PRE-TOURING CHECKLIST FOR FORD CARS & TRUCKS
A. COOLING SYSTEM:
1. Flow Check the Radiator
a. Clean/cook radiator
b. ‘32 radiator should flow 50 gal/min
2. New/rebuilt Water Pumps
a. Old pumps as spares (if good)
3. New Hoses
4. New Fan Belt
a. Old one as spare (if good)
5. Fill Coolant
a. Summer- distilled water & water pump lube
b. Winter- antifreeze and water
6. Extra gallon of distilled water- check radiator often
B. FUEL SYSTEM:
1. Clean Fuel Tank
a. Chemically (acid bath) clean
b. Coat tank with sealer
2. Fuel Filter
a. Clean or replace
3. Fuel Pump
a. Rebuild
b. Take spare diaphragm
4. Carburetor
a. Check
b. Rebuild if necessary
C. GENERATING SYSTEM:
1. Generator
a. Test output
b. Disassemble
Clean. turn commutator, undercut mica, check brushes,
bearings (replace with sealed bearings if available),
replace cut out with voltage regulator
D. STARTING SYSTEM:
1. Battery
a. Clean terminals
wire brush terminals & cable ends, vaseline
b. Battery Cables
large 6 volt size, ends in good shape, not corroded, clean & tight
2. Starter
a. Disassemble
Clean, turn commutator, undercut mica, check/replace brushes,
check bearings, bendix, spring & bolts
lube, assemble and check
3. Starter Switch or Solenoid
a. Test
b. Carry spare
E. IGNITION SYSTEM:
1. Spark Plugs
a. Restore/replace
b. Take spares
2. Distributor Cap & Wires
a. Cap
look for cracks, dirt, wear pattern
check with continuity tester
b. Spark plug wires
test with continuity tester
replace if bad, old, oily
3. Distributor
a. Tune-up
new points, rotor, condensor
clean, lube assemble
test and time distributor with suitable timing fixture
4. Coil
a. Test with coil tester
get modern rebuild if necessary
consider running a modern coil with coil adapter
5. On/Off Bakelite switch plate
a. Sand clean or replace
6. Wiring (battery, on/off switch, coil, distributor)
a. Clean and tighten all connections
F. ENGINE:
1. Does it use or burn oil?
a. Does it leak oil?
Front or back? How much? A little or a lot?
2. Oil Pressure
a. Does it sustain oil pressure when hot or on a long drive?
b. Does it overheat?
3. Retorque Heads
a. Aluminum to 45 ft pounds
b. Iron to 55 ft pounds
4. Cylinder compression check
a. Do all cylinders test similar?
b. Test at starter speed with all plugs removed, Carb throttle plate open
Altitude varies atmospheric pressure
c. Normal Compression
Atmospheric pressure X compression ratio + atmospheric pressure + 5 = normal compression
5. Adjust Clutch
a. 1” freeplay on clutch pedal before contact with pressure plate fingers
6. Take Spare Gaskets
a. Heads
b. Pan
c. Intake
7. Take 2 quarts of extra oil
G. BRAKES:
1. Pull drums and check
a. Shoes
b. Springs
c. Drums (don’t turn more than necessary)
d. Wheel cylinder leakage (on hydraulics)
2. Clean and grease all bearings/or replace
3. Check all hydraulic lines
a. Leakage
b. Corrosion
4. Check mechanical brake linkage from pedal & handbrake to all shoes
5. Adjust brakes
H. SHOCK ABSORBERS:
1. Check bolts and linkage
2. Check for leaks / refill
I. LIGHTS:
1. Headlights
a. Hi/low beams
b. Clean all junctions and grease, clean grounds
2. Tail Lights
a. Clean ground, sockets, reflectors, tighten bolts
3. Brake lights
a. Brake light switch Clean and tighten terminals
4. Cowl lights
5. Dash lights
6. Turn signals
7. Spare bulbs and fuses
8. Consider turn signals, second brake light, and extra brake light
J. LUBRICATE:
1. Engine oil (change once or twice a summer)
2. Check transmission oil
3. Check rear axle oil
4. Grease universal joint
5. All grease zerks or fittings
K. TIRES:
1. Check tread depth
2. Check for cracks
3. Consider age of tires
4. Tools
a. Lug wrench
b. Jack
c. Tire pump
d. Tire irons
e. Spare tube
f. Patch kit
L. FRONT END/STEERING:
1. Check for uneven tire wear
2. Check toe-in
3. Check for loose king pins
4. Check for all cotter pins
5. Check ball studs/tie rod ends
6. Grease all fittings
7. Check drag link
8. Check steering box end play
a. Adjust if excessive
b. Fill with gear oil
c. Install brass tube steering box seal if it is leaking
Written by Mark Moriarty
"VALVE-EN-BLOCS"
Warsaw, NY
Early Ford V-8 Club
Western NY RG #3