Truck finally arrived - a few surprises.

My '54 Ford Truck finally arrived yesterday.

A gift from my father six months ago, been trying to get it transported from interstate ever since. Had it picked up by truck driver (on march 29) and had a nail-biting couple of weeks waiting for it whilst he travelled all over the countryside before landing at my place last night.

Driver was accosted by enthusiasts every time he stopped, each offering more money then the last to "lose it in transit". A number of people who spoke to the drive new of the vehicles history (apparently) and supplied alot of info that I have to get confirmed.






I hope to store the truck safely for the time being and use the Engine and gearbox for a HA/GR build.

Question time: Left side head says "8RT" "made in canada" right side head says "EAC" "made in canada", it has 24 stud head, my limited knowledge suggests this is a 255 cubic inch motor, is this correct or do I need to investigate further? The remnants of paint on motor are kind of light emeral green colour.

-Pete.

 

That should be the 255 engine . The head number difference just indicates it had a bad head replaced, or was it a bad engine replaced under the one good head that was left??

 

Nice truck, short beds are hard to find, most are fire trucks or long wheelbase stake beds

 

Yeah I am stoked.

Maybe I should use the wheels for HA/GR as well (now to find some 6 inch wide 20inch cross plys);



Rollin on 20s baby, should fit right in, in LA. Check those dubs homies

-Pete.

 

There's a company that makes spinners for these big trucks. I threw the stuff away, though!

In Brazil these all have white wall tires! Sweet.

 

Canadian made '54s still had Flatheads-'53 was last year for U.S. You are currently faced with the dilemma af "what size Is the engine", since it has one head that would indicate a 255 and one that would indicate a 239. There is a long running and (to me) unsettled argument about whether Ford ever built a truck with a 255 in it. The books say not. The only conclusive way is to pull a head and measure the stroke (like in "how far down in the cylinder does the piston travel?" If it goes 4", it's a 255, if it only goes 3 3/4" it's a 239.

 

You know, I think I already knew I would get this answer. Guess I'll have to pull the heads. But then how do I know that a Merc Crank hasn't been slung under a 229 block.

-Pete.

 

As near as I can tell, the blocks for "48 -'53 trucks and '49-53 cars were all the same. If there any cast or stamped numbers they'll probably indicate time/date of production-not application.