FREE 1965 F engine!
I have an original, unadulterated (well, almost) F engine that originally came out of a '65 FJ40. I don't need it for my '71, which will get a SBC, and in the interest of simplifying my life and clearing out space in my garage, I'm offering it to anybody who wants it. If you're interested in it, please let me know why you want it - I'll give preference to those who have an immediate need for it, and those who need an older engine, although I'm most interested in getting it out of my driveway before the neighbors complain, so if you just want it as a spare please feel free to request it.
The good:
It ran remarkably well the last time I ran it. It had a lot of power, and it brought my 40 about a thousand miles without skipping a beat (except as noted below). It was smooth and powerful, and seemed perfectly happy to hum along all day at 3200 RPM, which is pretty impressive for an F.
The bad:
Compression readings were all over the map, which given how well it ran, I suspected was it getting close to needing a valve job. It leaks oil. It needs a new carb - that was the only problem I had bringing the Cruiser here was that the carb was highly jury-rigged to get the engine to run. One of the bolts that should hold the thermostat housing in place is broken, and worse yet, has a broken screw extractor in it, although that should be easy to get removed by a machine shop when you pull the head to do the valves.

It leaks some oil. The last time it was started was in November of 1998, although I did squirt a bit of oil into the cylinders not too long after that.
The ugly:
It's the old, old, old-style F, with siamesed exhaust ports and an intake manifold that won't accept a 2bbl carb without an adapter plate. Seriously, this thing is OLD. If you look under the hood of a '61 Chevy pickup, you'd swear it's the same engine - I compared them side by side and they look identical, down to the same pattern of ribs on the valve cover. It's got a later-model spin-on oil filter (takes a Fram PH-8A filter) in place of the original (messy) filter, which is U-bolted to the intake manifold. It, like other F engines, weighs an obscene amount. And did I mention that it's really, really old?
It's currently sitting in my driveway, and I'd really like it gone sooner rather than later. I have a cherry picker and I'll be glad to lift it into your truck or trailer - all you have to do is show up with something suitable for carrying 800 pounds of fairly dirty engine.
The price, as I mentioned, is free. If I get multiple requests for it, I'll adjudicate it as I see fit - please respect my decision and don't go poking pins into a voodoo doll of me if I don't give it to you. If nobody requests it, I'll haul it off for junk - please don't make me do that!
The best way to reach me is by email at
aley@lechugilla.com. I don't frequent the forums; I'll try to remember to check back and see if there are any takers here, but no promises.
