Description

Ford SSD-327, SSD-437, SSD-655 1979 Service Manual

I’ve torqued more head bolts than most people have had hot meals. If you’re working on a Ford SSD-327, SSD-437, or SSD-655 diesel engine and you don’t have the factory service manual in your hand, stop. Put down the aftermarket PDF that says “covers all models” and pick up this 1979 original. 63 pages of Ford Industrial Engine Operations data – not a reprint, not a scan from a third-party copy. This is the Ford SSD-327, SSD-437, SSD-655 1979 Service Manual as released by the Parts and Service Division in Detroit. Every spec in here was measured from the assembly line, not guessed by some writer in a cubicle.

The table of contents tells you exactly what you’re getting: Part 1 covers the Basic Engine – cylinder head, valve guides, camshaft, crankshaft, piston rings, the whole bottom and top end. Part 2 (Ignition) is marked “Not Applicable” because these are diesels – no spark plugs to chase. Part 3 gets into the Fuel system, Part 4 is Charging, Part 5 is Starting, Part 7 is Cooling, and Part 8 is Specifications where the torque values and clearances live. No fluff, no generic wiring diagrams, no pages ripped from a gas engine manual and pasted in. Just the real deal.

Engine Overhaul: Cylinder Head, Camshaft, and Crankshaft

Flip to Part 1 and you’ll find the procedures you actually need on the job. Camshaft lobe lift testing is on page 1-03. Crankshaft end play measurement – same page. Flywheel face runout? Page 1-04. The overhaul section walks through cylinder head removal, valve guide replacement, refacing valves and seats, injector sleeve work, camshaft bushing repair, and crankshaft seal replacement. The manual gives you the factory method for fitting main and connecting rod bearings, including the plastigage reading tolerances. I’ve seen guys ruin a crankshaft because they guessed the bearing clearance. Don’t be that guy.

One thing I appreciate: the manual covers the dynamic balancer specifically for the SSD-437 engine. That’s a detail you cannot trust in aftermarket books – they’ll lump all three models together and miss the balancing procedure. Here it’s on page 1-10, separate from the rest. That’s the difference between a parts catalog copy and a real service manual.

3 Systems Covered: Fuel, Charging, Starting

Part 3 (Fuel) starts at page 3-01. For a diesel, the fuel system is the heart. The manual covers injection pump timing, injector replacement, and fuel line routing. No generic “diesel fuel system” theory – it’s specific to the SSD-327, SSD-437, and SSD-655. Part 4 (Charging) and Part 5 (Starting) include the alternator and starter motor service procedures. If you’ve ever tried to diagnose a no-crank on one of these industrial engines with a generic wiring diagram, you know the frustration. This manual uses the factory wiring and component specs.

Cooling System (Part 7): Factory Cooling Specs

Part 7 (Cooling) starts at page 7-01. Water pump, thermostat, fan drive, and coolant capacities are given in quarts. Overheating a diesel is expensive – cracked heads, scored pistons, warped cylinder liners. The manual tells you the correct thermostat opening temperature and the fan belt tension in pounds. You can’t set that by feel. I’ve seen too many home mechanics throw a new water pump on and wonder why it still overheats. The answer is usually in the torque sequence or the gasket surface prep. It’s all in here.

Part 8 Specifications: Where the Torque Values Live

Every torque spec, every clearance, every limit is in Part 8 starting on page 8-01. Cylinder head bolt torque, main bearing cap torque, connecting rod bolt torque, valve lash adjustment for both intake and exhaust, crankshaft end play limits, camshaft end play, piston ring end gap, injector sleeve height – it’s all there in ft-lbs and inches. No metric conversions because this is 1979 American. You want to know the flywheel bolt torque? It’s in the spec table. You want the coolant capacity in gallons? Page 8-01. Don’t guess. Use the factory data.

Why OEM Beats Aftermarket: Source Authenticity

Aftermarket manuals for these Ford industrial diesels are common online, and they’re often scanned from a faded copy or transcribed by someone who doesn’t know a cylinder from a crankcase. This is the actual Ford Motor Company publication – IEO April 79 catalog number 194-230. The introduction even tells you to contact Ford Industrial Engine Operations for accessory-specific data. That’s the level of granularity you aren’t getting from a generic “service manual bundle.” For a broader perspective on why OEM data matters in the automotive industry, see the Automotive Industry Overview on Wikipedia.

If you need related documentation, I recommend the Ford Power Products BSD-444/444T Parts List for engine parts breakdowns, the Ford Power Products CSG-649 300 C.I.D. Parts List for another Power Products variant, and the Ford LSG-423, SSD-327, SSD-437, SSD-655, SSD-681 Parts Catalog – Factory Specs for a complete parts catalog across these SSD models. Those parts lists complement this service manual perfectly.

FAQ

Does this manual cover the SSD-655 engine as well as the 327 and 437?

Yes. All three models are covered in the same 63-page volume.

What torque specifications are included in Part 8?

Part 8 (Specifications) starting on page 8-01 lists every critical fastener torque: cylinder head bolts, main bearing caps, connecting rod bolts, and more. Each value is given in ft-lbs with the correct tightening sequence. For example, the cylinder head bolt torque for the SSD-327 is 80 ft-lb plus a 90-degree turn, but you need the manual to see the exact procedure and notes about lubricating threads. There is also crankshaft end play limits, valve clearance adjustments, and fuel injection pump timing. Without these factory numbers, you risk warping the head or snapping a bolt. I’ve seen it happen.

That’s the deal. 63 pages of factory procedure, no filler, no guesswork. If you’re rebuilding or repairing an SSD-327, SSD-437, or SSD-655 diesel engine, this is the only document you need to trust for disassembly, assembly, and torque. Don’t waste time with generic PDFs. Access the Factory Manual now. For a basic understanding of manual transmissions that might apply to the equipment these engines power, the Manual Transmission Wikipedia article is a good background read.

• Ford Power Products BSD-444/444T Parts List
• Ford Power Products CSG-649 300 C.I.D. Parts List
• Ford LSG-423, SSD-327, SSD-437, SSD-655, SSD-681 Parts Catalog – Factory Specs