I am re-building a 1953 215 for my '53 F-100 and have several questions. May be better to start separate posts but for now here goes.

I need to find a supplier for a rebuild kit. The 215 had been rebuilt before and bored to a 223. I need .030 over 223 pistons this time around and .020 bearings for rods and crank. Any suggestions for additional suppliers? I have found Kanter and Green Sales so far.

I need some suggestions on the distributor. I have read that the stock LOM is not the best and that the Pertronix conversion on the LOM is also marginal at best. Is there a good year for a swap to electronic ignition? Can the LOM be modified for electronic or to make the Pertronix work better? I have looked on here for a thread but have not been able to find a good one outlining a swap.

What is the paint code/name for the green engine color used in 53 or a manufacturer paint name I can reference?

Thanks for any help!!!

 

Northern auto parts has them....not cheap though.
Ford 223 Mechanical Cam 1955-1964 | Northern Auto Parts
Your local engine machine shop can probably get them as well.
A 240/300 six distributor can be adapted, depending on which oil pump you use....
Try a google search

 

See here for the distributor:
The Ford Barn - View Single Post - Help with 215 OHV I6 2x1 set up

 

If you have time, read through this: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...the-towel.html and this: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-starting.html. Then, there's also this thread: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...15-engine.html.

I bought majority of the engine parts NOS from Green Sales. I used the original parts manual for part #s to make sure I'm getting the correct parts. Other vendors like Mac's and Dennis Carpenter also sell parts for 215/223. Egge Machine also sells pistons and can get the oil pump and fuel pumps rebuilt.

There are at least two green colors that will match close. I used Diesel Alpine Green, available from your local auto parts store. There's a mid 50's Lincoln green that is also a close match, but more expensive than the DAG color. I don't know what it's called exactly. I believe that Stu, "truckdog", used the Lincoln paint. I had an original painted intake manifold. When I placed it against my engine painted with the DAG color, it was a perfect match.

I'm running a Pertronix ignition and coil with the stock LOM distributor. I haven't noticed any problems. Bubba can also modify a GM or a Mallory distributor to work with a 223, Our Services.

 

The other guys have you covered on the tech issues. My rebuild turned out to be somewhat unnecessary. My pro mechanic buddy thinks it had been rebuilt only a few thousand miles earlier. It had been bored to .060 over so all it needed was freshening up. Kept the stock dizzy. The block paint is from Bill Hirsch and is 1952 Lincoln green. It's one of their stock formulas and is a nice high solids product. Your other challenge will be matching the valve cover color. It's a dark blue/green. I took a valve cover with me to the paint store and matched it as best I could from their color book. Link below to Bill Hirsch. Stu

https://www.hirschauto.com/departments.asp?dept=1

 

I have an NOS valve cover painted the correct darker green color from the factory. I can try to get a paint store to match it as close as possible if needed.

 

I think the load-o-matic distributor on the flathead V8s and early sixes gets an unfair bad rap. John Lawson (JWL on Fordbarn) has done extensive dyno testing with a stock cam and carburetor flathead V8. The stock distributor delivered the timing curve for best power across the usable r.p.m. range of the engine. If you are using multiple carbs (or your carb has big problems), or if you are using a cam with more duration than stock, you need a different distributor. For a stock rebuild, keep the stock distributor.

If you look around a bit you can probably find the pistons you want for less than the retailers are asking. If 20 over would work for you, there is this option: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silv-O-Lite-Pistons-For-1954-64-Ford-223-L6-3-7L-Oversize-20-Set-Of-6-/390829848518?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5aff4637c6&vxp=mtr
I have a 53 sedan with a 215 that I rebuilt last year. The engine runs quite well with stock everything.

 

Thanks guys for all the responses! You guys are a huge help. I think I will try the stock distributor to begin with since rebuild parts are relatively inexpensive and go from there.