COE FIRE TRUCK - C900

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » June 22, 2011, 9:53 am

I looked at a fire truck Monday night. I had heard about the truck several months ago from a friend (belongs to an employee of his) but hadn't taken a look at it as I wanted to wait until I had the funds available to negotiate a deal if I liked the truck.

It's a 1972 Ford C-900 Custom Cab with a Hahn pumper. It was taken out of service several years ago and until then it was used by small town about 60 miles away. Since it's retirement, it's apparently been stored outside most of the time and the elements have taken a bit of a toll on the finish, but would the paint would probably buff out pretty good. Can just imagine driving it up to the local detail shop for a clean up

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The truck has a 534 cubic inch Super Duty which is rated at 266(+/-) HP and 490 ft. lbs of torque, with a 5 speed transmission. Has only 30,000 miles on it, and there's either 2,000 hours on the pump or 20,000 (hard to read the meter from the driver's seat).
The pump doesn't work (which isn't a problem for me as I would probably use it initially for parades, special events etc., but the goal of eventually making a truck hauler out of it. Either putting a ramp back bed on it or shorting the frame and putting a fifth wheel on it and using one of the 3/4 vehicle trailer behind it. The cab of the truck and the interior were actually in pretty good condition.

I'll have to admit, I was more than a little intimidated by the sheer size of the vehicle and the possibility of something going wrong and having to repair it. And I thought the 16" wheels on my F250 were big and hard to handle

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The initial problem is that although the truck ran good when the current owner bought it, the more he works on it the worse it runs. Although he recently replaced the fuel pump, the truck won't idle properly and probably needs a carburetor re-build or replacement. Also there's a pretty noticeable exhaust leak on the drivers side of the engine. Not sure what the availability of parts for this engine is. I'll have to check in with Michelle for some advice.

I told the seller I would check back with him in two weeks and see what progress he had made on getting it to run properly. I think I can get it for the price I want, but don't want to buy someone else's problems. I want to get in it and drive it home and wherever else I want to take it. I have enough non-running vehicles.

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » June 22, 2011, 10:14 am

All the "monkey Motion" in the shift linkage can be a real bear to get working properly. A fire truck should have had excellent maintenance, so it may not be a problem. The trick is, lots of grease!
Most fire trucks were for use around town, and have single speed rear ends and low top speed. Limits resale value, so they are usually cheap.

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » June 22, 2011, 10:19 am

Oh, and, no matter how tempting that nice big tray behind the seat looks, don't ever put a bunch of heavy stuff there, like wrenches! Tip the cab and they all end up on the ground, right out through the windshield. Go ahead, ask me how I know that!

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » June 22, 2011, 10:19 am

Seller says it'll run 70 with no problem (when it's running properly). Of course, I haven't had a chance to drive it yet. This truck was used in a rural area so might be geared a little different than for city driving? I'm sure the gas mileage is going to suck, probably 4-5. I think I can get it for $2,000 or maybe less.

Obsa · Post by **Obsa** » June 22, 2011, 11:40 am

Grits, I rode the tailboard of a pumper very much like that (except it was painted safety (piss color) yellow) the first half of the 80s, I drove when the Captain or the Driver/Eng. were out or on vacation. The 70 mph must have been downhill with a tailwind and no water in the pump tank! I remember going on one call and on a small incline on a 4lane hi-way we were passed by a Honda Civic!

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » June 22, 2011, 12:41 pm

The first pumper I learned to drive was similar to that one. It was a safety green E one. The 534 was good at burning gas, but not hauling... They are a lot of fun to drive for sure...

36truck · Post by **36truck** » June 22, 2011, 3:28 pm

Grits I have 2 of those 534's in F1000 trucks here. One is in my signature.

Astrowing · Post by **Astrowing** » June 22, 2011, 4:24 pm

If it has been sitting, it probably has a bunch of junk and varnish in the carbeurator. Only fix is to pull it and rebuild it. Soak it in Berryman cleaner or something equivalent and blow everything out with compressed air. It will make a world of difference.

Tech · Post by **Tech** » June 22, 2011, 8:00 pm

The one I used to drive would do 70 on the straights. You get used to blindly shifting the gears. You just have to will it into the hole!
One night after a high speed run down a twisty two lane with a crazy captain in the passenger seat I found the drivers side front brake hose weeping when we got back to the station. It kind of spoiled the mood.

R Pope · Post by **R Pope** » June 22, 2011, 9:19 pm

If you saw Clint Eastwood driving a COE Ford in the movie with the orangutan, you saw what it's like to shift one. He swung his arm in about a three foot circle and winced as he slammed the shifter from gear to gear. Funny, but true.

HiBoy63 · Post by **HiBoy63** » June 23, 2011, 12:06 pm

Hey Tech. When I joined the department here in 94 most of our Engines were that type of Ford. We had about 8 of them and one AmericanLafrance. All the Fords were automatics. We had a top side pump panel and the cabs were a little different than the above engine. Ours sported either a 2 or 3 man jump seat outside between the pump panel and the back of the cab. It was a cold ride in the dead of winter. I liked that old engine more responsive and driver friendly than the big hog enclosed cab engines we have today.

Tech · Post by **Tech** » June 23, 2011, 1:26 pm

I was a live in resident 82-84. the ford was the loaner truck when the primary truck was out for service. the main line trucks were automatics so not many people were very comfortable with a cab over ford. I grew up driving a cab over Freightliner so the ford and I got along fine. It did raise some eyebrows as I would take it through the gears never touching the clutch.

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » June 23, 2011, 9:56 pm

I 96 when I resigned as a firefighter to join the Navy we had one truck, well Engine, with an auto. I guess we were behind the curve in Wyoming.....lol

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » June 23, 2011, 10:25 pm

Gerald, that 534 is a horse, tons of power but gets about three miles to a gallon. When the 534's came out in 58 they would out run just about any diesels on the road and kept that reputation until about the late 60s or early 70's. If you are looking at the truck as a car hauler I think I would opt for a different engine, something that got a little better gas mileage. Nest time you look at it see what the rear end code is I can tell you what the ratio is.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » June 24, 2011, 10:33 am

Thanks to all for the replies and information. I've pretty much talked myself out of this truck. Seems like the consensus is that I would need another engine (better gas mileage) another transmission and a two-speed differential.
I really like the COE's (especially the C's) and was hoping I could make it work without too much work or expense. If I could get it cheap enough it might be worthwhile, but don't think that's going to happen.
I may take another run at it in a couple of weeks when he's had a chance to get the carb issues resolved, just to drive it and see how it does on the highway. Even if it will do highway speeds, the gas mileage would still be an issue.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » June 24, 2011, 4:38 pm

Gerald, I had a guy e-mail me today that has an N series truck for sale and he has done a lot of work on it. I have ask him to send me more info on it and a price. It is an N 600 and would the perfect size for a car hauler. I will forward you the information when I get it back from him.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » June 24, 2011, 4:48 pm

Looking forward to hearing more about it. Thanks Michelle. PM Sent

ezernut9mm · Post by **ezernut9mm** » June 24, 2011, 9:27 pm

yeah, c's are cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGHLYDybsyM&feature=fvsr

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » June 24, 2011, 10:40 pm

I've seen that truck in the Big Truck forum over on FTE, but I hadn't seen the video. Former fire truck converted into a pickup. Cool!

Post by **Greg D** » June 24, 2011, 11:04 pm

That list of trucks in your signature sure is getting long Gerald.
Maybe we need a Slick of the month club?