The internal combustion engine is a very powerful machine. For example, this 1916 Federal Motors truck is over 100 years old and no longer has a cab or body. The flathead four-cylinder engine is still there. This video shows the process of getting it running again.
The process begins by using PB Blaster penetrating fluid to free the spark plug and then the cylinder. From what we can see, the engine’s interior is in good shape, especially considering its age.
This power plant uses a crank start. Even without a carburetor, it could explode with just a little gasoline in the cylinder. He needed to add new spark plug wires because one of them broke.
The owner then installed a barely working carburetor. There is no fuel supply, so the owner has to fill up with gas bottles. Still, it’s enough to make the engine idle.
Here’s a useful tip. If you’ve ever driven a car by hand, wrap your thumb around the lever. If it backfires, the crank can break your thumb if you use a normal grip.
Getting this old truck moving is going to be a much bigger task. The transmission conditions are a complete mystery. There is no steering wheel, and the body is missing. Just the frame, fuel tank, engine, and some suspension parts.
The owner plans to run this truck again. Needs a new water pump as radiator doesn’t seem to drain coolant. He also plans to rebuild the carburetor. The axle shaft is missing, and it is needed before this truck can be driven again.
It’s really interesting to think about returning a vehicle like this to usable condition with this as a starting point. Finding the body would be a challenge, but as a farm vehicle, one could build something together for rough use.
The Federal Motor Truck Company started in 1910 in Detroit, Michigan. It built not only commercial vehicles but also military rigs. The brand went out of business in 1959.
