Recently i purchased a 1955 ford c600. I have always loved the look of a coe and finally got my hands on one when it popped up on cl locally. Now that ive got it i have successfully got it running and moving under its own power, however i have no got it stopping yet. I have went through and bled the whole system, however if you let it sit for more than a minute without pumping the brakes the first time you hit the brakes you have to pump them 3 or 4 times before the pedal comes back. Im going to start with a new master cylinder. Everything else seems to be working as it should.

Im curious the best place to buy parts for it? I work at the local O'reillys and our books list the c600 so a lot of the parts i can get at work, however when i run into parts i cant find at work id like some resources for finding parts. Also does anyone know where i can get or download any service manuals or parts cds?

Also were these trucks originally 6volt cause mine is currently 12v?

 

Welcome to FTE!

That's a great looking truck. You have started with a winner!

For the harder-to-find parts check with Joblot in NY
http://www.joblotauto.com/ Call them... their website is useless.
P.O. Box 75 / 98-11 211th Street Queens Village, N.Y. 11429 Telephone (718) 468-8585 Fax (718) 468-8686 Business Hours: 8:30-4:30 Monday-Friday

or Chuck's Trucks in CT.
http://www.chuckstrucksllc.com/pdf/48-56Truck.pdf
203-288-2769 or 203-824-2002

 

I'm current doing brak job on my 1955 F600, so far I've got everything at NAPA. Wheel cyclinder, master & seals
Rear shoes I'm getting reclined , not got all the parts in yet. Sure yours take the same ones. Will post part numbers when I have everything later next wek

 

Very nice COE you have there!

Yes, '55's were originally 6 volt.....someone must have converted it. One less thing to do!

 

After bleeding the system did you adjust the brake shoes? If your shoes are too far from the drums it will act just like you described.

 

Welcome to FTE, the best Ford truck forum on the world wide web. The guys here will help you with all your questions.

But we need to see more pics of this C-600!

 

Actually I just spoke to a friend of mine tonight and he pointed out what you pointed out. It never really came to my mind but I bet that's the problem. Oh well a little piece of mind now that I've replaced the master cylinder. Plus it only costed me $40 so why not replace it.

Thanks for all the great help so far. I'll get lots more pics soon and I'll keep this thread updated as I add more to this truck. I have big plans for it but I can't give away all my secrets just yet.

 

Great looking truck


Master parts cd HiPO parts garage 5622 Bent Tree Dr, ******* MI 49735


Part Number MPCFT48-1 1948-56 Ford Truck Master Parts CD




Shop Manual 1954-55 Bishko Autmobile Literature. 445 S. College St., Piqua, OH 800-544-3312.


These are "Must Haves"

 

1948/56 Ford Truck Parts Catalog available on a C/D from hipoparts.com

 

I have made some progress on the cab over. Today i installed the new master cylinder and went ahead and plumbed in a new line to the hydro vac booster. I didnt have time to bleed the system as i take evening classes going to school to be a diesel mechanic.

Ironically but helpful my instructor has a 60's model chevy 2 ton wrecker and it has the hydrovac system so he has been lots of help. He pointed out today that he has a good hunch that the booster is leaking internally, the fact that the breaks are bleeding off, im hearing a squirting sound inside the booster when the pedal is applied and also that my truck smokes and has gotten worse sense i have started messing with the breaks. He pointed out that on his truck when the booster went bad it aloud the engine to burn off the break fluid through the vacuum lines witch would explain the heavy smoking and very odd smelling smoke (it smells nothing like oil burning) witch was my first assumption.

So tomorrow i believe im gonna try and pull the booster apart and see if its something i can fix. I have found plenty of diagrams of how these boosters look inside and how they work, even watched a tear down video of one, so i feel confident in at least trying to repair it.

If anyone has any info to add or constructive criticism id be happy to hear it! Thanks guys!

I will keep the forum updated with plenty of pics and info don't worry, this old coe is in good hands.

 

I have made some progress on the coe. After hours of beating on the old brake booster i gave up and decided to order a new one at work. I ordered one off a 1980 c700. It was almost identical except for the vacuum exchange tube witch cause problems mounting it to the frame so i had to relocate it (pics soon). No big deal as i just went ahead and plumbed in new lines.

After hours of bleeding i finally got all the air out of the system and had a decent pedal. I took off down the road for a test drive, after about 2 miles i noticed my pedal was getting spongy. As i rolled into the drive way i lost just about all brake pedal i had left.

After furthe
r inspection i noticed my wheel cylinders were leaking heavily. So i tore into the rear end to find the problem.


Inside i found two stuck wheel cylinders (one on each side) and a very nasty mess from the brake fluid. I tried hunting down new cylinders at work but our book shows cylinders that mount differently from how mine do. I decided to try and rebuild my current ones.


I chucked up the brake hone in the drill press and set up shop for the evening.


I cleaned everything up and put it all back together



I installed the new cylinders and now i have to bleed the whole system again. Cross your fingers for no leaks! I will keep everyone up to date.

 

Looks like a good job

 

Dont forget to write down your casting numbers for the wheel cylinders as they used the same on forklifts and can be ordered for later model forklifts still, but they dont cross reference them against truck models. When your shoes get thin they can be relined so measure and get sizes now.

 

Good to see someone get that truck who will appreciate it. I talked with the guy who had it for sale but was not impressed enough to drive a hundred plus miles to see it. He did indicate it needed brake work. Keep us informed as you progress.

 

That is a great looking truck, overall it looks like it was well maintained.


What are your plans for the truck BTW?