Like I needed to buy THIS!

notjustair

Well-known Member
In a moment of weakness I bought a fire truck. Yes, a fire truck.

I had been on the lookout for a 61-66 Ford F600 to put a bale bed on and make an oversized ?pickup? to do chores with. Our grain truck growing up was one and it was quite a smooth running 292 and quick on the way home from the elevator.

Keep in mind I have a 35, 54, 55, and 58 Chevy in addition to a 74 Ford F600. All running driving grain trucks I use either for seed or other jobs on the farm. I wanted a Ford.

I bought this 64 from a township where I grew up. It?s a volunteer department and it has racked up the sum total of 2200 miles. I know the oil leaks will begin, but overall a good winter project.

Do you think there?s a market for that pumper body or the pumps on the front? It?s so pristine I hate to mess with it, but it?s just the kind of perfect I wanted to start from. I had considered removing the pumper body (and it?s copper holding tank) and putting it up on stands in the back of the shed, but I know I would never put it back on.
a276760.jpg
 
Nice!

Glad it found a good home. I see too many of the old firetrucks just put outside to ruin.

Though it is low mileage, the engine may have a lot of hours. But even if it does, the rest of the truck should be like new.

I don't know if there is a market for the tank or pump equipment. I know that stuff is some kind of expensive new! Would think someone would have some use for it, just finding them is the problem.
 

I know you're already a member of Stovebolt. I'd suggest checking in at the firetruck forum over there and inquire if there would be any interest in the fire apparatus. You can't advertise it there, but you could put an ad in their swap meet forum or request that people PM you about it. Their PM's work over there!
 
After having a combine fire last year I think a fire truck would be great to have . Seen a story or rfdtv where a guy made a fire engine out of an old terra gator
 
(quoted from post at 21:14:46 08/13/18) Every farm should have at least one fire truck.

They are still working on a wildfire out here that was started by a combine last week...we get a number of them every year. They get away from you fast, not sure one truck would have put it out.
 
That one must look like new all over. 61'-66 is a favorite of mine, have a '64 with the Obeco grain body,81,000 miles, but with a 292 that runs like a top. 2,200 miles, in that shape, tough to re-configure it being so pristine. I'd be tempted, but being a one of I don't know. Would love to see more photos of it. I am wondering if the valve covers have gold paint, that one has to be all original for sure.
 
Some people buy tanks you bought a fire truck. Nothing odd about that. Why break it up. To many people buy the older equipment only to destroy it. Keep it for local events and you never know when you might need it.
 
Leave the front pump on.
In the summer, you can drive up to the closest pond and irrigate your crops with it. ;-)
 

That gated "wye" on the steamer is strange. Perhaps they needed the capability of being able to draft from a water supply and receive water from a more distant source via another pumper at the same time.
 
That would certainly make an eye popper at a parade........292, was that the first OHV Ford Y8 engine? Remember the days when the little Chevy 265 V8, short stroke would smoke it. But it was stout.
 
Nice looking outfit, before you go taking it apart I will share a story of why you may want to keep it the way it is.

One hot fall afternoon many moons ago I got a call from my wife telling me the field just north of the yard was on fire and spreading fast.
Being that she had our two young ones with her all I could suggest was get them in the truck and get out of there fast.

Got a call back a short time later letting me know the fire was out.

The neighbour to the north of us was hauling grain to his bins, the exhaust or something started the fire.
As the crow flies his farmyard was a mile from where the bins were but just over 2 miles by road.
He went flying out of the bin yard with the box still dropping as he went and used every bit of power his old C6500 had in it to get back to his yard.
A couple of minutes later as my wife described it "I have never seen a tractor move that fast"
Al had a cultivator still attached to his big old Steiger in the yard.
Fences be dammed he came cross country with it and got the fire under control before it spread too far.

The next week at a fair expense Al and his father in law bought a 3 ton and mounted a tank and pump on it and kept it always ready just in case.

As he put it, if we never ever use it, it was money well spent for the piece of mind that it is there if it is ever needed.
 
There was a guy in the next town over. Found an unrestored 1926 Packard Touring coupe. He stripped it put in a crate motor new controls. Ended up selling it for less than he could have sold the Packard for. Unrestored. Never did understand that. What was he thinking.
 
First over head valve engine for Ford was the 239 cid in '54. The 272 and 292 were introduced in '55. Then the 312 in '56. I had a '56 with the 312 & 3 speed overdrive many yrs. ago.....I can close my eyes and still hear it, sweet.
 
I also like that Ford body vintage. Yes hard to tear down, but would be a great truck to use, and not leave back of the shed
 
Wow, that is a nice one. I think I?d actual shed tears if I knew you did in fact take it apart. I really like old fire trucks! Currently I have a 1963 GMC that has never been out of our county since new.
 
I found the towns 1956 Dodge Monday,I want the truck, just not everything fire truck. I bet it doesn't have 20,000 miles on it.
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top