The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hello everyone.

Im new here, my name is Bob and i Just purchased a 1975 F250 with a 590E 6 cylinder engine.

I was told the 590E is the same as a super major engine with 2 extra cylinders.

I got about 16L total from the crankcase, and it was a milky mess. At first I thought it might just be a head gasket, but I was told these engines were also bad for leaking around the sleeve seals if the antifreeze was neglected..

were these engines known for head gasket failure?

If not, and it turns out to be sleeve seals, is there any info on how to do these?? I have never changed a wet sleeve before..

All the help I can get I will take.

Thanks so much!
Bob

Bob, everything you need is on this board or linked to. On the main page you will find manuals. Search for Belzona in forums for repairing rusted out sealing ring bosses. As far as going for a turbo conversion, you are probably money ahead selling your engine on this board to someone in need and purchasing a turbo motor. I know of 2 170 HP turbo motors still in the trucks that can be had quite reasonably here in SW Wisconsin. When I looked at them I couldn't quite see the actual model # on the tag, only the HP. Needed to tilt the cabs to get a better look, but that was 100 HP more than I wanted for a super major. I would think your truck is pretty slow, and limited on top speed too needing an overdrive. The folks on this board have been extremely helpful to me, hope I can return the favors somehow. Where are you located? JB.

exp500 wrote:Bob, everything you need is on this board or linked to. On the main page you will find manuals. Search for Belzona in forums for repairing rusted out sealing ring bosses. As far as going for a turbo conversion, you are probably money ahead selling your engine on this board to someone in need and purchasing a turbo motor. I know of 2 170 HP turbo motors still in the trucks that can be had quite reasonably here in SW Wisconsin. When I looked at them I couldn't quite see the actual model # on the tag, only the HP. Needed to tilt the cabs to get a better look, but that was 100 HP more than I wanted for a super major. I would think your truck is pretty slow, and limited on top speed too needing an overdrive. The folks on this board have been extremely helpful to me, hope I can return the favors somehow. Where are you located? JB.

Thanks for the fast reply!

I am located in Vancouver BC..

I will search for "belzona" and see what I come up with, the engine is still in the truck and running, but I plan to pull it and have a look at what I find.

The truck is slow, and tops out around 45MPH. The truck is a 4 speed...

What are the turbo engines available that would swap in place of a 590E?

Mr. Bob wrote:

exp500 wrote:Bob, everything you need is on this board or linked to. On the main page you will find manuals. Search for Belzona in forums for repairing rusted out sealing ring bosses. As far as going for a turbo conversion, you are probably money ahead selling your engine on this board to someone in need and purchasing a turbo motor. I know of 2 170 HP turbo motors still in the trucks that can be had quite reasonably here in SW Wisconsin. When I looked at them I couldn't quite see the actual model # on the tag, only the HP. Needed to tilt the cabs to get a better look, but that was 100 HP more than I wanted for a super major. I would think your truck is pretty slow, and limited on top speed too needing an overdrive. The folks on this board have been extremely helpful to me, hope I can return the favors somehow. Where are you located? JB.

Thanks for the fast reply!

I am located in Vancouver BC..

I will search for "belzona" and see what I come up with, the engine is still in the truck and running, but I plan to pull it and have a look at what I find.

The truck is slow, and tops out around 45MPH. The truck is a 4 speed...

What are the turbo engines available that would swap in place of a 590E?

Hi welcome to the forum I have been reading your post and have a 590 that the crank is bad on. I might be interested in your motor for parts if ya pulling it out .
I'm located in Manitoba.

