New engine for my F-600 Dump Truck

[EddieWalker]

I have a 1983 Ford F-600 dump truck that I bought last year. It's worked it's butt off and I've made my money on it, but it was also used, it's 23 years old and it's had a tough life. I need to haul as much dirt out of my lake as I can before the rains get here and the dump truck is the best way to do this.

I've been trying to get more power out of it with a new carburator and tuning it up with minimal results. I'm also have a huge overheating problem with it, along with oil in the cylinders. No water in the oil, so that's good.

The compression test are seven cylinders from 150 to 135 and one at 100 pounds. I'm not sure if the oil in the cylinder is giving me false readings or not.

Here's a picture of what it looks like a few months ago.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

I sort of think my biggest issues are in the heads. I think I'm leaking oil through my guides. But after staring at the engine off and on for the last few days, I decided to just do it right. The clutch needs replaceing too, so this is as good a time to do it all and be done with it.

My Dad is 70 years old and visiting for awhile, so it's a father/son project.

We got started early this morning disconnecting everything. Then when it came to the bell housing, we sort of had two different approaches. We stoped, looked it over and decided to just pull everything out in one piece.

Because the truck is so tall and to make life easier, we also took off the front grill. This is funny, because it was so hot out,that poor old Dad got a little delirious. He was doing fine, then it hit him. He couldn't get a bolt out. I told him to try the other side and see if it was any easier. Nope, same thing, plus he said he couldn't get three other bolts out.

He was sweating pretty good and was feeling the heat, so he went in to cool off and take a nap.

I kept at it and realized he was using the wrong sized socket. He was too hot to think straight and didn't realize the socket was too big. He also removed all the ones he said he couldn't and didn't realize it either.

I finished up with the grill before going inside to cool off. Yahoo says it was 97 degrees with 48 percent humidity.

Here's a picture of it all ready to come out. Just need to put a chain on it and lift.

Eddie

 

[Renze]

Eddie, so you are going to overhaul the engine and put in a new clutch, then move all the dirt, all before the rain comes ??

99,9% of all gasoline powered trucks in Holland had their cab, driveline and front axle stripped off, and the front part of chassis beams bent together into a V tongue, to turn the truck into a trailer. The fuel in Europe is so expensive that gasoline powered commercial vehicles are something of the far past, say 30 years ago..
Our farm dumptrailer is a 40 year old, 5 ton three side tipper, converted from an old English Bedford truck.

It's allways funny to see the differences in approach, on both sides of the Big Pond...

Anyways, good luck with the time schedule

 

[BillG_in_TX]

... before the rains get here ...

Marraige has turned Eddie into an optimist.

 

[Stimw]

Unless you have total recall you might want to take pictures of the brackets on the front of that motor. You will thank me later. I've gotten so bad I will forget where I put the pictures too.
Hope your dad is OK. Watch him in that heat it will sneak up on you. Plenty of fluids too. We had 4 days of 96* last week. I went to Pee and all that came out was steam and a little bit of dust!!!

 

[EddieWalker]

Renze, The way fuel keeps jumping in price, I just might have to turn it into a trailer. I'd never heard of that before, but it would make a real nice dump trailer!!

I don't really have allot of dirt left to move in the lake, just a few hundred yards and I could call it done. If it stays dry, I'll keep taking dirt out for other areas for as long as I can. It will be more of a dirt quary now until it starts to fill, or I can't get into it any more.

Bill, Thanks.

Stimw, Not only do I take ALLOT of pictures, I share some of them here with all of you. I'd bore you all to death if I showed you all my little details shots, but rest assured, I do take hundreds of pics!!!!

The heat broke a few hours ago, so I put a chain on the engine and my engine attachment onto my loader bucket. Then it's a simple job to get it out of there.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Here's a picture of my Dad in the background. He's feeling allot better after a cool shower, a nap and lots of water.

The engine is a Ford 370 big block in what they call the Y-Block series. There are a few differences in it from the more normal engines. It has two thermostats just like the diesel in my dozer. I don't know if that's common in all diesels, but I've never seen it before in a gas engine. It also has a remove cartridge type fuel filter.

Once I pull it apart, I'll see what other suprises it has for me.

Eddie

 

[john_bud]

Here's a picture of my Dad in the background. He's feeling allot better after a cool shower, a nap and lots of water.

The engine is a Ford 370 big block in what they call the Y-Block series. There are a few differences in it from the more normal engines. It has two thermostats just like the diesel in my dozer. I don't know if that's common in all diesels, but I've never seen it before in a gas engine. It also has a remove cartridge type fuel filter.

Once I pull it apart, I'll see what other suprises it has for me.

Eddie

Eddie,


If I am remembering correctly, It is not part of the ancient Y-block series that preceeded the FE series. It is of the Lima series, the same as the 429 and 460 used in large ford cars and trucks for years. It will have very low compression pistons, strong con rods and a forged crank. Other than those major changes, it is pretty standard. I think you could swap in a 460 from a late 80's or eary 90's F250/350, it won't be quite as durable, but would have more power.

When you take the heads off, do it as gentle as possible and inspect the cylinder deck and head for signs of a leaking head gasket. You should also check for warpage. Your overheating may be due to a head crack, gasket or something cheap! (yeah, right...cheap on a ford?)

good luck!
jb

 

[ScottAR]

Dual Tstats are common on HD engines Gas and Diesel...

The Y block was the first step past the flat head in the late fifties early sixties...

The 370/429/460 wasn't developed until the late sixties early seventies...

MD trucks in the 80's could be spec'd with the 370 or 429 gassers...
To muddy the waters, the 391 FE engine was also available...

The New Holland has an oil leak too

 

[Egon]

The truck is always fixable Eddie but Dad may not be. Best keep him in the shade and cool.