1953 Federal Fire Truck

[Richard Grissom]

I am looking for ignition parts for our fire truck it is a 53 federal with a continental 503 6 cyl, it was originally a naval fire truck and has a magneto and a distributor,two spark plugs per cylinder. the mag does not work and the distributor cap is badly burnt, neeed help locating parts anybody know where to find them

[JKWidener]

Dont know if this helps but here is a link to a place where you can buy an electronic ignition conversion for your engine. Its a PDF file and yours is on page 13. http://www.rebelwolf.com/downloads/Pertronix.pdf

You might also try napa. I have found that they can get some of the hard to find parts where others couldnt...

[Bud Tierney]

You didn't say what (if any) homework you've done, so pardon the obvious here. The dual systems are independent, fixing the dist should get it running; have you found the dist ID, tried to run it or just the cap thru NAPA etc or Cont engine sources and interchanges? Have you ID'd the engine, to see if used in other vehicles where dist may be same or different but interchangeable? I assume you're posting on the Fire Truck sites. Same suggestions apply to mag. I have very little Federal info after 50, only listing ID'd as Fire Truck is 54-57 FT45 and FT46, both using Cont U6501; that eng also in 1952 Mod 6000 and CC-11, but I have no info on that engine. As above, if you've already done this, my apologies for belaboring the obvious.
Oops: Cont U6501 also used in a batch of Am La France fire eqpmt, 54 to 62 and possibly later (my listings end in 62); will post list if helpful, and alfowners.org may be helpful. If that not your engine, and you do have engine ID, post it. Good luck.

[Bud Tierney]

Sheesh! Old age getting me: meant to add: if that a Cont eng to remember Cont used different ID numbers for engines in different uses, at least up thru 49 or so .Examples: "automotive" M6330 was ind M330 and pwr unit PM330; "automotive" 22R was ind 33R and pwr unit P695 and PR501 (automotive=truck use). Have no idea how long this usage continued after 49. Good luck.

[Richard Grissom]

Bud, thanks for the reply and let me give you a little more info about this truck, right now it runs on the distributor only and only on 5 cyl, dist cap badly burnt, the mag does not work and has not for many years, the engine is a cont 501 and the dist is a delco remy # 1111594, we have exhausted all local parts stores including napa with no help, the dist is the style that has the coil under the cap so it has a very odd shape to it, I was hoping maybe somebody out there had some old parts around or new of a way to possibly switch to something newer or more standard,It uses military style shieled spark plug wires and has 2 per cyl, We only use this truck for special events and work with limited funds so i figured it would be cheaper to try and fix the dist before the mag. any info would be great thanks again Rich

[JKWidener]

I would try emailing these fine folks...They seem to want to work with people on their projects.. They make 75% of all electronic ignitions out there. http://pertronix.com/ You never know, they might already have what you are looking for in the means of updating your ignition.

[Bud Tierney]

Rich: You should certainly look into JKW's electronic ignition suggestion; it may well be too expensive, but at least you'd know.
If you're determined to keep it as original as possible:
(1) "...it runs on five...dist cap badly burned..."; d'you mean the metal contact that carries spark from rotor thru cap to plug wire is burnt/eroded away? If so, have you checked dist rebuilders to see if they replace , or can replace?
(2) You need exact ID of engine model: if you mean 501CI, it could be a 22R, used in lots of other stuff, and a single-ignition dist might fit and work; if you mean you have the U6501, you need to find out if there are other single ignition variants (either truck/ind/power unit) that you could get a dist from.
You really need someone with both Cont engine and DR dist interchanges.
Have you tried these (alleged) Cont eng parts sources: foleyengines.com ; montesequipment.com; or M&M Surplus, Bronx, NY (Cont/Herc/Wauk) No email, fax ? 718-828-9851, ph?718-828-9026. I KNOW NOTHING OF THESE OUTFITS, JUST SEEN THEM MENTIONED IN OTHER POSTS.
If you have an engine ID tag, let us know exactly what it says; it could well be helpful.

[Bill Geyer]

Try this link posted by Mike Schweikert, he found some really odball points here.
http://www.special-interest-autos.com/

[K D Redd]

You need to check with a local Hot rodder who is NOT affraid of modifing parts. I have a 1952 Military International with the SD 220 engine. This engine was set-up with the sheilded 24 Volt airchraft type plugs and ignition wire. I modifyied a Buick V-6 HEI distributor to use in the International engine when we converted the truck to 12 volts. A guy locally found out about this as he has a wrecker that was originally millitary. On this engine I modifiied a Chrysler slant 6 electronic distributor to get this engine running. If you were close I would bet I could come up with something to get your truck running right. I am also pretty good with mags. Is there anything obvious wrong with the mag? what kind is it. If the coil is good all that may be wrong with the mag is a bad condenser. Someone may have assembled it wrong and has the high side of the points shorted to ground. I fixed a mag from a H Farmall that was just assembled wrong. The local IH dealer had NO ONE who would even attemp the repair. I am in Southwest Missouri about 20 miles north of Springfield.

Kent