1968 F500 moves under it's own power for first time in 8 years

[dolinick]

The previous owner said the truck had been parked due to engine problems 12 years ago.
I noticed the registration and inspection are current up to 2012. I messed around with this
truck for a week or so. I set the timing by pulling the distributor out a couple of times
and it ran only for a few minutes before it started backfiring or not running at all. Finally
I noticed the rotor on the distributor could spin freely if I turned it by hand. Roll pin was sheared.
I replaced the roll pin and she started and ran just fine.

It is a 300 CID inline 6 cylinder and I believer a 4 manual speed transmission.

https://youtu.be/NssQp_aN1qk

[basketcase0302]

I've got my eye on a bump F-600 here close to me!

[zainyD]

Very cool! Nice save.

There's something similar in a wrecker yard about an hour from me. Same drivetrain. The body on it is pretty bad though.

[dolinick]

I broke down and got a timing light. I drove it around the block yesterday and today I drove it to the car wash(2 miles away). Maybe tomorrow the gas
station and put a little air in the tires. No brakes at all right now. And mostly no lights.

Here is the truck cold start this morning after i took it out of gear:

https://youtu.be/DBTifZWbMPg

[tsherry]

I've got a 71 F500, 6 cyl like yours. Set up with a ladder/bucket. Brakes were an expensive proposition--like $1400 to have them done. While I can do just about anything, working on stuff of that size isn't something I'm set up for. She weighs 9900 lbs for starters. Rebuild of the brakes included all 8 wheel cylinders, cleaning all of the shoes (they were in good shape, just contaminated, along with the drums) and getting them adjusted. the MC I'd replaced probably 5 years before, and had the vacuum unit rebuilt locally. She's a beastie.