Hey all this is my first post still trying to figure the free forum thing out.

So I recently purchased a 1971 Thibault firetruck has the ford 900 emblem on it. Its the COE style extended for the extra seats in the back. Has the 534 I'm pretty sure, VIN is C90LVM13594.

She fires up fine but is very slow on the throttle to rev up. I can only get it to go to 2000rpm, I thought these were governed around 3000-3500rpm. Spits oil out of the exhaust as well when running. I haven't decided to replace motor(tough to find used ones), rebuild, or swap out for something new. I'm wondering if there is something else I could throw in relatively easily without changing too much stuff already on the truck. Or does anyone have a short block kicking around they would sell?

 

You should ask further questions in the LARGE TRUCK forum, where members own similar trucks. Most members of this forum have pickups.

C90 = C900 Tilt Cab (gas).

L = 534 4V

V = Kentucky Truck Assembly Plant.

M13594 = 1971.

Besides the 534, there was also a 401 and a 477. Neither will be of any advantage. These engines are low revving gas hogs designed for BIG trucks. 1981 was the last year they were installed.

 

Thanks NumberDummy! Will try that forum too!

 

Hey all this is my 2d post still trying to figure the free forum thing out. had a post in another section and was directed to post here as there are more of you on this side with similar trucks.

So I recently purchased a 1971 Thibault firetruck has the ford 900 emblem on it. Its the COE style extended for the extra seats in the back. Has the 534 I'm pretty sure, VIN is C90LVM13594.

She fires up fine but is very slow on the throttle to rev up. I can only get it to go to 2000rpm, I thought these were governed around 3000-3500rpm. Have a bit of troubles starting when cold, but once warm starts quite easily and I get more throttle response but still horrendously slow to gain any rpms. Spits oil out of the exhaust as well when running. I haven't decided to replace motor(tough to find used ones), rebuild, or swap out for something different.(if do a swap would like something that will bolt up to existing bell housing if even possible) I'm wondering if there is something else I could throw in relatively easily without changing too much stuff already on the truck. Or does anyone have a short block kicking around they would sell?

I'm hoping to get a compression test done over the next couple days when I have time. Figure that be the best place to start. Then go on to doing the normal stuff if compression is good. Like plugs, filters, cap/rotor etc... Will get carb done too but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

 

Can we get a picture of the top of the engine less air filter housing? There is an engine on Ebay for$400.

 

I bet that thing is a gas hog! I bet the manual shows Gallons per mile instead of miles per gallon. I would think that a small diesel would be the way to go on that heavy of a truck.

 

 

 

This thread is in the LARGE TRUCK forum...now.

See post #7: The moderator (glruff) already merged the threads, because I asked him to.

See that triangle icon at the upper right? I clicked on that, asked a mod to move your thread to the LARGE TRUCK forum.

 

Hearing about oil spilling out the exhaust while its idling sounds like it has a hole in one of the pistons, or one of the valve guides is so far wore out that oil is spraying between the guide and out between the valve stem. As for engines you can put whatever you want in it as long as you can afford to do so, and have proper fabrication and welding skills to do it. Welders are hard to get nowadays.

 

It was made before the 1973 gas crisis. That stuff was still cheep. IHC made a big gas burner also. Not sure if the carburetor would fit in a wash bucket but three gas tanks could be a sign. A man I worked with said he saw a cab over Dodge with a blower and duel quads. These trucks were the end of the struggle between gas and diesel.The big Fords lasted up to around 1980 in single axle semi's and school buses I saw.