Gary Lewis

Well, language IS a terrible carrier for ideas... That is, unless semantics are involved!

Welcome! Glad you joined! We need to see your truck's strange story and follow along on your journey. Please start a thread about it either in the main section or in Projects, your choice, and tell us about it. But while we are on intro's I want to point out two things. First, we hope to be moving off of the platform we are on now to a new, and much better, one in the near future. Everything should work and look even better than it does now. Just FYI. Second, we have a map (Bullnose Forum/Member's Map in the menu) and we can add you with a city/state or zip.

I always get a kick out of "it's just semantics." Because often when people say that they are exactly right (although they don't know what they are saying). "Semantics" is defined as "the branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning", or "relating to meaning in language." Since the entire point of saying something to someone is to communicate meaning to them, "it's just semantics" is synonymous with "it's just the entire point!" Bob - That's just semantics. What I really meant is well described by How Stuff Works as "It's a way to be dismissive of language itself as carrier for ideas." Seriously though, you are right. Ford was very specific in their terminology and if you don't use their semantics you cannot find the part you are looking for - unless you luck onto someone else that also doesn't understand Ford's twisted logic and calls the part by the wrong name just like you.

Email sent to both of you with the info. Glad y'all are getting connected.

I think you misspelled it, but I fixed it for you.

I bought parts from Eaton Detroit Springs and they were very helpful and had what I needed.

Josh - You are now on the map.

I won't install a Cardone even if it is free. There's just way too much work and mess swapping out that box to find out the one you put in is junk.

Welcome, Josh! Glad you joined. A Flareside with a 460 sounds potent! How about posting some pics? Right now, with the Nabble platform, posting pics isn't easy so you may want to read the page at Bullnose Forum/Forum FAQ's. But when we get over to Invision it should be much easier. Speaking of the menu, we have a map on the page at Bullnose Forum/Member's Map. We can add you with a city in LA or a zip.

Well spotted! Numberdummy gave me the three cross references I have as well as two sets of the MPC on microfiche and two microfiche viewers.

Well, I don't think there is an automatic transmission that will work. If you watch that video, above, the guy is installing a 1954 235 in a late 1949 truck, which is almost exactly what we are doing - a 1955 235 in a 1950 truck. And he says that you can't use the bell housing off the 235 as its mounts don't attach to the frame the same way the 216's mounts attach. And since it doesn't look like they offered an automatic in the trucks until the mounting change happened, there isn't an auto tranny that will bolt in. So it looks like we will have to go back with the manual tranny and the original bell housing plus a new flywheel and probably a new clutch. Given that I'm working to this plan: 1: I moved the engine and shop crane into the machine shop side and cleaned things up. 2: I'll roll the truck back around to the car port behind the shop and put Big Blue back in his stall 3: I will then turn the engine upside down, pull the pan, and figure out how to turn the crank to get the clutch & flywheel out and, therefore, the bell housing off. And I'll pull the front mount off. 4: When I have all the pieces I'll put them on the 235. 5: When Ian is coming back I'll bring the truck back around and either install the engine before he gets here or wait until he gets here to install it. Then we will start it.

I can, Jim. In fact, Steve/FoxFord33 told me on Sunday that he has recently seen a Youtube where a guy removed the rod caps and main caps and was able to turn the crank enough to get to the bolts. I've not found that video, but I have read on other forums that guys have had trouble executing that procedure. So I wanted to ask the question about the auto tranny. If we want to go back with a manual I'll at least have to source a 235 flywheel. But that doesn't look too hard as here's one at Parts Geek for $88. I'm going to continue with disassembly to see what I can do, but needed to start the conversation.

Time for an update, and a bit of advice from my grandbuddy, Ian. The question to Ian is if we should look for an automatic transmission rather than going back with this 3-speed manual? Please read on to understand why I asked the question... The main issue is that the flywheel on the old engine, the 216, will not work with the 12v starter on the new, 235, engine. So if we want to go with a manual transmission I have to find a flywheel for a 235. But, I'll also need to find another bellhousing because I can't get this one off. Remember that I said that some of the bolts holding the bellhousing to the engine are only accessible after pulling the pressure plate, clutch, and flywheel? Well the only way to get to the 6 bolts holding the pressure plate on is by turning the crankshaft on the engine, but I can't get it to turn - in spite of using a very long pry bar/lever. And in spite of you and I squirting PB Blaster oil into the cylinders last spring. This engine is locked up! It is hard to explain how difficult it is to get to the bolts, but the video below might help. I have it set to start at the 6 minute mark where he's taking everything out to get the bellhousing off. Note that he uses a screwdriver to turn the engine to get to the other bolts. I've tried using that large pry bar we had out and even then it will not turn. However, if we go with an automatic transmission we won't need the bellhousing nor the clutch/flywheel/pressure plate combo. Our "new" engine is set up for an automatic, so I think it would be much easier to go that way, although I've not researched it much yet. Comments, please!

I've ridden that train, Bill. Our home was only ~30 miles away when we lived in PA and we were through there many, many times.

First, any number on a part is not a part number. I know that may seem illogical, but that is the truth and you can read about it on our page at Documentation/How To Decode Ford Part Numbers. And it may also seem like semantics, but it isn't because the master parts catalog shows part numbers instead of ID #'s or Engineering #'s, which are what is on the part. Which is why Ford published a cross reference to go from ID# to PN or vice versa. However, in some cases the MPC does include the ID # in the Description field, and that is the case for windshield wiper motors, as you can see on our page at Documentation/Electrical/Windshield Wipers and then the Part #'s tab. BUT, your ID# of -CA isn't listed. However, Ford frequently changed the suffix on an ID# and still said it was the same part # in the cross reference, which I have. (Yes, this is a complex and confusing topic.) So, if you list all of your ID#'s I might be able to cross them to part #'s, and then we could augment our list of what parts people are looking for.

We have the info out of the MPC on the page at Documentation/Electrical/Connectors. Go to the Connectors & Sleeves (Connector Shells) tab. But I didn't find C1SF 14474-A.

You wouldn't need to do the leak-down test before you go as you won't have time to repair the engine. If you are taking it on holiday then you need to figure out how often you need to check the oil level and take enough oil with you. Or use a brand you can easily buy on the trip. Then, when you get back, do the leak-down test and determine the path forward. But I doubt that you would be able to seat the rings now.

I would start by doing a leak-down test to determine if you have a poor seal on the rings.

Bummer, Jim! We do have the FSM section on them at Documentation/Suspension & Steering/Power Steering, but I've not been into those things.

If we figure it out we need to record it. I can figure out where to do that.

No, I don't. But I have a bag full of them with short bits of Ford wires on them and would be happy to send you some. What wire colors do you need?

lol! Thank you, Vinny!

That is a bummer! Sorry that happened to you, but glad you got your money back. Yes, if you want to send another check that would be appreciated. This one didn't go through, surely due to your problems.

Welcome! Glad you joined. Sounds like a nice truck. How about posting some pics? You may want to refer to the page at Bullnose Forum/Forum FAQ's to figure out how to post as this platform is wonky. But we are moving to a new platform soon that is much better at everything, including posting pics. Speaking of pages to look at, there is a map at Bullnose Forum/Member's Map and we can add you with a city/state or zip.

That’s good news! I guess a bent connecting rod does make a difference.