Hey im back with another update, and whelp im screwed. The motor in my 1950 ford f5 wrecker is Fubared as i feared. it has been knocking ever since i revived it last summer and would have 10-20 pounds of oil pressure cold or hot and smoked like hell. I was going to rebuild it, but i can't. It has 1.5 inches of sludge in the head and the oil filter ( Ph8a Fram ) yes fram but it was free with the truck had 2lbs of goo in it and the oil pan is half full of sludge. Many oil passages are plugged solid and that is why i cant fix it. This was the main reason it was parked up in 1988. I am in south-central kansas and need some help finding one that runs or may run. I can't find one anywhere and it needs to be from 1954-1963 to bolt in and be under $500 because that is what I paid for the truck and i spend most of what i make putting oil in the truck ( It gets 10 miles to the quart of oil ) and i am lacking in the cash dept. Also may i add it runs like a top proving you cant beat those things.

Thanks-
Paul

 

don't throw your engine away until you have a solid running engine, you might be able to use your 223 for parts, believe it or not.

 

ALL these old Flatheads have TONS of old sludge in them. Doesn't mean it can't be rebuilt. Is the crank, block ,rods or head bad?

When I first got my F3, the 239 V8 was and still is running. It had inches of sludge in the pan and valley. I scrapped and cleaned them out. The water passages were full of rust and sludge too. I flushed it with phosphoric acid then pulled the water pumps and blasted it as much as possible with a pressure washer. Replaced the pumps and had the radiator rodded out. It's still running. Yes it needs a rebuild but I have been driving it for years as is.

Don't give up without a thorough evaluation. These old engines are tough.

Scott

 

I will also echo the sentiment above on removing the existing engine and getting her cleaned up and taken to a trusted and experienced machine shop for evaluation. You may be surprised at how much potential it has once cleaned up and inspected. 223s don't grow on trees.

 

All of you are right, but this has metal in the sludge and has a squeal like a spun bearing. I am still going to run it but i cant afford to save it, as i am only 16. I will keep her for parts.
The motor has been getting no oil up to the head for years.

 

I would caution that you potentially will be dissuading any potential generosity (that you most certainly seem to be in need of given your strapped budget) when taking something potentially very salvageable and irresponsibly abuse it instead of really caring for it. If you can't treat what you have correctly, why would anyone help provide you with anything more? What you described so far is not an immediate write off. Don't irresponsibly write the engine off. Heck, you'd get some more respect and support in doing a poor mans rebuild on the bottom end by giving it a good cleaning it and slapping some new bearings/seals on it yourself. Main/Rod Bearings, seals, and gaskets would fit within your budget, and you can tackle the top end valve train when your budget replenishes. You'll learn a lot more, and you'll get much better support from other hobbyist, and a much better chance for a good return on your $$$ that actually will result in a running engine. A $500 223 is probably going to be no better than what you have - it will probably be worse. First step is to clean and evaluate what you have further. From there, bearing sizes can be determined and ordered as applicable. Obviously, getting an engine machine shop involved and fully touching everything would be superior, but I think this is more the balance you truly are looking for.

 

It's a flathead right? If so, no oil up to the head needed. So far it sounds like a spun bearing. Don't run it anymore. See what you have to work with. I've had guys on this forum send me parts cheap and even free. I have done the same for others.

Its going to cost you more to swap something else in unless you get another running engine. Slow down and get some more opinions. You might find you're not as bad off as you think. If you're done with it and want to move on you might be able to recoup your money selling parts off to those that wish they could find them.

This is a GREAT forum. You will learn LOTS from some pretty talented and knowledgeable NICE people here. Good luck with whatever you decide to do with your truck.

 

223 is an overhead 6 cyl so it needs oil to the head

 

He has a 223 OHV 6 cylinder engine (54-64) that's been transplanted at some point in the past, replacing an original flathead.

 

If it's still running, there's a good chance it's salvageable if you stop running it right now. To continue on your path of sure destruction may well render it junk. You get no pass because you're "only 16". It's been said that Stupid is as Stupid does, and you have been well educated here.

 

OK, Thanks for setting me straight. I thought he had the big 6 flathead. Id still not keep running it.

 

I am not running it now so chill. I am looking for a new core as my current one has bad cylinder scoring that i found last night, and has most main oil passages plugged so tight i can open them up with a screwdriver. So what else can i do?

 

Oh and 52Merc It takes stupid to know stupid, so don't judge a book by its cover.

 

I know you are a very active member and are very wise so act it and don't let your position get to your head like most do these days.