1968 F100 SWB Project (update 10/08/09 more stripes)

[03rangerxlt]

First let me apologize. I am at work, I work 13 hour shifts at night, and I don't have time to use my search-fu to find answers right now, or post the questions in the appropriate sub-sections.

First the update part:
I just got my truck (1968 F100 Ranger) back after it was at my mechanics for a year being worked on. The motor wasn't mounted correctly, and the day I bought it, while driving it, the motor cocked sideways in the engine bay, causeing the fan to slice through my radiator, and the driveshaft to kink and crack the transmission case. Now it has the following:

New radiator and hoses
some new fuel lines
new coil
new motor mounts
new driveshaft
freshly rebuilt transmission
new keyed ignition

Now I am ready to start working on my own truck! (With verly little knowledge of how! This is a new hobby for me, I ussually play with guns.)

Here are some of the issues I am now facing...

The original motor, a 390, was replaced by either a 351M or a 400M. My mechanic seems to believe its a 400M from an late 70's or early 80's Bronco. I have no clue for sure what motor it is or what year it came from. The carburator needs rebuilt BAD. Its running rich and when you get on the gas, it seems to miss a little like its not getting fuel for an instant. The carb just looks like its been crapped on. So one big question is; how do I identify the carb I have to be able to purchase a rebuild kit for it. The next big question is; how do I purchase plugs, wires, a new distributer, oil pan gasket etc. to get this thing running smoothly if I can't quite identify the motor or year? Another problem I am facing is the steering. Its not power assisted. It takes a ridiculous ammount of effort to park this thing. I tried driving it to the gas station before work today (its been parked at work where my mechanic dropped it from his trailer) to put fuel in it, but after she coughed and died a couple times, I thought better of it. So after getting my truck started, I tried putting it back in a parking spot. I almost hit the boss's patrol car in the next spot because the damn thing just wasn't steering. At low speed, I was trying to turn, and I was having to fight the steering wheel. When I let go of the steering wheel, it would spin the opposite direction as if I had been winding up a spring, and then let it go. Is this normal of non-powered steering vehicles? Sorry, this is my first vehicle like this (Ha! I was born in 1980, sorry!).

Thanks guys for any help/suggestions you might be able to provide. I will be checking this forum from my phone while I am out on the road tonight. Take care and wrench safe!

[03rangerxlt]

Thought I would post some pics of what I am working with. I couldn't get the markings from the back of intake manifold to good. Can anybody tell me what I am working with?

[mrsnicks]

The first set of numbers in the picture is just the firing order for the engine. I've got a book at home that will tell me where to check for the date code and part# to decode it. Give me a day or so unless someone else knows off the top of their head. It's been a while since I've looked up and decoded an engine.


Patrick

[1971ford]

its most likely a 360

[rjewkes]

not with that firing order that looks more like a 351W,M,400 1978 and newer. 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 oddly my chiltons is misprinted and stops at 4 doesn't list eight in the caption but shows it on the cap and block rotation diagram. sounds kinda chevy-ish

And looks like it has solidstate ignition also known as duraspark.

[SteveC]

it has 8 valve cover bolts it belongs to the 351c/351m/400 family for sure
the winsors had 5 valve bolt covers

but i cant read the part number well so i can tell you what year or what it is from

[03rangerxlt]

i am gonna go up to work either tomorrow or thursday and try to pull the carb. I will try to get the other markings on the intake manifold then. I think I have the carb identified as a Motorcraft 2150. From what I can tell though, there are a billion different rebuild kits fo rthe different versions of the 2150. I think I am just gona bring the carb into a local carb specialty shop and let them sell me the right kit.

[BobbyFord]

Definitely a 335 series engine.

[03rangerxlt]

oh yeah, i think the choke is missing off the carb? What do I need to ask for when I get my rebuild kit?

[BobbyFord]

oh yeah, i think the choke is missing off the carb? What do I need to ask for when I get my rebuild kit?

Choke assembly with all of the attaching linkages. Prolly better off finding a good used, complete carb and rebuilding it.
...Or getting a 4bbl aluminun manifold and new carb

[03rangerxlt]

Well, drove up to work around midnight and pulled the carb off. It was pretty damn easy. Keep in mind, I am a newb. Only problem was when I was trying to pull one of the nuts off, the whole stud came out of the manifold. No big deal I guess. I also pulled the distributer cap, then covered everything to keep it from getting gunked up.

[03rangerxlt]

so went to the parts store and grabbed some stuff. Distributer from an 80's f150 just went on the truck fine. Gonna wait till sunday to put on the new plugs and wires. rebuild kit for the carb will be in friday morning. hopefully sunday she will be streetable again!

[dablack00]

I know I'm a little late to help but that isn't a 2150. I'm pretty sure it is a 2100. I have a 2150 on a 77 I just picked up and it has a vent on top of the bowl and there are some other differences.

[03rangerxlt]

Update...

Today I rebuilt the carb and put it back on the truck.

EPIC FAIL WITH BUILT IN FIRE

Now the truck is not starting at all (before, I could at least move it around the parking lot).
I am at the point I just want to dig a big hole and dump this hting in it, and cover over it.

[dablack00]

Its ok. You just need to take a step back and look at the problem. Rebuilding the carb shouldn't have been a problem. There are about 10 websites dedicated to the rebuild of the 2100 / 2150. Google 2100 rebuild and read, read, read. Make sure you did it right.

Also, I've never seen a fire from a carb unless the firing order was wrong or the timing was way off. Did you mess with the timing or firing order?

So, here is what I would do, review the websites to makes ure you rebuilt the 2100 correctly. Then check the firing order and checking static timing.

Austin