Help with Flathead Ford F-4 Truck

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Walker434

Walker434

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Hello,

My wife's boss is opening a bar/restaurant on Broadway in downtown Nashville. The bar is called ACME Feed and Seed becuase that was the name of the feed store back in the 40s and 50s. Her boss asked me if I could find him an old 40s - 50s era truck with a flatbed they could use for advertisement and put a band on the back for the big events.

This is the truck I found. 1949 Ford F-4 with a flathead 6 and a 4 speed. It came out of North Dakota and I just got my hands on it yesterday. I am still in my 20s so I might need a little help from some of the older FABO members that have experience working with 6 volt systems. Thanks in advance for anyone that gives me advice I really appreiciate it.

First question, do 6 volt batteries come charged? I bought a 6 volt battery from NAPA yesterday it doesn't seem to be charged. Do you have to charge before install?

The truck doens't have a starter switch so I guess I'll have to wire one up myself. I'm just trying to get this thing running and driving. The furthest it will ever have to drive is 4 blocks in town so it won't have to be highway worthy.

It's got one completely wrotten tire on the passenger side front that will have to be replaced. It's a 7.00-18 which is not common anymore. I found an old man yesterday that had two in stock brand new for $100 a piece! He is going to install them on the front as soon as I get it running. Turns out these wheels are 3 piece and you have to know your stuff to change a tire. I'll try to keep you guys up to date with my progress. Here are some pics. Thanks FABO!
 

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Some of those old trucks didn't have a "starter switch", there was a little small foot pedal to start them up with. :D

And see if you can find an 8 volt battery. That'll give the starter a little extra cranking power without having to make major upgrades to the wiring.
 
How light is the battery? Sometimes they come empty and you have to buy the electrolyte and put it in yourself. X2 on the starter foot button. Probably down about where the firewall meets the floor over to the right of the gas pedal. My 49 Dodge still has one. Don't get real carried away with cutting and hackin on the wiring harness just yet. Most of that older stuff had REAL good copper for wires and unless somebody's done something stupid, it's probably all there and intact. I agree about the 8 volt battery. That's a good idea.

Kick *** truck. I want one of those COEs in the background. lol
 
All of the 6 volt batteries I have bought were charged and ready. It is possible like said the one you bought didnot have the electrolyte in it. If I recall the Ford era you have there is a button on the dash for energizing the starter. Being you have the battery already I would not worry about going with an 8 volt. The systemis simple to work on and you should be ok. Study up on a point ignition they are very simple. Any other questions just ask.
 
It could be either so make SURE you figure that out BEFORE you attach a battery.
 
Many of us have expierence with them but we aren't young pups anymore and some things are just hard to remember. Buying an OEM repair manual for the F series trucks would be a huge asset for working on the truck.

[ame="http://www.ebay.com/itm/FORD-1949-1950-1951-1952-F-Series-Pick-Up-Heavy-Duty-Truck-Shop-Manual-/290639613632?pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&hash=item43ab788ec0&vxp=mtr"]Ford 1949 1950 1951 1952 F Series Pick Up Heavy Duty Truck Shop Manual | eBay[/ame]
 
Thanks for all the replies. I have been doing some research and it appears this was originally a positive ground truck. The battery feels the same weight as most so I assume it is ready to go. It did already have water in it. Last night I put a volt meter on it and couldn't get anything. It has been on the trickle charger since last night so I will try again this evening.

Rusty, the pics I posted were taken at the seller's place. He has TONS of cool stuff. You can look him up at Mike and Dick's Hot Rod Garage. Just google it. There is a 39 Dodge truck I would have loved but it wasn't as close to running and driving condition.

I will tinker with the truck tonight and let you know what I figure out. Thanks again for the help.

Here is a pic of the interier, see all the wires hanging around?
 

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Foot Starter, uses a mechanical linkage to throw the bendix and bridge power to the starter. Many Foot Starter Levers have extra linkage that opens the throttle slightly at the same time, to make it easier to start. (My '48 Dodge has the additional linkage to open the throttle)

It'll be Positive Ground. Converting to Negative Ground is simple. The Amp Gauge wires have to be swapped (reversed), that's pretty much it.

Converting to 12 Volt is simple to. Swap out the light bulbs for 12 volt versions, replace the voltage regulator with a 12 Volt version (now would be a good time to upgrade to a Alternator instead of the ancient Generator)

Install a Resistor to drop the voltage to 6v if you plan to power any original accessories (if 12 Volt replacements aren't available. But for Fords and a Chevy's, those parts are available everywhere).

The wiring is twice as heavy as newer 12 Volt vehicles, and if it's in good condition, can work perfectly for the 12 Volt conversion (twice the volts, half the amperage). The starter requires no modifications to work with 12 Volt. Now would be a good time to add some fuses to the electrical system, you'll find it has no fuses (factory) unless it has had aftermarket turn signals added (in which case there will be 2 fuses and 2 turn signal/hazard flashers)


Took me about an hour to convert my '48 Dodge Truck over to Negative Ground and 12 Volt (including the installation of a "modern 70's Chrysler Alternator & Regulator), using just parts I had on hand/laying around the shop. Reused most of the original wiring, added some additional wiring to power an aftermarket radio/cd player.

Total cost? Free to convert to 12 Volt and Negative Ground, because I had an alternator, battery, regulator, fuse box, wire and a "Volt-A-Drop" Resistor to power my 6V (original) Radio, Heater and optional 2-Speed Wipers
 
Uh, the generator will need to have some work done to convert to negative ground. Otherwise it will charge the battery dead assuming nothing goes up in smoke.

I'd take it one step at a time. Get it running somewhat reliably, and then if use justifies it do the 12VDC/Positive ground conversion. I'd simply put a second one of the same batteries in series with the one just bought rather than buying a 12 volt battery.
 
On a flathead, NEVER leave the ignition on for ANY legnth of time with the engine not running. If you do, it will burn up the coil very quickly.

Edit> Ooops that's for a flathead V8; I don't know if the above applies for an inline six.
 
Where are the pictures taken at of all the COE in the background

Boy the COE is what I would want to do if it were an old truck

Didn't ever work on too many old trucks but have drove a few and back in the day there were some strange ways to start vehicles. Drive an old fire truck about the same vintage at the Mecum auction this year and think it had the starter switch on the floor
 
I don't think Ford ever used a foot pedal. See what looks to be a yellow wire coming out of the hole in the dash? I think a push button belongs there. Many of the older Ferds used a single terminal button, which grounded the terminal on the solenoid.

Look at the photo, far lower left..........



and..............my memory ain't all that bad............


1948-1949-ford-trucks-wiring-diagramTEMPcolorALT4.jpg
 
My neighbor is a huge Ford guy, has about ten older Fords from 39 through 66 (no trucks, but grew up on the farm, so...). All are in mint condition. I am sure he knows this stuff, will ask him tomorrow, if you haven't got it figured out.
 
If it was me and the wiring harness looks pretty good, I would leave that pup as close to stock as I could. Nothing wrong with a 6 volt system. It worked then, it'll work now. The 8 volt batree upgrade won't hurt a thing, though. If all the company wants is a cool advertising piece, the most economical way will be as few mods as possible.
 
I want to say that the '48 F1 that granddad & I converted to 12VDC had that floor mounted starter 'button'. I know that the '36 GMC hay hauler that I drove had it.
 
Most young'uns wouldn't even know how to start it or keep it runnin when cold. lol
 
Body style changed in '49 as I recall, that could've changed too. It was almost 40 years ago that we worked on that truck....
 
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