tow truck

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » November 30, 2010, 4:54 pm

Find a later model 2 speed wiper motor with switch, might as well upgrade while you have it out.
Our trucks fuse blocks will rust up so if you have time pull the fuses and clean all the contacts to be sure.
Cool truck and when you finally put lettering on the side have yourself a few work shirts made with the same logo. Make you look official.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » November 30, 2010, 6:42 pm

Gets more and more interesting. The further I dig into this trucks history the more strange it gets. While getting it titled I had to prove the vin number. I went to the tag on the drivers door and found this:

It is a legal number. These are given to vehicles that are what they call "assembled by owner". Apparently this truck was built entirely by the original owner. More explanation of the mishmash of body parts. The actual tag isn't even from this truck. My suspicions are that the doors are from another truck and the original door has disappeared along with the original tag. This one comes back as being from a 1963 F100 styleside. Had to read the numbers from the back of the tag because the state issued tag covers them. That's why I removed it from the door. The title and registration still read that it is a 1962 F350 as that is what it was registered as before. I'm just going to call it a "mutant 196?". Oh yes, the stampings on the motor identify it as a 1963 Thunderbird 292. Cleveland edition. Good news there I guess. That explains why it's painted blue and now I'm going to get a set of Thunderbird valve covers for it.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » November 30, 2010, 6:50 pm

Yeah, thought about the two speed wipers. Found motors but haven't found the two position switch for the dash yet.

Need to find a boot to cover the hole in the floor where the park brake comes through, or something to make one out of.

Speaking of making things, Foodstuff, I read your post today about using the hubcap as part of your heaterbox cover. Cool, you're a man after me own heart.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » November 30, 2010, 6:53 pm

64shortie wrote:Oh yes, the stampings on the motor identify it as a 1963 Thunderbird 292. Cleveland edition. That explains why it's painted blue and now I'm going to get a set of Thunderbird valve covers for it.

'excuseme.gif' "Thunderbird 292. Cleveland edition, painted blue"? You may want to double check your information source and maybe try another one.

69supercj · Post by **69supercj** » November 30, 2010, 8:30 pm

What about a bathroom plunger for the boot? A new one of course.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 1, 2010, 12:45 am

my info identifying the engine comes from here:
http://yblockguy.com/yblock_003.htm
I do know the old thunderbird engines were painted blue. My Dad had restored 56 T Bird with a 292 and the motor was blue. I called a friend here this evening that has two restored 'birds' and he says his 1960 has a 292 Y Block and is painted the original "Ford Blue". He also told me the Cleveland part is likely wrong as the t bird motors were built in Dearborn. He's going to help me check on mine further. As the tow rig is an
assembled vehicle it's possible the engine was taken from a car. Appreciate you calling my attention to any goofs I make here. I really want to figure out what all is in this truck.

bluebolt · Post by **bluebolt** » December 1, 2010, 1:04 am

64shortie wrote:my info identifying the engine comes from here:
http://yblockguy.com/yblock_003.htm
I do know the old thunderbird engines were painted blue. My Dad had restored 56 T Bird with a 292 and the motor was blue. I called a friend here this evening that has two restored 'birds' and he says his 1960 has a 292 Y Block and is painted the original "Ford Blue". He also told me the Cleveland part is likely wrong as the t bird motors were built in Dearborn. He's going to help me check on mine further. As the tow rig is an
assembled vehicle it's possible the engine was taken from a car. Appreciate you calling my attention to any goofs I make here. I really want to figure out what all is in this truck.

Well the last year for a Thunderbird to have a Y-block was 1957, they got the new 352 in 1958. Also USA Ford cars supposedly last used the 292 in 1962, in 1963 they were using the 260 small block.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 1, 2010, 3:06 pm

Yeah, looks like I'm a bit confused. Funny how the guy on that site didn't even mention the 260. I thank you for helping me out with this. I'm going to have to further check on my motor. It may be quite a bit older than the truck or I'm just getting things mixed up. I'll write down all the numbers and do some research. It's going to be fun though to track down all I can about this erector set truck I've gotten. I'm lovin' the knowledge on this thread and improving my education.

Done some travelling lately so I'm not at home to work on anything right now. My lady friend travels for her work and I've tailed her to Baton Rouge. We spent the holiday at her parents in Farmerville, LA and I've decided to stay on with her for awhile. Love retirement. Allows one to wander some. It's a lot warmer here than at home. I trailered the Harley along and will get in some riding in this nice weather. Looks like the winter work on it will be delayed. I may tag along with her on her next assignment too.

Keep coming with the info guys. I appreciate all the help I can get.

Gritsngumbo · Post by **Gritsngumbo** » December 1, 2010, 3:13 pm

He probably didn't mention the 260 because it's not a Y-Block and that's a Y-block focused site. Tim is a new member here and is quite knowledgeable about the Y-Block engines. John Mummert is also a great source for Y-Block information.
BTW: If you're still in Farmerville, I'm just a few miles away in Monroe. I'll send you a PM and maybe we can get together and I can show off my new shop.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 1, 2010, 9:38 pm

Lots of good help on here for sure. I'll get that 'mutant' sorted out and learn some things in the process.

Back in Baton Rouge for now, then may be going on to Dallas. Not sure yet.

