1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Military Trucks 2 1/2 ton and greater, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base

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Jeff L
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1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Mon Aug 15, 2016 7:17 pm

I've wanted a Federal C2 wrecker for several years and I finally have one, serial number 113912, W58938. I bought the C2 at the Jeff Chester auction and just got it home on Sunday. I'm very pleased with the condition of the truck. The sheet metal is in very good condition with very little rust. The wood frame cab is always the archilles heel on these trucks, and while the wood is old and weathered it is still pretty solid for the most part. It will need replaced eventually but is ok for now. The drivers door is the worst part of the truck, the wood has deteriorated and it is coming apart. But over all the truck is very solid. I'm still trying to figure out if I have a 606D or 606E model, my truck has features of both. The data plate is completely rusted over, but I can make out the stamped serial and W numbers. The frame number is a little ambiguous, the character after "606" was not stamped completely but looks like a D. But the truck has many E model features, including the floor starter, primer, and 26 foot boom. My plan for right now is to get the truck running and operating. I know I'll have a lot of questions.
Attachments
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 1a.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 1a.jpg (207.6 KiB) Viewed 5061 times
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 3a.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 3a.jpg (234.53 KiB) Viewed 5061 times
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 4a.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 4a.jpg (218 KiB) Viewed 5061 times
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 7.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker 7.jpg (164.1 KiB) Viewed 5061 times
Serial Number 113912.jpg
Serial Number 113912.jpg (227.58 KiB) Viewed 5061 times
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clintm20
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by clintm20 » Tue Aug 16, 2016 4:50 am

I love it and so would Beans. Can't wait to come over and check it out. On second thought maybe when its a little cooler outside.
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Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662

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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Tue Aug 16, 2016 2:12 pm

Come on over whenever you like Clint, although it is a tad hot right now. Beans wouldn't know what to do with himself after driving a modern truck like a C2, he is used to those antiquated WLF Series 2's !

By the way, the C2 is safe inside for the first time in many years.
Attachments
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 wrecker inside.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 wrecker inside.jpg (164.49 KiB) Viewed 4996 times
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by gfos » Tue Aug 16, 2016 5:54 pm

Hi Jeff, what a great truck. I haven't seen one before. That will be a interesting project.

Your US6-T crane boom looks longer than the one on my Autocar U8244T. I suppose it would need to be with one more rear axle.

Wood body parts aren't to bad to make if you have a good bandsaw and a table router. I helped restore a couple 20's Chev touring car bodies. It was interesting work.

Best of luck with your truck,

Greg
1942 Willys MB, DOD 4/28/42
1943 USN Autocar U8244T aircraft wrecker #9191
1978 USN GMC C65 ammunition handling truck with national crane.

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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by johnseidts » Wed Aug 17, 2016 5:52 am

My friend drove that very truck and he said it ran well. Glad it found a good home. Great place for it, as with all the training fields in FL, I'm sure one or two were stationed there during the war. Good luck with the restoration.
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Wed Aug 17, 2016 6:55 pm

John, hopefully it will run well again, although it has a few issues now. The number 3 and 4 spark plugs are rusted off allowing a path for rainwater to get in those cylinders, and the engine is stuck. I'll check it out with a borescope in the next few days and see what they look like.

I did have a little luck with the data plate. It is located on top of the dash between the center of the windshields and was completely rusted and illegible. A friend suggested I soak it overnight in KBS Rust Blast. I was pretty skeptical it would work, but he said it would only remove the rust and not the paint underneath. When I checked this morning I could clearly read Federal Motor Truck on the bottom, and some of the other nomenclature. Unfortunately my plate is in poor condition, but after the rust blast soak it is much better than it was. The serial number is 113912 and matches the number on the frame. The Army registration number is W58938 which matches the number on the underside of the hood. And the truck was delivered on 1-26-44. The data plate would also tell me if the truck is a 606D or 606E model, but that part is still illegible ! I think it is a D model but it has several E model features as well.
Attachments
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker Data Plate Before Rust Blast.jpg
Federal 1944 606 C2 6x6 Wrecker Data Plate Before Rust Blast.jpg (137.52 KiB) Viewed 4931 times
Federal 606 C2 sn 113912 Data Plate After Rust Blast a.jpg
Federal 606 C2 sn 113912 Data Plate After Rust Blast a.jpg (242.63 KiB) Viewed 4931 times
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:44 pm

I'm coming to the conclusion that it may make more sense financially to get another engine than try to save the one I have, although I haven't completely given up on it yet. Besides the 2 cylinders, the water damage got into the valvetrain and perhaps the camshaft as well. So I am looking for a Hercules HXD in running condition, preferably with dual ignition although I can swap my heads and distributor if need be. Does anyone know of an HXD for sale ?

