1. Are the running boards supposed to be black, or the same color as the truck?

2a. The truck is supposed to have a "fresh air heater", but it's got a aftermarket heater core under the glovebox. The wires for the motor in the engine compartment aren't hooked up to anything. If I get the controls that bolt up under the dash with the 4 ***** will one of them control the fan speed? They just look like cables.

2b. I would eventually like to change the heater system back to how it's supposed to be, )the fresh air system). Right now there's no ducts, or hoses, plumbing I think it's called. Is an expensive change back to stock?

3. The seat pushes me foward which is uncomfortable. I am 6' 3" maybe that's my problem? I don't think it's the original, or it's reupholstered. Does anyone else have this problem? Would a stock seat be more comfortable?

4. How to use the choke? I haven't been using it when I start the truck. Do I need to?

5. Do you have any oil, filter recommendations? My shop manual is for the factory engine, not the 312. What filter does it take? How many qts? I run Mobil 1 syn in both of our cars, but I'm not sure the Ford needs it?

6. What radiator cap do I need? It has a Stant Lev-R-Vent 7 LB., but it's not a snug fit. Any recomendations?

7. What type of insurance do you recommend? My Uncle had it insured with J. C. Taylor Antique Automobile Ins., but he mentioned Grundy might better? Both of our cars have Farmer's, but is there a good classic car insurance company?

Those are all the Q's I can think of right now. Thanks in advance!

 

ok ill bite first off welcome and congrats on your first post.


If I get the controls that bolt up under the dash with the 4 ***** will one of them control the fan speed?
yes the **** furthest to the right should be the actual fan switch check some of the parts catalongs it does look like a choke.

Is an expensive change back to stock?
thats had to say you could check the forum's forsale ads, also ebay or jsut simply ask if anyone has a spare they want to get rid of some parts might not be made anymore and/or hard to find(but i dont see that being the case)

How to use the choke? I haven't been using it when I start the truck. Do I need to?
a manual choke is made to use while starting when the engine is cold to help prevent it from stalling.(or as cruise control in my case lol). really using it is up to you and how your truck starts.

im sure everyone else will come by and have answers for all of your other questions
bill
56' f-100

 

What year truck are we talking about?

1. I've always seen them matching the body paint in any literature from the era.

2a. "Fresh air heater" means it draws air from an outside source (usually behind the right fender) rather that just recirculating cabin air. There's one **** on the dash that controls the fan, on my '60 there's a high and low. The four ***** with cables are for the left and right vents, floor and the defrost. With the stock airbox there are three hoses, two to the floor vents and one to the defrost under the windshield. The 'cables' you have are the controls for the vents, there is a butterfly type plate that limits the air flow.

2b. The stock system is very simple and easy to install. If you look on ebay for find a parts truck it's not hard to get all the parts. Probably less than $100 for used parts. If you really wanna go crazy, there's an air conditioning system on ebay that fits in place of the stock box. Search for ClassicAutoAir on ebay or the same name is there website. Pretty slick unit for the money.

3. If the seat is all the way back against the rear of the cab or gas tank, depending on your year, your best option is to try an original seat with thin foam on the back. You may be able to have an upholstery shop and have them thin the back down. I'm 6' and mine is pretty comfortable. The other way to make it feel like you're farther back is to lift the seat, but at 6'3" that's probably not a good option.

4. To use the choke, pull the **** out all the way. Once the engine is running, push it in half-way for a couple minutes while the engine warms up all the way. However, if it starts without the choke, you really don't need to worry about it. Just try it on the colder monrings.

5. The 312 and 292 are basically identical and use the same oil filter. STP part number S8A. Oil capacity is listed at 6 quarts including the filter. Oil weight is 20W-40 or 20W-50. The synthetic oil is fine for these engines, in my opinion.

6. The right cap depends on what truck you actually have. Seven lbs is correct, but if the fit isn't tight the truck will overheat. Make sure you find the right one. Check autozone for your make and model.

7. I'm leaving this one for somebody else.
Good luck

 

Nixer, thanks for your input.


Larry, it's a 56! Right now it doesn't have any of the cables, so I need to buy some. Thanks for the info.

 

1. Body color (you are missing the rubber skirts that went between the cab and running boards that filled the gap.
2. In 56 the heater was an option, often installed by the dealer so a lot of different brand units were used. As Larry said fresh air heaters drew in fresh air (thru the pass side cowl louvers on the 56) rather than just recirculating the interior air thru the heater (remember most people smoked in 56!). Your heater mounts correctly, it may very well be the one originally installed, have you asked your uncle? Looks like it just needs the fan motor hooked up. There was usually a valve in one of the heater hoses under the hood so the water could be shut off in the summer, otherwise you'd get heat all year round.
I'm sure George (aka Earl) will be by shortly with all the part#s and specs you could possibly want and more.
3. Looks like a stock seat, but again ask your uncle if extra padding was added. You could try putting ~1/2" spacers under the front of the mounts to tilt it back a little more to see if that's more to your liking, most men weren't 6'3" in 56. A lot of people take the tank out from behind the seat to get more legroom.
4. Larry's got it.
5. I highly favor Mobil 1!
6. Have you tried pressing down hard while turning the cap? They have two stops, the first one is to release pressure without sending up a geyser of boiling water, the second and final one is to seal. You should be able to see the stop tabs on the side of the fill neck and the ones on the cap to see if it is fully tightened. If it is and still loose buy a new cap.
7. I have an agreed value collision endorsement for Gracie with my regular insurance policy carrier (Nationwide). A lot of the specialty vehicle policies severely restrict when where and how much your can drive the truck and even where you can park it, and will fight you tooth and nail if you file a claim. Check with your agent.

