YOUR CLASSIC FORD PARTS STORE

Engine Choices and Specifications for 1961-1966 Ford Pickup Trucks: A Nostalgic Journey Through Americana The early 1960s were a golden era for Ford pickup trucks, a time when the open road stretched endlessly before tail fins and chrome, and every engine roar told a story of American grit and ingenuity. For classic Ford enthusiasts browsing C&G Ford Parts, the 1961-1966 Ford F-Series lineup evokes memories of dusty backroads, drive-in diners, and a simpler time when trucks were as much about character as capability. Let’s take a nostalgic ride through the engine choices and specifications that powered these icons of Americana. In 1961, Ford pickups rolled out with a tried-and-true inline-six, the 223 cubic-inch (3.7L) Mileage Maker, delivering 114 horsepower. It was the heartbeat of the working man’s rig—reliable, fuel-sipping, and perfect for hauling hay bales or cruising to the county fair. For those craving more muscle, the 292 cubic-inch (4.8L) Y-block V8 offered 172 horsepower, a nod to the growing appetite for power in an era of rock ‘n’ roll and drag strips. These engines paired with a rugged frame, embodying the spirit of a nation on the move. By 1961, Ford’s fourth-generation F-Series brought fresh style and engine tweaks. The 223 six soldiered on, but the 292 V8 saw refinements, boosting output to around 175 horsepower. These trucks weren’t just machines—they were companions for farmers, builders, and dreamers chasing the horizon. In 1963, Ford upped the ante with a synchronized three-speed transmission and introduced positive crankcase ventilation, blending practicality with a touch of modernity. The big shift came in 1965, when Ford retired the 292 V8 for the all new 352 cubic-inch (5.8L) FE-series V8, pumping out 208 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. Paired with the revolutionary Twin I-Beam suspension, this engine turned the F-100 into a smooth-riding beast, ready for both the worksite and the soda fountain cruise. The 240 cubic-inch (3.9L) inline-six also debuted as an option, offering 150 horsepower for those who prized efficiency over raw power. In 1966, cosmetic tweaks kept the lineup fresh, but the engines remained the soul of these rolling legends. Owning a 1961-1966 Ford pickup is like holding a piece of Americana—rugged, timeless, and brimming with stories. At www.cgfordparts.com, we’re proud to help you keep that legacy alive with parts that honor the past while fueling your next adventure. What’s your favorite memory of these classic engines? Let’s keep the nostalgia rolling!