I found a neat video of how one is supposed to run !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C93vlwcx2Kc
Jeff

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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by johnseidts » Mon Oct 24, 2016 2:10 pm

Ben Dover knows how to get in touch with Jerry Biro, who is something of a Hercules parts guy. I think he is in Ohio. He might be of some assistance in getting you to talk with people who actually have cared for these engines. Hercules engines ran well for long times if well cared for. I'd do a better assessment before I decided to get a new engine and get some advice from somebody who actually works on them- I'm sure there aren't a lot of people around who worked on them still in practice. Good luck and thanks for the updates.
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by 40 Chevy » Mon Oct 24, 2016 5:06 pm

Up North Jeff just needs to be 10 miles closer.....


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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff Jensen » Tue Oct 25, 2016 7:08 am

Hi down south Jeff
Lots of work to do,But you will learn much more.
You are going to have to separate the cam from the crank, they are working together on being stuck.
Remove the whole front end so you have room to work.
Valve covers off,remove tappet clusters.
Remove oil pan so you can see what is going on. I did mine all by my self.You might have to remove oil pump and lines so you can see whats going on.
Remove front cover,Jack engine up, remove mount and cover,pull idler gear out ,remove cam gear,put cover and front mount back on and set engine down.
I hope the 2 pistons are around 1/2 down in the bore. Set up a jack pushing up on the crank that will help in pulling down on the two stuck ones,Not a lot of pressure.
Find a nice thick piece of steel,alum,brass that fits in the bore and use a air hammer. Have oil in all cylinders.
You might have to loosen rod nuts to give it some play.

Up north Jeff

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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Tue Oct 25, 2016 2:19 pm

John and Up North Jeff, thanks for the info. I have not given up on this engine yet, but I do want to know what a replacement engine will cost before I sink any money into this one. Jeff, I have almost half the things on your list done already, next will be to drop the oil pan. It had occurred to me that the cam could be stuck, the tappet bodies have a lot of surface rust on them. My biggest problem is time, working 60-70 hours every week doesn't leave a lot of truck time. Here's a few photos of what it looks like so far. First 2 shots are #3 & #4 cylinders after I bailed the water out, last 2 pics are the what it looks like under the side covers.
Attachments
#3 Cylinder Dried Out.jpg
#3 Cylinder Dried Out.jpg (166.89 KiB) Viewed 4611 times
#4 Drained and Cleaned Out.jpg
#4 Drained and Cleaned Out.jpg (248.61 KiB) Viewed 4611 times
Front Valvetrain.jpg
Front Valvetrain.jpg (198.16 KiB) Viewed 4611 times
Rear Valvetrain.jpg
Rear Valvetrain.jpg (216.43 KiB) Viewed 4611 times
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by 40 Chevy » Tue Oct 25, 2016 3:45 pm

I have had very good results with KROIL penetrating oil. Soak the lifters for several days.

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1944 G116 series 5
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by kw573 » Wed Oct 26, 2016 12:42 pm

Hi,

I am currently wrestling with a 6cyl. CMP chev engine that is more corroded than that in the cam/lifter area. It is slow work, soak/apply pressure/soak/etc. Dunno if I can get it to run again.

Many years ago, I resurrected a Studerbaker 6x6 engine that had water laying in the cylinders for years. I had no real money, so I cleaned up the badly pitted bore with a hone and put new rings in. It ran very nicely, but was a bit smokey, burning the oil that was caught in the pit marks at each piston power stroke. It was a paddock truck for many years.

I love the wreckers, you have a great 'save' there. Looking forward to seeing it going and stretching a few cables.

Sam, downunder.
1942 Script GPW (Daily driver).
MB-T trailer.
Diamond T 969. ('The Glorifier')
Diamond T 969, rusty, complete, for sale.
Kenworth M1A1 Heavy Wrecker x 2.
M2A1 white HT. ('Clarrie')
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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by clintm20 » Fri Oct 28, 2016 6:48 am

Hi Jeff I think its possible Sam Winer Motors in Akron Ohio might still have a crated HXD. If they do and you get it let me know I'm interested in road tripping up there.
Green Trucks and High Tides Forever

Diamond T M3 Half-track Serial # M32971 USA 4045956
Autocar M3A1 Half-track Serial # M3A1-47825 USA 4053835
Autocar M16A1 Half-track Serial # M15A1-1945 USA 40150662

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Re: 1944 Federal 606 C2 Wrecker

Post by Jeff L » Fri Oct 28, 2016 4:21 pm

A friend bought a rebuilt HXD from Sam Winer within the last year or so for his Biederman F1. My friend thinks it was the last one. But I'll check with Winer anyway. I need to get with Jerry Biro as well. I'm hoping to get the pan off mine this weekend and see what the bottom end looks like. Clint, I'll let you know if there are any road trips.
Jeff

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