My trucks starter came to crank the engine over slowly, and sometimes appeared to get stuck. The starter has always had the characteristically "Y-block whine" that they all apparently have.

I'm thinking: OK My battery of 4 years died, that sucks.

New battery helped a tad, but after a couple days no difference.
OK my alternator must be dead and let my brand new battery die.
Replaced alternator.
No difference after two days of driving/charging.

OK, I'll find a new starter. Autozone/Oreilly can't get one.
I give up and just unearth a spare in my back yard.

Problem solved; it was never the alt or the battery. lol AND THE TRUCK STARTS WITH A WHISPER. No Y-block whine.
So this makes me wonder if my old starter was worn out even when I started using it 13 years ago.

...But I want a spare starter just in case. So I go to CarQuest, they can get it. Install it today after work: LOUDEST DARN WHINE I'VE EVER HEARD. Starts great but is louder than my original starter.

 

Interesting! My hearing is not the best. Next time I am near a Y block and it's being started, I will listen closer for a whine. (Used to be a few in my area, but one fella sadly passed away and his estate sold his truck. The others are elderly and really don't get them out anymore.) To me they have always sounded distinctive and cool. What I hear (with a good battery, charging system and cables)sounds like a fast crank,crank,crank,crank. When someone asks "Does the engine crank over?" It always reminds me of Y blocks.

 

There was a company not too far from me, who rebuilt generators, alternators, and starters, etc. They had been a family run business since 1963. It they rebuilt your item, you knew it was done right. Unfortunately, they just went out of business.

I hate going to one of the box stores to turn in my alternator for an unknown rebuild. You never know what you are going to get.

 

I hope you didn't turn in your core. Just find a rebuilder.

 

I'll join the rant...

Ordered a lot of Ford N series starters recently. The B-11135 bushings were loose in the 8N-11130 Plate. The 18-11091 through mounting bolts had SAE threads but a metric head! Same for the terminal nuts!

Ordered some wheel cylinders - SAE threads, but metric heads on the bleeder screws!

Ordered new finish mower spindles - the seals were installed backwards and while the spindle physically mounted, the seals and bearings assembly were completely different design from OEM (and no, not an improved design).

There is no more pride in doing it right anymore; just doing it cheap.

 

Thats sad, just wait till all the newer cars with all controls on touch screens start crapping out. Electric Ebrake, that's a brilliant idea. Electric cars with a 10 year life on batteries! Are you kidding me. My dd is 19 years old. My rant over temporarily, ask wife for updates.

 

OH Man!
Yes! Electronic Screen issues! Had that happen already on 3 cars now. One was on a brand new 2018 Buick Regal, the screen was flickering in that car and eventually went out. It was only about a year old, and since the car was made for Buick, by Opal in Germany, GM couldn't supply the parts needed for repair. The car sat in the dealership 4 months. We finally had enough and got GM to buy back the car. The second touch screen problem was in my daughter's 2015 Ford Taurus. The screen actually worked, but the radio, and other functions quit working. The dealership determines the problem is an APIM module. Took them several weeks to get the part. One they received it they install it and they had a very hard time getting it to work. Software issues! Some 3 weeks and $1600 later, they finally got the correct software from Ford and they managed to get it to work. Not a rub on the dealership. They provided her with a free loaner during the time her car was down.
And now I have a 2015 GMC Canyon. The touch screen is now getting psychotic. It changes radio stations for you automatically. And then the screens display gets so jumbled, you can't find the button to push. It does clear up if you shut off the truck and restart it again, but just for a few minutes.
Until it starts messing up the back up camera part of it I am not sure I am going to pay over $1000 to fix it.
Guess I'll start just streaming my cell phones audio thru my Bluetoothed hearing aids!
EDIT:
If you want more information on APIM module problems in Ford vehicles, just check out the 2015 ish and newer F-150 forums. It will be enough to make sure you look at some kind of extended warranty that will cover Electronics such as touch screen systems.

