Good news! Despite my on-going issues with a "new" starter motor, I have been able to get the engine started and I took the first drive yesterday. Just up and down the driveway, but it is a working machine. Unfortunately, winter is at the door and I need to put it away.

I will post a picture when I figure out how.

CarlH
1949 F3

 

Here is a picture taken yesterday.
CarlH
1949F3

 

Here is a photo of the condenser on top of my oil pressure sender. What is it for? Where should the sender be located? My oil pressure gauge shows no indication of pressure, but according to the test procedure in the service manual, the gauge is functioning.

CarlH
1949 F3

 

Great minds run alike....I had similar pads taped to the front of my frame rails!!

 

What the heck do you need pads for, now you won't have a reminder that there are sharp hard pieces of metal there.

 

The oil pressure sending unit has been relocated from the original location. Originally on your truck the sending unit would have been at the back of the block next to where the oil supply line for your filter comes out. You have the later 52-53 location, which is much nicer. The condenser (really just a capacitor) was added to vehicles with a radio to help quiet electrical noise in the old tube AM radios. I don't see a wire hooked up to your sending unit to run your gauge...

 

I was wondering about this. I have an engine out of a '51 or '52 F-6 and one out of a '52 car, both have this oil pressure set up and condensor. I don't anything like that on my '50, well the '50 engine that is in my '48 panel. I don't think I have the set up on my '51, the engine in my F-4 but it's been a while since I looked at that.

 

Thank you for the information, "38Coupe". There is no wire connected to the sending unit because I was in the process of taking it off to replace it with a new one from MACs. Sorry for sending a misleading photo. Interesting about the capacitor...my truck did not have a radio. This is further evidence that the engine was not the original. Probably came from a car. However, despite the new sender the oil pressure gauge still does not register. I performed the test specified in the Service Manual ...grounding the gauge...and I got the requisite deflection, which according to the manual identifies a faulty sending unit. Perplexed, I am!
CarlH
1949 F3 Express

 

When you grounded the gauge did you do this with the wire under the hood or at the gauge? If you got action with grounding the wire under the hood, then the sending unit is bad. If you get no action grounding the wire under the hood, it is time to break out the multi-meter and start tracing wires.

Do you have a small mechanical oil pressure gauge you can thread into that hole to see what the pressure is at that location?

 

I followed the instructions in the Shop Manual (p. 357) where the "Gauge Reads Low: Connect a jumper wire to the black and yellow wire at the oil pressure gauge terminal. Momentarily touch the jumper wire to ground until the needle reaches the higest reading on the scale, then remove the jumper wire.
..If the gauge does not register, then replace the gauge.
..If the needle reaches the maximum, the engine unit or the oil pressure is at fault."

I got the maximum reading, so I figured the sender was faulty. There must be oil pressure because the engine hasn't ground to a halt!

CarlH
1949 F3 Express

 

Have any of you installed seatbelts...either lap or shoulder&lap....in your trucks? Did you install a frame under the cab?

CarlH
1949 Ford F3

 

carl, I'm new to the forum and I also just picked up a '49 f3.

Previous in this post you refer to a yard in hudson mass with a f2 with wheels. Do you recall if it has widow makers or not? I'm in the "wheel find" battle currently and could use any assistance on finding some 17.5s.

I am also in mass.

Thanks! -Jeff

 

An F-2 would not have been equipped with widow makers. They came with one piece 16" wheels that are also very much sought after, but they won't clear your 14" rear drums. The 17.5s were first an option on F-250s in 1956. Stu

 

these drums are a hassle. thanks for all the info stu. your a huge help!!

 

Welcome to a very helpful group, Jaffar...

Where are you located in Mass? I am in Bedford, about 15 NW of Boston.

Regarding wheels for your F3: I was in the same boat as you are. I conducted a wheel search two years ago and found a set of non-widow makers from someone on the FTE site in Southern California. They were not a matched set. Two fit on the rear over the large brake drums and two in the front. (See the photo of me and the truck earlier on in this thread.) I have no idea what vehicle they originally came from...and neither did the previous owner. The truck came with some oversized fancy chromed, spoked wheels with fat tires....totally non-stock. I gave them away.

You might call Chuck of Chuck's Trucks in CT. He might be able to help. Or make a trip to the next Hershey meet in October.

CarlH
1949 F3 Express
1997 F1