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 4, 2010, 1:34 am

Got the wipers working now. Pulled the motor out and cleaned all the electrical connections, hooked it to a 12V source on the bench and it ran great. It's back in now and working. I still plan to change to the two speed set up later.

Finally got all the hoops jumped thorugh and it's titled in my name now. The state tried to make me go with a bonded title which required me to send out and wait for return receipts on several registered letters from previous owners, buy an insurance bond for 1 1/2 times the assessed value of the vehicle. What this covers I don't know and the people at the DMV didn't either. I just got an arrogant statement about it being the law. And, pay for two separate inspections by the county sheriff and local cops as well as the retitling fees. Wow, talk about making it complicated and gouging for fees. Well, there are a bunch of hot rod builders around here and through them a way was found to just retitle the darn thing the normal way and still use the Nebraska assigned builders VIN. It's done now and I have a title in my name.

Hawkrod · Post by **Hawkrod** » December 4, 2010, 10:06 am

Yeah, all of that Tbird info as well as some of the Y block info is wrong. Tbirds did not have Yblocks after 57 as noted, and Tbirds never had blue Y blocks, they were red so if you painted one blue it was wrong. Starting in 1958 the only engine in a Tbird was a 352 and starting in 1960 the only engine was a 390. The 58-65 engines were painted black. In 66 they had 390 and 428 engines and this was the year they started painting them blue (all Ford engines were the same color in 66). Also note that your explanation of the truck seems a bit off, I would wager that the truck was rebuilt and thus needed the ID tag as those are nomally only issued when there is a question on the VIN number or when a vehicle is rebuilt from scrapped vehicles. I would be willing to bet that the truck was originally built and registered using the frame VIN which would have matched the door and over the years it was repaired/rebuilt and at some point the door got replaced. At another point after that somebody had a problem with registering it as the warantee tag no longer matched the VIN and not understanding the tag was removable, they went through a lot of work that they did not need to. Unfortunately, as you know, the door tag info is useless to you as it is for an F100 and so none of the codes actually match the truck you have. The next step would be to clean the frame rail on the passenger side and find the actual VIN and see if you can get that number on the title because if you don't you could have other issues down the road. A couple of issues that can come up are vehicle inspections (especially during interstate transfer) and I am aware of insurance companies denying a claim because the frame VIN proved that the vehicle was not actually insured by them! BTW, one last detail I found amusing was the website for Y blocks ID'ing the Cleveland foundry mark as an F surrounded by a semi circle. Look at it, it is a C with an F in it CF=Cleveland Foundry! How simple was that. I laughed pretty good when I saw how he explained it! DOH!!!! Hawkrod

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 5, 2010, 1:57 am

Yep, I'm finding out that I have been misinformed on some of this. When talking with some of the car club guys working out the titling issues they told me a lot of the same things you have. They told me the T Bird owner isn't as educated as he likes to make people think he is and his cars are not done to original. When I get back home and get some time I will find that vin number on the frame and get some good pics of the motor to put on here. Hopefully you guys can help me identify exactly what it is. It looks just like the y block in my 64 but runs stronger. I'll get under it and try to get pics of the casting numbers too so we can figure those out. Thanks again for spending time helping me with this. Yeah, it's obvious that this truck has been worked over a lot, but it's good work. Everything is real solid and fits well. As far as the title. The DMV titled it as a 62 F350 medium duty rated for four tons. I asked about designating it as a wrecker and they said that wasn't necessary. They used the NEBR number from the door tag and it is now in their system under that number. I don't know how other states work but The Nebraska DMV in Lincoln assured me it's all legal now. My insurance company accepted the number and the policy is written for that vin. I had to scan the tag and give them a copy for their files. I will call their home office though and quiz them about any possible problems soon. Can't thank you all enough for your help.

rwhistles · Post by **rwhistles** » December 5, 2010, 9:42 am

I am plumb green with envy dude but happy for you. Even though it's a mishmash of parts it's still one great looking truck and yes I'm an f350 addict.

I just ordered a brake lever boot from Rubber the right way 23.75.

http://www.rubbertherightway.com/new%20 ... co_low.pdf

abrasilian · Post by **abrasilian** » December 6, 2010, 6:16 pm

I love old tow trucks. they look super cool. if you ever want to sell it, i want it!!

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 7, 2010, 12:53 am

My lady friends 3 year old niece has named the tow rig. She saw a pic of it and blurted out "it's Mater". Escaped me at first until I realized she was talking about the tow truck in the Disney animated move "Cars". She's right. Even the color is near correct. So, now it's know as "Mater".

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » December 7, 2010, 9:03 pm

Mater is a Chevy....

64shortie · Post by **64shortie** » December 8, 2010, 12:12 am

Yeah I know, but I'm not that anal about it and will let the litle girl have her fun.

abrasilian · Post by **abrasilian** » December 8, 2010, 12:36 am

thats an awesome movie, and mater is one of the coolest characters. good name, only the real mater is a lil bit more beat up.

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » December 8, 2010, 12:32 pm

64shortie wrote:Yeah I know, but I'm not that anal about it and will let the litle girl have her fun.

Damn dude, I was just sayin....no need to get worked up over it...