Hi guys,

Just picked up a '61 F600.
Have some questions i am hoping to get some experienced advise on.

1st is my VIN, can anyone decypher to tell me what engine and conf. the truck had a birth?
VIN = F608K163708

2nd is my engine #, the pervious owner told me it is a 292. Orig. to the truck or not?
ENG # = B9AF-6015F (under the port head on block)

3rd, i have a leaking fuel pump, hmmmm, it is an 'AC' brand PN = 080Z40801.
Isn't AC a GM brand (delco), and Ford would use Motorcraft of this vintage. does not feel correct but it fits?
Best known replacement pump for a vintage 292 would be?

4th, and last, and probably most important, the exhaust manifolds.
I have a failed port exhaust pipe at the manifold exit, no muffler shops within a 100 miles, and can't seem to source this exhaust pipe connector, or down pipe, or old stock system on the web.
Additionally, the manifolds just look strange to me, remember i am a newby to the truck.
The port (right - driver's side) manifold has openings front and rear, front longer-drop and facing +/-65 degrees down and plugged/blocked off, rear shorter-drop and facing downward at a 45 degree angle. exhaust is out the rear.
The starboard (left - passenger side) maniford has no front opening, rear longer-drop opening facing downward at a 45 degree angle. exhaust out the rear.
Each exhaust pipe goes down and straight back, simple as can be.
I did come across a picture of an old 292 with a front 'crossover' pipe, but i have no second front opening (on starboard side) and i get the feeling my port manifold may be a reversed port-side manifold instead of what actually belongs on the starboard side.
pictures may help and are posted below.

Wondering if i am just nuts, or is this setup a bit strange? Well, i acknowledge that i am indeed nuts, but the second part of the question still stands.

Any knowledge would be appreciated from those that have experience with the '61 F600s, and/or the 292s, which i suspect may be a replacement engine (OD reads 81k, or 181k, or ?)

Thank you, Steve

 

The 4th digit of the VIN is a letter, denotes the engine type. If a C = 292 2V (135 net HP @ 3800 RPM), if a D = 292 4V (153 net HP @ 3800 RPM).

F60 = F600.

?

K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.

163708 = 1961, assembled April 1961.

No such thing as Motorcraft until 1973.

The original fuel pump would be a Carter, the AC pump is an auto parts store replacement.

Exhaust system: See upper left in pic. Notice 5267 crossover pipe between the left and right manifolds.

Click on pic twice to enlarge it.

 

Hi Bill,
Thank you for your reply and help.
The 4th digit is a "B" as in Boy. picture posted below. You noted C, and D, but not B.
The manifold is indeed, then, reversed, probably to achieve dual exhaust and avoid the steering column.

 

Ford DID USE AC PARTS ON THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY LINE!!!!! Sorry for yelling but we have already covered this.

Otherwise, why would the Shop Manuals mention them by name?



Doesn't mean the AC on this truck is original to this truck, but saying an AC couldn't be original is patently wrong.

Chad

 

I looked up the fuel pump for the OP's truck, it says CARTER (2V) and Airtex (4V).

I went with Carter since there were far more 2V's than 4V's.

There's no mention of A/C, so this pump is an auto parts store replacement.

"Billy" Durant, founder of GM initially hired Albert Champion to make spark plugs for Buick.

Charles Kettering founded DELCO, in order to hire Kettering as GM's chief engineer, Durant had to purchase DELCO

Kettering invented the first self starter, first vehicle to have it: 1912 Cadillac.

 

Just didn't want the OP to go down any mouse holes. Thanks for keepin' it real.

Chad

 

I noted the VIN engine codes C & D because you said it had a V8 and the only V8 available in these trucks was the 292.

But it did not have a V8 originally! The engine has been swapped from a 1959 Ford car with a 292 Y block.*

F60 = F600.

B = 262 1V I-6.

K = Kansas City MO Assembly Plant.

163708 = 1961, assembled April 1961.

144" Wheelbase.

S = Special 'non standard' exterior paint color.

F600, 17000 lbs. GVWR

F = Borg Warner T-98 4 Speed Manual Transmission.

64 = Timken model F106 Single Speed Rear Axle / 6.80-1 / 15,000 lbs. Axle Capacity.

17,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

132 net HP @ 3,600 RPM

3939 = Domestic Special Order number, truck ordered special by the original purchaser, not "bought off the lot." This is due to the 'special' paint.

*I was suspicious when I spotted the B9AF-6015-F 1959 Ford Passenger Car block casting number. But I decided to 'wait and see' what the correct VIN engine code was.

 

Thanks Bill for the further detail.
If i understand originally it had a 262 straight six.
with the new 292 v-8 Y block, i guess i will order parts applicable to a '59 Fairlane 292 then. Would you concur?
Also, codes say it has a single speed axle when it now has a two speed rear end. Another nice upgrade.
You have been of great help and I Thank you.
Steve

 

Your exhaust manifolds are on opposite sides. The one on drivers side is actually the passenger manifold. I can see the crossover pipe end at the rear of the engine in the pic. Since the bolt holes are in a straight line you can make the manifolds fit either side. Someone was just making dual exhaust the cheap way, not buying headers or rams horn manifolds. You need to clean that engine and find the casting numbers on it. You need to also look at the heads carefully to find the numbers on them too. If you go to one of those COMPUTER parts guys, just tell them its a F350 with a 292. Fuel and water pumps available. It's definetly a truck engine, it has the dipstick halfway back, a car engine has it in the passenger front corner.

 

Thank you. That is additional and valuable information. I was going to use a 59 fairlane as the engine parts sourcing, but your detail helps makes more sense of it all so i shoot for a 60f350 instead. Much appreciated. steve.

 

The OP found the block casting number and listed in post #1 = B9AF-6015-F = 1959 Ford Passenger Car 292.

If this was a truck specific block, the 3rd digit of the casting number prefix would be: T

 

here is the photo.

 

A couple of other details.

I am missing the 1st cable assy on the right side of the steering column. Don't know what it was. Any ideas? Picture below.

Also, Bill kindly posted the parts illustration for the manifolds which is very helpful. i would also like to revert to the original air cleaner and manual choke cable hookups. Any chance there are illustrations for those areas, also?

Thanks if possible, steve

 

A round chrome plug button (# 374052-S in pic) would be installed in this hole, if the optional throttle cable (# 9775 in pic) wasn't installed.

There's no specific air cleaner pic for 1961/64 F500/700 292.

 

Thank you to all who responded.
Fuel pump sorted and the truck is up and running now.
off to pull apart the trany parking brake this weekend in hopes of getting a bit more safety braking.
thanks, steve