Well poo...

[Drumhead_Dan]

I got the distributor lined out, but the engine still wasn't right. I pulled the plugs and ran a compression test, one cylinder only went to 75 lbs after about six or eight cranks... pulled the head, 2 burnt valves, needs bored... so much for the "good" engine my pops found for me.

So I followed up on a listing in St. Louis Craigslist for a rebuilt 223 in Montgomery City, MO...

This motor was rebuilt 3 yrs ago never instaled we decided to go with a big block v-8 carb needs tunning we upgraded it to hardend seats and valves durring the rebuild for unleaded fuel operations

8 hour round trip and fifty bucks in diesel to go look at a well broken in .60 over 53-54 block with water in one cylinder and no hone marks for just 200 bucks(he was asking 500). I passed. So I'm looking at the rebuilt(really rebuilt, not just a paint job rebuild) 302 with a c4 sitting beside my truck or the remanned 332 long block in the garage and thinking it wasn't really the way I wanted to go, but I'm pretty much out of time to fool with it before I go back to work. I still really want the hot water six, but unless somebody has one close by or on my way to Louisiana I'm looking at a y block or a v8... *sigh*

 

[Asa]

why not go with the V8 until you can get the six done correctly?
we won't disown you, we might pity you a little bit, but we'll still accept you

 

[fmartin_gila]

Sorry to hear about that, especially after trying so hard. But each one has to do what he has to do working within time or other constraints. I'm with ASA, you won't be disowned, and if you do wind up with the I6 in the end, it's all good. I drive mine all over the country, and everywhere I go, I have to physically lift the hood to prove that it actually is a little 6 in there. It's so neat. Good luck with whichever way you go with it.

Fred

 

[Drumhead_Dan]

I've located another in Independance MO, cross your fingers for me... I'm going to look for a 64 block to rebuild, but hopefully this is good enough to get me by till then.

 

[texas_rat_trap]

nice truck

 

[59F100]

you mean nice truck collection...

 

[texas_rat_trap]

This is my '48 project with serious drop on bags total drop all down probably 8" chopped 3" channeled 4" suicide doors 1 piece front end yada yada yada...sorry for sh!tty picture but only one I have on computer.

 

[Drumhead_Dan]

The spare trucks are my pop's, he only has about 9 there, plus another 7-8 in storage outside of town. He kinda considers me nuts for not putting a v8 in there (he pushed pretty hard on the 302, even offered up a 428) but every since I read all the turbo stuff here I've just wanted to put the original 223 in there and soup it up a little. Neither of us had ever worked on one of these little sixes other than hooking a hoist to them and snatching them out, but this site made things so much easier to line out.

The fenton sets someone was nice enough to post pictures of whet my appitite, but appeared to be cost prohibitive unless he's willing to adopt me and then kick the bucket . A used turbo system should fit the budget for the truck and still keep its original charm.

I picked up another motor today, it looks pretty cherry. I'll be popping it in tomorrow, cross your fingers for me.

Thats a pretty radical truck, Tex. Did you fab up the ground effects?

 

[texas_rat_trap]

No ground effects all original steel except front end, fabbed bottom half...stretched it down a little & opened up the grille bigger and then frenched the grille back about 3" kinda raked back, you really can't tell from the picture...channeled cab down over frame 4" and lowered running boards down also to compensate for channel....oh also sectioned front end about an inch...all pretty suttle. You dont really see all the changes unless sittin' next to another one.

 

[rmt]

... The fenton sets someone was nice enough to post pictures of whet my appitite, but appeared to be cost prohibitive unless he's willing to adopt me and then kick the bucket ....

Not.

Burglary, double murder, then theft is your best option. You'll get caught but if you work fast you might be able to use the combination for a few days at least.

Edit: Even if I was inclined to go the adoption route I don't think I could convince my wife we should adopt a guy who goes by "Drumhead".

 

[Drumhead_Dan]

Drumhead is the best nickname I ever got. My best friend gave it to me after going to a music auction and buying four pallets stacked 7 ft high with drumheads. For 100 bucks I ended up with around 2000 drumheads plus four full sets of isolation mounts.

I'm a decent wrench, too old to want to move back home, and done growing so the clothes and shoes you buy me should last a while. The bad part is that I want your stuff...

I got out this morning with every intention of putting that motor in, but I found out it was a mid-fifties engine and the front motor mount didn't fit. After some wandering around at the yard down the road, I came up to the office and asked. No luck, he says thats where he cuts them out at. Dad popped up with a fix, but when he fired up the mig it was outta gas... The new motor looks great. I was told it was only drag raced on Sundays by a little old lady.

 

[Drumhead_Dan]

Motor runs great after I replaced the rocker shaft oil line seal. I still need to do the points and change the oil and normal stuff, but it runs really, really good. For two hundred bucks plus fourty bucks for the guy that sold it to meet me partway was a super deal.

 

[fmartin_gila]

Got to watch out for those little old ladies drag racing to church. Sounds as if it is working out for you, good luck.

Fred