My itch for a new running classic project vehicle, combined with the possibility of the near-future need for a pickup for home remodeling duties, has caused me to stumble across an early 60s International Harvester pickup. I know exactly nothing about these. How problematic are parts, including sheet metal? I'm guessing they're reasonably capable trucks, but how do they compare to the more common Ford/GM/Dodge offerings in roughly the same period? Any major problem areas?
Rust.
Especially up under the dash in the cowl. There are some patch panels to fix this problem, but you probably don't want to get into that headache. Most parts are either used, or fabricated replacements that aren't nearly OEM quality. The rarity of IH trucks for sale or on the street should give you an idea about the availability of parts.
They aren't ever going to be as easy as the Big 3 for parts, and the engine parts can be troublesome. Don't get me wrong, I have a '65 Travelette, but I also know it has limitations. There are a few forums and FB groups that can be a great help with parts sourcing and understanding the IH quirks, but you probably shouldn't get one unless you are willing to go all in. While a robust platform for its time, it likely will never be an appliance.
That's very useful, thanks. Probably helps to explain the relatively low asking price.
I don’t know about the trucks per day, but a friend had a late 70s scout. The thing was a Frankenstein parts conglomeration. They had 3-4 radiators in the same year and so even if you found one for sale you couldn’t really be sure it would fit.
That's mildly terrifying from a practical usability perspective. Sounds like this is not the route I want to take. Thanks.
I am surprised by the negativity. If you are restoring one you might wind up at swap meets looking for the correct OEM radiator support bracket or something, but it is very easy to keep internationals on the road and running well. Maintenance and wear items are usually same day or next day availability and they are all so simply built that work around are easy. They are not as common as Chevrolet's but there are still thousands on the road.
They are extremely rugged trucks. Remember, IH was a tractor and implement company before they made trucks.
Rust is always bad on these trucks, so keep an eye out for bondo buckets, but other than that, they are runners and they are very agricultural when working on them. Parts aren’t too terribly hard to find and with this day and age of the internet, it’s somewhat easier than 20 years ago. Parts trucks are also not hard to come by. A lot of people, when the trucks stop running, stick them in the back yard or behind a building with intention of getting them running, but never do.
With a little looking it’s not hard to find pieces to keep them going. My grandfather’s company had a few when I was a kid and I always liked them. I wouldn’t mind finding one someday.
I would love to have a ih pickup .. but already got 2 other projects vehicles I’m working on
Hard to find parts for a Holley distributor.
They are 25% harsher and tougher than a big 3 pickup of the time, but they are also 25% more rusty and ungainly, too.
I say ungainly because ugly is such a cruel word.
They'll also run 25% longer than anything else.
IHC wasn't a car company and didn't try making car engines work in trucks.
They took the engines from the 5-ton and under trucks and put them in pickups. It will drink fuel but it will get that same mileage loaded, unloaded, uphill, downhill, etc for about 500,000 miles before you need to think about an overhaul.
I loved the ones I owned and I'll probably have another one day.
IHC engines have an SAE bellhousing so they will bolt to any transmission you can find an appropriate bellhousing for.
Transmissions are Warner manuals or Chrysler 727 automatics. Axles are Dana so very easy to find parts, including brakes. Transfer cases are Dana or New Process. The 345 V8 was in production until the early 1990s so most of the V8 bits are available through Navistar dealers if they have a good parts counter guy.
There seems to be some confusion here, and I suggest some people reread the original post.
OP is talking about an Early '60s IH pickup.
That means no 727 transmission; you're looking at the dreaded Borg Warner T28 Automatic.
266, or possibly a 304 V8, or a rare IH slant 4. But more likely a BG241, or BD series inline 6 Yes, you read that right, they are done by 3800 RpM
That, combined with the gearing these had, makes for a slow trip to a low top speed.
If you have a 2wd, you should be in luck with a common 5 lug pattern for the wheels.
But if you are 4wd, you will likely have a huge 6 on 7.25" lug pattern and split rims that you are NOT going to find modern wheels for, and won't be able to get tires to fit cheaply. And if they are split rims, finding someone to put tires on them will be a treat if you don't have a farming community nearby.
Also, keep in mind that it isn't finding the ring and pinion that is the problem with early axles; it is the consumables. Like wheel bearings. '60s Spicer stuff suffers from this as much (or more) than most. Try finding axle bearing for a 1970s D60-2 sometime.
I'll add more later, but I will double down on this-
And early '60s IH pickup is not something you are going to "dabble" in. You're either in, or you are out.
In reply to Cooter :
I only dealt with the late 60’s stuff, so yeah.
Still would do it
In reply to Cooter :
I’m still in but I’m only going to the lumber yard and back and not every day. I almost bought an early 60s truck with a camper body on it for $600 but my wife ended up in the hospital that week. Two weeks later it reappeared on Craigslist with the camper body ripped off for two grand.
Drove PGH to Niagara Falls and back in an IH Scout once. I fought to keep it in a straight line for the entire trip, what a workout.
Just in case someone more adventurous than me is interested, here's the ad: https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/torrington-1963-international-u/6786479775.html
02Pilot said:Just in case someone more adventurous than me is interested, here's the ad: https://nwct.craigslist.org/cto/d/torrington-1963-international-u/6786479775.html
That's a decent looking example for early 60's IH's. I had a '65 with the straight 6, 4-speed, granny first and a 5.38:1 rear end. I think the same engine was used in some of their tractors of the same vintage. Flip down the drivers side sun visor and see if the parts sheet is still there. IH would bid out every batch and one year would have several possible sources for brakes, clutches, transfer cases, etc. and it would all be listed on the back of the sun visor. A taller rear end will give you more relaxed driving, but it came with all drum brakes so you still need to make sure it will stop! I doubt it will have power anything, but the steering wheel will be as big as a bus.
They are fun to get parts for in another way: IH didn't sell vehicles like most dealerships. They typically didn't have big inventories of trucks for people to choose from. Most were ordered to perform a specific task for the buyer so the mix-n-match of axles, engines, transmissions is open to darn near anything. A half ton IH will never be the standardization level of say a Chevy C-10.
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