 

AXracer,

I didn't know there was supposed to be skirts there!! Thanks!

My Uncle said that's just an aftermarket heater he put in. It's got the louvered vents on the pass side of the cab, so I'd like to get a fresh air unit in there. The valve isn't on the firewall anymore, my Uncle installed one up by the front of the engine compartment. I looked under the dash, and there's screw holes that look like they are for the heater controls. My Uncle said the previous owner had a flatbed on it and used it for wood cutting, so who knows what they took out of the truck!

 

7. Grundy, I haven't heard anybody that has the coverage say anything bad about it.

I think some people are reading in more restrictions in the policies than are actuallythere.

$210 a year for agreed value of $40,000. unlimited milage, pleasure driviing only.

 

I'd think you'd want to put in an AC unit in CA?

Call Mid Fifty and request a catalog there's a lot of good drawings and other info in there besides part#s.
I only know the restrictions on my brother's specialty vehicle policy restricts how many miles a year, distance from residence he can drive, and it must be in a locked garage when parked, cannot be driven to work, cannot tow with it and if towed it must be on a rollback or trailer. I didn't go that route since I will be towing my race car trailer around the country and didn't want any more restrictions than normal. I'm saying you don't necessarily need to go to a specialty co for insurance. Just be sure to read any policy completely and ask questions about anything you don't understand before signing the check.
In my business I deal with insurance claims regularly and many customers who think they have coverage but find out differently after they report a loss. Some of the biggest name and/or specialty companies are the worse about denying or reducing claims. (cough... Lloyd's ...cough)

 

As far as insurance, it all depends on how and when you want to drive it. Some companies place serious restrictions (grundy and others similar). A lot of us have ours through our regular carriers (IE state farm).


Read this thread:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=443404

It should answer most of your questions about insurance.

 

Josh -

I have a 56 with the fresh air heater, I live in SoCal and I am 6'3" tall. We can talk.

1. My running boards are the color of the truck as are most F100's I have seen. I have seen some of the larger F Series (F250 and up) with the black boards. I have no idea what was the stock arrangement.

2a. The fan control on the 4-**** control panel for the fresh air heater is a two-speed switch that pulls out and is on the FAR LEFT end of the panel (FAN). Mine has the valve on the firewall, which is cable controlled by the 2nd **** (HEAT). The third **** is a cable control for a diverter door between recirculating and fresh air (thru the louvers) (AIR), the fourth **** is a cable control for the diverter door to the defrost ducts (DEFROST).

2b. I would strongly suggest that you wait before switching the heater until August. In SoCal, you'll know then if you really care about the heater, because if you decide to add AC, you'll be throwing all that out anyway. However, to answer the question, The heater housing, core, fan motor, valve, ducts, etc are all available locally (John's F-Fun Hundreds, for one), but are going to be pretty pricey. (The fan motor was listed at $85). Finding a discarded setup will be much easier and cheaper as Larry said.

3. Sorry about the seat. That's just the way it is for us taller guys. There just isn't much leg room in the Effie cab. You can relocate the gas tank to the rear and buy a couple more inches, but that's not going to be enough by itself. Reducing the padding thickness in the seat back will also help some. Raising the seat will buy you a lot more help and (unless you chop it) there is plenty of head room. Tilting the seat to the back adds some leg room and I think adds comfort, too.

4. Hey, if you don't need the choke, don't sweat it. My electric choke is all done by the time the engine gets to 120 degrees anyway.

5. Larry nailed it.

6. The stock cap is 4 POUNDS!! I blew the seams on my stock radiator using a 7 lb cap.

7. I shopped for a long time for insurance. I drive my truck everyday for work, pleasure, etc. I wanted an agreed value policy with no restrictions. All the Classic Car policies (Grundy, etc) had restrictions in them. I found out that State Farm had the perfect policy for me. I have an agreed value of 20k, unlimited use, collision, comp, uninsured motorist, etc (the whole shebang) for $315/6 mos.

Those are all the answers I can think of, too. So we're even.

 

Yes 4 (FOUR) pounds for the '56. My '60 has the 7 lb. cap, but the effies don't run as much pressure.


Thanks for the support guys, it's nice to be verified.

 

The running boards for the '56 pickups are the body color. The runningboards for '53-'55 pickups are black.

There is a '56 Fresh Air heater on ebay motors right now, item# 4610855019

abe

 

here is the other non deluxe version

ebay item #4610718686