The 2700 360 365 or 380 cubic inch series diesel would fit with slight modification to the front mounts and lower radiator hose connection and muffler pipes if using a turbo. it is common in the early new holland combines in the U.S and Canada but you need a truck one as combines are governed to run flat out on the fuel injection pumps . Trucks have variable pump timing so pull right through the rev range. the other thing is that im not sure on is if the north american truck motor is mounted on its side like the english ones are . if so the sumps slope with a large lump out the side and it needs modification to run up right if thats the case you may be better with the combine motor it is an upright motor and then change the pump for a truck one. I heard some where in a post on here that the slant motors dont like runnin upright to well. I think its to do with side loading and wear on the pistons.
I hope ya not too confused by what I said i find it hard to explain on here sometimes if you are just ask and I'll try explain it better.
Regards Robert

super6954 wrote:

Mr. Bob wrote:

exp500 wrote:Bob, everything you need is on this board or linked to. On the main page you will find manuals. Search for Belzona in forums for repairing rusted out sealing ring bosses. As far as going for a turbo conversion, you are probably money ahead selling your engine on this board to someone in need and purchasing a turbo motor. I know of 2 170 HP turbo motors still in the trucks that can be had quite reasonably here in SW Wisconsin. When I looked at them I couldn't quite see the actual model # on the tag, only the HP. Needed to tilt the cabs to get a better look, but that was 100 HP more than I wanted for a super major. I would think your truck is pretty slow, and limited on top speed too needing an overdrive. The folks on this board have been extremely helpful to me, hope I can return the favors somehow. Where are you located? JB.

Thanks for the fast reply!

I am located in Vancouver BC..

I will search for "belzona" and see what I come up with, the engine is still in the truck and running, but I plan to pull it and have a look at what I find.

The truck is slow, and tops out around 45MPH. The truck is a 4 speed...

What are the turbo engines available that would swap in place of a 590E?

Hi welcome to the forum I have been reading your post and have a 590 that the crank is bad on. I might be interested in your motor for parts if ya pulling it out .
I'm located in Manitoba.

The 2700 360 365 or 380 cubic inch series diesel would fit with slight modification to the front mounts and lower radiator hose connection and muffler pipes if using a turbo. it is common in the early new holland combines in the U.S and Canada but you need a truck one as combines are governed to run flat out on the fuel injection pumps . Trucks have variable pump timing so pull right through the rev range. the other thing is that im not sure on is if the north american truck motor is mounted on its side like the english ones are . if so the sumps slope with a large lump out the side and it needs modification to run up right if thats the case you may be better with the combine motor it is an upright motor and then change the pump for a truck one. I heard some where in a post on here that the slant motors dont like runnin upright to well. I think its to do with side loading and wear on the pistons.
I hope ya not too confused by what I said i find it hard to explain on here sometimes if you are just ask and I'll try explain it better.
Regards Robert

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your post...

Just to give everyoneone some quick background, I built an almost 500HP 2002 7.3L powerstroke F350, then sold it to buy a 1995 F350 Gas, that I swapped a Cummins I built, that will hopefully run 500HP at BD diesel Dyno days in the fall... Ran 412 this spring with poor tuning and small injectors..

I purchased this truck thinking it was really neat, but the oil level was high and very milky. I drained the oil, drianed the antifreeze, flushed the cooling system, re filled it, re filled the oil, then drove it for 30 mins... the oil level is now just a touch high, but when I pressure test the cooling system, it holds 7PSI both hot and cold.. Hmmm, not exactly sure what to think about that.. expected the rad not to hold pressure..

Robert, send me an Email: mr.bob.elder AT gmail.com... I have no idea if I will keep it or swap it.. or what this engine is worth complete for parts..

What is wrong with your crank? can it not be welded and machined?

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the forum.
Your 590E could have a bad head gasket. I had a Major engine with one. It could be the liner (sleeve) o-rings or the grooves in the block. If the antifreeze didn't get changed regularly, it could have holes in the liners. Most people call that electrolysis, but it's really liner cavitation erosion. It doesn't matter what you call it, it still makes holes in the liners. Worse case scenario, the block could be cracked through the bottom o-ring grooves.
Is your F-250 2wd or 4wd? You could swap the 4-spd. for a 5-spd. to get a few more MPH out of it, or put taller gears in the rear end. It should have enough torque to pull it.
It sounds like a neat project. Good luck with it.