 

Many of us complain about modern technology when it goes bad. My huge issue is that car manufacturers do not standardize their parts, even within their own company. If Ford had the same touch screen in all their vehicles, for example, life would be easier.

It is not uncommon for a modern engine to last for 300,000 miles. An engine before the 1980s was lucky to go 100,000 miles without at least needing a top end rebuild.

A 1956 Ford Y block had about 140 horsepower.
A modern Coyote is almost 200 pounds lighter and has over 400 horsepower and gets better mileage and better reliability.

To me, the most difficult issue with older vehicles is getting the proper parts for a rebuild. Even a starter can be an issue. I would prefer to rebuild an original starter rather than get an exchange.

I have the utmost respect for those who do accurate restorations of these old trucks. Even though my restomod will be faster, more powerful, and more reliable, the amount of work and dedication it takes to do an accurate restoration is amazing.

 

That sounds like forest Gump and his box of chocolates

 

I'll have to disagree
my 56 panel with y block 2v carb, ram horns, dual exhaust, 3speed with overdrive and 3.92 gears will pull numbers of 18 mpg @ 70 mph.
I carry a coil, points, condenser, and I don't worry. It's been extremely reliable

my 56 big window with 272 4v, ram horns, dual exhaust, 3 speed and 2.72 rear gear will do 20 mpg @70-75mph and run all day long

same thing it's been extremely reliable

both vehicles still run points and condenser ignition

but when I did the big window I installed everything new or rebuilt (fuel pump, water pump, generator, starter, clutch, pressure plate , motor mounts, hoses, ignition components and carburetor. It really has been like driving a "new" 1956 ford truck. And to think it was all done OVER 30 YEARS AGO!

 

Those are beautiful trucks that you certainly can be proud of.

I have not changed a condenser, points or any other ignition components in years. I have not needed to.
I get 100,000 miles plus out of a set of spark plugs, as most folks do nowadays, in modern vehicles.
My old vehicles never did that good.

There is nothing like an old classic, but modern technology has come a long way since the 1950s. That does not mean you cannot keep them running, it is just more difficult. A Coyote engine can get around 25 mpg from a 400hp engine in our era trucks. Can you image if you had one of our trucks back then with a modern Coyote engine and drivetrain? You are talking about going from around 30 pounds per horsepower to around 8 pounds per horsepower. You can cruise at 80 mph ( top highway speeds) at around 1500 rpm.

I admire the folks who keep the old technology going. It takes patience and perseverance. I think I have become too spoiled with the modern vehicles with A/C, PS, PB, etc.

My first vehicle was an old 1959 Chevy pickup that needed a rebuild. At 15 years old I took it down to the frame by myself. I was so excited with the thought of rebuilding it, until I came to the realization that I could not afford to do it. I put it all back together and sold it at a $100 profit. Then I bought a used VW beetle that took me half way through college. It has been so many years ago, but I think the VWs I had were the last cars I owned with points, and a condenser.

 

Thanks, I'm pretty proud of how nice and how well the red truck has held up all these years

Coyote? My question is where is the fun in something everyone can have. It's like going to Home Depot. It's the same in every town. Me I prefer Mom and Pops stores, always different. That brings me to this. When I want something with a little extra then I pull out the hot y block



this truck is the FIRST vehicle in NMRA sanctioned event race history to make it to a final round running a "3 on the tree"
I shift at 6800 rpm's
but it does have a unilite electronic distributor

 

If you only would have hit the brakes at the finish line!

 

damn it was a fun night for sure! That cold air at almost midnight. I kept dialing down just not enough......
someday I'll get back into the race scene. When I do it's getting a 50-100hp shot of nitrous on a single 4v

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404217743504?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fcnkqszjri2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=RivU90TlQ1 C&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

All those trucks are awesome but that panel truck is really nice.
You just do not see many of them around.