like the H motors but have 254 cubic inches.
A good starter book is James K Wagner's Ford Trucks Since 1905. He is also the commercial / truck advisor for the Early Ford V8 Club.
Any of the Ford repair books from that era that you can find will help you too.
Can you post pictures of your pickup?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,584
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From: South Carolina
I feel your pain. I have a G series 6 and finding anything strictly devoted to them is near impossible. Most of the problem seems to be that they are the "forgotten" post-war years. (my opinion) Ford was still tooling up from the war effort and didn't really get started until '48 or so. Those later flat 6's have lots more info around than the G series and more re-manufactured parts still on the shelf.
Sometimes I think it would have been easier to learn to weld and put in a small block V8. That would have meant changing the suspension, transmission, rear end, etc and I'm not even going to start down that path! I may as well just spend the money on a new truck... This one was complete when I found it, so I'm working with what I have.
I'm by no means a purist but my truck came with the 6 that is still in it, (the numbers match), therefore I will make it run or blow it up trying! And if it blows up, I start looking for a flathead V8.
Sometimes I think it would have been easier to learn to weld and put in a small block V8. That would have meant changing the suspension, transmission, rear end, etc and I'm not even going to start down that path! I may as well just spend the money on a new truck... This one was complete when I found it, so I'm working with what I have.
I'm by no means a purist but my truck came with the 6 that is still in it, (the numbers match), therefore I will make it run or blow it up trying! And if it blows up, I start looking for a flathead V8.
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Thanks alot, I have come across the early ford V8 club and I will look into more. It is a G series engine with the distributor in the front, below the water pump but it's not the crab style, it's more of a soild body post dist cap. I will have to figure out how to post pictures but when I do i will make sure to post some of the engine. thanks again!
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Freshman User
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Yeah it sounds like I am in the same category as you are. I've only had it for a few months now but I just got it running and it sounds pretty good. I'm waiting on the radiator to be re-cored so i can ride her down the road for the first time in 20 years.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,584
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From: South Carolina
Welcome to (my personal) hell for trying to find parts. Here is where I found a tune up kit, Here is where you can find almost anything and here is just about everything else at fairly reasonable prices compared to some of the others. Sometimes, you just have no choice.
You are ahead of me in that yours is running. I had to wait until joblot got a core in to rebuild. All of the brake and suspension work is done, new lines, etc. So if I ever get it running, it will stop! Oh and I replaced the generator with a 6v alternator from here. He knows his stuff.
Now I'm off to find your pictures.
You are ahead of me in that yours is running. I had to wait until joblot got a core in to rebuild. All of the brake and suspension work is done, new lines, etc. So if I ever get it running, it will stop! Oh and I replaced the generator with a 6v alternator from here. He knows his stuff.
Now I'm off to find your pictures.
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Thanks again for the help from both of you, newold46 and 38coupe. After doing a little research from your help I found that my Ford was manufactured in Canada, with the Ford motor company of Canada. same trucks but the only differece are the serial numbers, so I thought that was pretty cool. Thanks again, but like newold 46 I will continue the lost path of the G-series 6 cylinder.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Houston
Great project. 1941 and 42 G series distributors used a crab cap that is much easier to work with than the later cap. The basic distributor is identical for all G series engine. Mac Van Pelt sells the necessary parts to convert to the earlier cap if you want: 41-42 cap, 41-42 rotor, and Clip & Rivet Pin Set. The page listing these parts is here: Ford Ignition and Electrical Parts Prices - Page 1
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Thanks for putting those pics up, looks like it's coming along good, body looks pretty nice too, this helps out alot because thats first pics I've seen of a six cylinder besides mine(in detail). I"m getting more savvy with getting around this website so I put a few more pictures up of mine in my album, just click on my account. I will put more up after I take some better pictures this weekend.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,584
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From: South Carolina
I've fallen behind on mine. I've been working the midnight shift for the past few months and nothing gets done then. One more week to go and I hope to have everything together to see if it catches fire or catches ON fire when I try to start it up for the first time in around 20 years. The previous owner said the engine was rebuilt sometime in the early '80s, so I'm just going to "go for it" and see what happens. I still have some wiring to sort out but that shouldn't take long.
Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 89
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I have a 47 G and a 49 H. You're right, anything is hard to find. I needed a intake exhaust manifold gasket set and finally found a NOS set on ebay located in Israel! You just have to scrounge around. Good thing we love doing this. PK
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