I have a 1968 350 dump truck. I am not sure if this is the original motor. How can I identify the motor? Also, is there a sight that will tell me how to fill the dump bed cylinder w/ hydraulic fluid? I only see what may be a plate on top of the cylinder in the very back. Any help will be appreciated.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Oct-02 AT 11:23 AM (EST)]Is your motor a V-8 or a I-6? If it is a V-8, it could be anything; a 302, a 351 M or W, a 352/360/390, etc. etc. This is assuming that the engine is not original. It could even be a 429 or 460, if the previous owner was willing to go to the trouble of finding frame towers for a 460 from a later year (read mid '70s and up).

I think; but at the moment I'm not sure, that the VIN identifies whether the motor should be a V-8 or I-6, but not the engine size.

I'm sure there are those who frequent this site that know much more than I on this subject. Perhaps one of them can offer their expertise.

As for the hydraulics, there should be a resorvoir (sp.) somewhere in the dump system where you add fluid; perhaps near the pump.

OldFords bad attitudes

 

There should be a box that contains the pump that will either have a filler tube or small plate on top to fill fluid in. Some of the older hoists had a filler hole toward the top of the cylinder. If you have to raise the hoist make sure you block it. I have had a couple of occurences where I was in a hurry and didn't and had the bed drop.

 

If it is a V8, it is most likely a 360 or 390 FE. They were the only V8s offered from the factory in 1968, and while the motor has quite likely been rebuilt or replaced, the easiest (and therefore most likely) replacement is another 360 or 390.

The 360 and 390 are externally identical, so you can't tell them apart without dropping the pan, pulling a head, or doing the old dowel-in-the-plug-hole trick to measure the stroke. You can easily identify FE series engines like the 360 and 390 by the spark plug orientation. The plugs in the rear cylinders point in different directions than the plugs in the front cylinders, sort of like this:

//\\
\\//

If they are all oriented the same way like this:

\\\\
////

then you do NOT have a FE.

 

You can classify Ford V8s by the valve cover bolts. I had a 1971 F-350 parts truck that came stock with a 360 in it.

FE = 5
Windsor = 6
Big Block(385 series) = 7
Cleveland/M/400 = 8

-Brad

1970 F-250 2wd 4sp. 360FE
1979 F-250 4x4 4sp. 400M

 

I found alot of information using the FE conferences when i was making sure of what engine i had. I measured the sroke. Take out the #1 and #8 spark plugs, bring the #1 piston to TDC then stick a straight rod down the hole such as a metal coat hanger and rest it on the piston, then mark where the rod is against the lip of the valve cover. Then bring the rod over to the #8 piston at TDC and mark the same rod again. If the distance between the two markings is 3.5 than its a 360, if the distance is about 3.75, you have a 390.

-Brad

1970 F-250 2wd 4sp. 360FE
1979 F-250 4x4 4sp. 400M