Ford's Roto-Selector:When You Changed the Radio With Your Foot Today we have steering-wheel audio controls, touchscreens and voice commands. In 1941, Ford had another solution: Use your foot. It sounds like an old-car tall tale until you see the period literature - and the installation instructions. The Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch was designed to let the driver operate the tuning system of a compatible Ford radio without reaching for the dashboard. C&G Ford Parts offers reproduction 11A-18934-A radio foot control switch with wire for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car installations. And this little switch is considerably more interesting than it looks.   Ford Really Called It the "Roto-Selector" That name isn't something modern parts sellers dreamed up. Ford's own 1941 promotional material advertised a new Ford radio with "Roto-Selector Control for fast automatic tuning." Period Lincoln literature also advertised an optional Roto-Selector Radio with foot control and long-distance antenna. The original installation instructions supplied by C&G are headed "Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch." Those instructions show the switch mounted on the floor between the clutch and brake pedals. Its electrical lead was routed up to the radio receiver and plugged into a socket provided on the receiver itself. In other words, this wasn't an improvised accessory connected to an ordinary dashboard radio. The foot switch was designed to operate as part of the Roto-Selector radio system.   So What Did the Foot Switch Actually Do? Here's where terminology matters. The switch wasn't a modern SEEK control that searched the AM dial looking for the next strong signal. Instead, the Roto-Selector radio used preset stations. Contemporary Zenith service information describes Roto-Selector tuning as allowing any five desired stations to be selected automatically using either the foot control or the Roto-Selector control on the instrument panel. So when the driver operated the floor control, he wasn't telling the radio, "Go find me another station." He was telling it, "Move to another station I've already selected." That's an important difference - and a pretty sophisticated feature for a car radio more than 80 years ago.   There Was More Going On Than a Simple Switch The original C&G reference material also shows that the installation involved more than the button beneath the driver's shoe. The accompanying diagram identifies a relay/circuit breaker assembly, wiring to the receiver, a radio suppressor identified as 11A-18827 / 09A-18827, and the associated mounting hardware. That documentation is particularly useful because it shows us exactly where the reproduction 11A-18934-A fits into the larger system. The foot switch was the driver's control. The antenna, radio receiver and its Roto-Selector equipment performed the tuning operation. That's why saying the switch simply "changed the station" doesn't quite tell the whole story.   Why Control a Radio With Your Foot? Think about manually tuning an automobile radio of the period. You're driving down a two-lane road while turning a tuning knob and watching a dial, trying to land precisely on the station you want. Preset tuning eliminated much of that fiddling. Moving control of those presets down to the driver's foot meant the radio could be operated without reaching across the instrument panel. It was an early solution to a problem automakers still work on today: How do you let the driver operate accessories while keeping attention on the road? Different technology. Same problem.   Radio Was a Big Deal in the 1940s It's easy to underestimate how important the radio itself was. There was no streaming audio, satellite radio or smartphone in your pocket. Radio brought drivers news, sports, music, weather and entertainment while they traveled. American broadcasting was expanding rapidly. By June 30, 1948, the Federal Communications Commission reported 2,034 standard AM broadcast stations operating in the United States. That's a far cry from the handful of choices we sometimes imagine when thinking about an old tube radio.   What Was Reception Like? Those Ford radios operated in a very different broadcasting environment from today's digital entertainment systems. AM reception depended on the station's frequency and transmitter power as well as distance, terrain, ground conductivity, interference and atmospheric conditions. Nighttime could change everything. Medium-wave AM signals can propagate beyond their normal daytime range after sunset because radio energy can return to earth through the ionosphere. That made reception of distant stations possible - sometimes from hundreds of miles away. It could also produce fading and interference. So the selection of stations available to a driver wasn't necessarily identical at noon and midnight. Imagine heading down a highway after dark in your Ford. One of your regular stations starts fading as the miles roll by. Instead of leaning toward the dashboard and hunting around the dial, you've already got several stations adjusted into the Roto-Selector. Move your foot. Operate the switch. Bring up another preset. Now the Roto-Selector starts making a lot more sense.   Five Presets Wasn't Primitive in 1941 Five stations may sound rather limited today. In 1941, it was convenience. A Ford advertisement from the period specifically promoted the Roto-Selector as "fast automatic tuning." Contemporary Zenith service information confirms selection of five desired stations through the Roto-Selector system. Instead of repeatedly finding a favorite station manually, the driver could have the desired stations preset. That's essentially the same basic convenience provided by radio memory buttons for decades afterward - accomplished with vacuum tubes, switches and electromechanical hardware instead of microprocessors.   Did Every 1941-1948 Ford Have One? No. This is an important restoration distinction. Ford's own 1941 material describes the radio as an accessory, rather than standard equipment on every car. An aftermarket replacement-part application covering several years does not prove that every Ford or Mercury radio built during those years originally used exactly the same switch or radio configuration. C&G therefore lists 11A-18934-A for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car applications. If you're doing a factory-correct restoration, the vehicle year and the radio equipment installed in the car should be considered.   The Kind of Detail That Makes a Restoration Fun The Roto-Selector is exactly the sort of feature that makes an early Ford interesting. Everybody notices the steering wheel. Everybody notices the gauges. But somebody eventually looks down at the floor and spots another switch. "What's that?" You point toward the radio. "Radio control." Now you've got a conversation. And with the original installation instructions available, we don't have to rely on somebody's recollection of how it supposedly worked. We can see where Ford intended the control to be installed, how its lead connected to the receiver, and how the system was laid out. That's the difference between merely installing an old-car part and understanding the piece of history you're putting back into the car.   11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch With Wire C&G Ford Parts offers the reproduction 11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch with Wire for applicable 1941-1948 Ford and Mercury passenger-car radio installations. If you're restoring an original-style radio system and aren't certain whether your receiver uses the Roto-Selector foot control, contact us before ordering. C&G Ford Parts has been helping enthusiasts keep classic Fords on the road since 1978, and our crew doesn't just sell old-car parts - we own and drive old cars ourselves. Because sometimes the smallest part under the dashboard has one of the best stories in the whole car. And yes - in 1941, Ford really did let you operate the radio with your foot.   Sources & Further Reading • C&G Ford Parts - 11A-18934-A Radio Foot Control Switch • 1941 Ford promotional literature - Roto-Selector automatic tuning • 1941 Lincoln-Zephyr brochure - Roto-Selector Radio with foot control • Zenith service data - Roto-Selector tuning and five-station selection • Ford News index - period reference to Mercury Roto-Selector foot control Primary material supplied by C&G Ford Parts: "Roto-Selector Radio Foot Control Switch" installation instructions, including mounting and wiring diagrams.  

Owning or restoring a Ford F100 means that you’ll need easy access to Ford F100 parts whenever you need them. You want the right parts to keep your classic humming along for as long as you own it. If you’ve had your Ford for several years, then you probably already know where to get your hands on Ford F100 parts when you need them. If you don’t know because you haven’t had any issues with the truck until now, there are a lot of different ways you can find what you need. Check out places where other classic vehicle enthusiasts gather and talk to them. You can find groups that hang out on or offline. In some towns, the local drive-in restaurant has an area where classic car owners will gather on the weekends in order to show off their cars. The best place that you can buy Ford F100 parts is from an online store where the employees know about older model cars and trucks and can easily locate or order exactly what you need and ship it right to your doorstep. C&G Ford Parts fits that bill nicely. If you’ve already diagnosed the issue with your Ford and know exactly what part it is that you need, then getting it is going to be fairly simple. But, if like a lot of people, you don’t have in depth knowledge about what could be causing your truck’s issue, the pros can help if they specialize in classic car parts. Many of the employees in a classic auto part business have a love and admiration for the classics and they really know the older vehicles inside and out. Plus, by serving a lot of classic car owners when they have needs, this business more than likely has a lot experience with a wide range of vehicle problems. They may have heard all kinds of stories about what’s going on with the Ford truck and helped other owners with the right Ford F100 parts. Not only will the site know what you’re looking for, but a lot of times, if you ask them how to put a part on, they can tell you how or share online video tutorials with you and save you time. You gain the benefit of their parts knowledge as well as their mechanical knowledge for the same price. What they may suggest and you may find helpful, is to get a catalog of the parts that they do carry so that you’ll have a listing of the parts and the prices. For most classic vehicle owners, they want their F100 truck in pristine condition inside and out. Getting a part that’s “good enough” isn’t enough, they want the best Ford F100 parts.