Truck and engine identification

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Nov 24, 2002 | 07:42 PM

54blackford

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Joined: Nov 2002

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From: Fleetwood US

Truck and engine identification

Hey guys,

I am trying to indentify my Ford. It was told to me by the seller it is a 1954 F-800 with a 279 c.i. engine. It has full air brakes with a two speed rear end. I'm tryiny to ID the engine, but don't know how. Plus can anyone tell me how I can disable the governor on the carb.
I have her set up for a 9 ton tag along trailer. I hauled a Farmall BN but couldn't get past 50 mph. I need to transport my 7 ton traction steam engine. Any and all help will be great.

Nov 24, 2002 | 08:06 PM

Earl

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Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 3,730

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From: Waynesville, OH

Truck and engine identification

>Hey guys,
>
>I am trying to indentify my Ford. It was told to me by the
>seller it is a 1954 F-800 with a 279 c.i. engine. It has
>full air brakes with a two speed rear end. I'm tryiny to ID
>the engine, but don't know how. Plus can anyone tell me how
>I can disable the governor on the carb.
>I have her set up for a 9 ton tag along trailer. I hauled a
>Farmall BN but couldn't get past 50 mph. I need to transport
>my 7 ton traction steam engine. Any and all help will be
>great.

If you can get the VIN for us we can tell you what was originally in the truck. The VIN for your year is usually on a metal tag in the glove box but it is also stamped on one of the frame rails - most often on the top of the frame rail on the driver side just ahead of the cab.

I don't think there was a 279 CID engine available in 54 but I've been wrong plenty of times before. Assuming it's a V-8, one thing that you can easily check is the valve covers. Do they each have two nuts - one near each end of each valve cover? If they do, it's almost certainly a Y-block and we can go from there.

Nov 24, 2002 | 08:20 PM

54blackford

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From: Fleetwood US

Truck and engine identification

Thanks George,

The vin is F89K4H54761. That is taken off the title. I have no glovebox. A radio was installed there. I will check the frame rail tomorrow in the day light.

David

Nov 25, 2002 | 07:37 AM

ranger pat

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Joined: Mar 2001

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From: Elk River, MN

Truck and engine identification

My book lists the Power King V8's as 239 and 256 CID which will have an crossover exhaust pipe in the front of the engine. The HD V8's would have been 279 and 317 CID. They are called Cargo Kings and have Rams horns exhaust manifolds.

Nov 25, 2002 | 08:40 AM

Earl

Postmaster

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 3,730

Likes: 13

From: Waynesville, OH

Truck and engine identification

>Thanks George,
>
>The vin is F89K4H54761. That is taken off the title. I have
>no glovebox. A radio was installed there. I will check the
>frame rail tomorrow in the day light.
>
>David

OK David, looking at my magic VIN decoder ring for your VIN (F89K4H54761):

F = standard type
89 = 800 series (not sure about the 9 - anybody else know?)
K = 317 8-cylinder
4 = 1954
H = Built at the Detroit Truck Plant
54761 = production unit number

The 279 CID Y-block was also available in 54 but was designated by the letter J in the VIN. See, I was wrong again

Thanks Ranger Pat! It's entirely possible that the engines were swapped at some point in the truck's long life. It's also possible that it is the original engine and the VIN was just recorded incorrectly. It happens.

I'm not familiar with the governor on your carb but you might try the carb forum at

https://www.ford-trucks.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID76&conf=DCConfI D14

or the Y-block forum at

https://www.ford-trucks.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=list&forum=DCForumID36&conf=DCConfI D1

Enjoy your truck!