1978 Int. Loadstar

[D&M Farms]

What size gas engines were put in these trucks? Were they strong runners and are parts readily available?

[D&M Farms]

Forgot to mention, I was wondering about the 1800 model

[phlipsman]

Dad had one of thoses trucks quite awhile back now and I believe it had a 404 gas engine in it.

[farmerboy3]

you had the choice of a 304,345,392 and some had a 404 Gas motor great motors

have have a loadstar 1600 with a 345 gas and a newer style (can't remember the number) with a 404 gas good motors we've had good luck finding parts either from wreckers, international we've had really good luck with bumper to bumper

[D&M Farms]

Is there any way to visually tell what engine it has, numbers, letters or tags? It has a four barrel carb and doesn't look like a big block. I'm just not familiar with Ih trucks.

[quappelle]

Get the serial number and call a dealer. They can look up the line setting ticket and tell you which motor it was built with. It's a long time since I've looked at a small block but I think the 392 was the only one with a 4 barrel carb. The 404 was available with both 2 and 4 barrel carbs. I ran a 2 barrel and own a 4 barrel. There's quite a difference in power. Both small blocks (304-345-392) and big blocks (404-446) have the oil filter at the left front. The big block filter hangs straight down and I recall that the small block filter angles back. The 404 uses the same oil filter as the Ford and Dodge V8s of the same era so you can find them anywhere.