I have been offered a 1961 ford cabover i have not seen it except in pictuers yet and have been told it is a diesel anybody got any idea what kind of diesel engine would have come in this truck.thanks for your help

 

The H-series trucks were available in many combinations of engine, transmission and rear axle options. Five Ford big V-8 gas and five Cummins diesel engines supplied the power under the newly designed cab. The V-8 gas engines offered were Super-Duty engines. The H-series trucks were optioned with 401-cu.in. two-barrel and four-barrel, 477 two-barrel and four-barrel, and 534 four-barrel Ford engines. Gas engine models were designated H or HT. Cummins engine options available were 674-cubic-inch NH-180 and NH-195 diesels or 743-cubic-inch NHE-180, NHE-195 or the NH-220. Torque ratings ranged from 504-lbs.ft. at 1,500 rpm for the NH-180 to a whopping 606-lbs.ft. at 1,600 rpm for the NH-220. The NHE or "economy" engines operated at lower rpm, exhaust temperatures and cylinder pressures to improve fuel economy and longevity. Cummins "Pressure-Time" fuel injection was used on the diesels, which was a very simple injection system using a minimum of components. The "PT" fuel-injection system was driven off the engine camshaft. Diesel models were designated HD for single rear axle and HDT for tandem rear axle.

Got it from here: 1961-'65 Ford H-Series cabovers | Hemmings Motor News

 

I'd guess that would be the first question, H or C.

Not sure on which, if any, oil burners were offered in C's in that year.

 

It cannot be a 1961, because...there are no diesel engines listed in the 1957/63 Ford Truck Parts Catalog "Diesel Engine Application Charts" until 1962.

1961/65: There are two different Tilt Cabs: C/CT Series & H/HT Series.

Without knowing the year and series of truck, it's impossible to determine what diesel it could have. If you post the VIN, once decoded, all this info will be known.

 

what model truck is it ?


Ford had entered the diesel market in 1961 with Cummins-powered versions of the H-Series high tilt cab, designated the HD-Series.

 

Assuming it is a early model C series, verify the year, since '62 is when Ford first started offering the 330 City size diesel (built by Ford of England) in the C 6000 and C7000 series.

 

No Cummins diesel engine is listed in Ford truck parts catalogs until 1964. There are no diesels of any kind listed for 1961.

 

he has not even given a model # for his truck and for all any one knows the engine could have been swapped in the last 30+ years !

 

In other words, the H-Series trucks were C-Series trucks on steroids!

 

This is absolutely correct for the H series.

 

Wonderful, now look in the 1957/63 Ford Truck Parts Catalog under the Diesel Engine Application Charts and/or the Diesel Engine parts lists.

See if you can find one diesel engine listed for any 1961. Lotsa luck, because the isn't one listed...until 1962.

When the OP posts the trucks VIN, once decoded, the series, engine type/size and the year/month the truck was assembled...will be known.

FoMoCo puts all sorts of jazz in sales brochures, doesn't mean they were available. Sometimes, these features are "teasers" to spark demand among the general public.

 

This is your problem, you spent too much time behind parts books, and not enough time in the real world seeing a driving real trucks.Photo from James Wagner "Ford Trucks since 1905"

 

Thats some pretty good proof though..

 

Uh huh...

I'm 67 years old, been in this hobby since 1956, have owned 337 vehicles, 84 of them FoMoCo products. Purchased 8 new Ford Trucks, 4 new Ford Cars. Was a Ford partsman for 35 years.

When I see FoMoCo proof that they offered a diesel in 1961, then I'll believe it. All three of my 1957/63 Ford truck parts catalogs, printed in 1965, 1968 and 1970 do not list a diesel until 1962.

Quoting from a book about Ford Trucks, written by James Wagner, who is not connected with FoMoCo, doesn't cut it...IMO.

 

Bill,

First off, much thanks to you for all your contributions to to FTE. You are an honored and esteemed member here and most all of us have benefited from your knowledge and expertise.

To you and everyone else, please, please let's NOT let this forum end up in spitting matches!

Just my humble opinion...