LOL. Funny you would ask. All I can say is "been there, done that". First, don't let CE fool you--you will probably have a problem with the manual rack as well. I did, and so did reed1951. Read this. And YES definitely pay them to weld the engine mounts on for you.


https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...nual-rack.html

 

so, I might be able to use a power rack if I can find a pan with clearance, an f even going manual I'm gonna have some clearance issues, thanks for the heads up, probably be awhile till I'm there, but glad to know before hand.

 

Haven't been able to get to much on the truck, but we did pick up this 302 for a decent price, turns over, "feels" like it's got compression, pulled the valve covers off and looks pretty clean there. Also has a rear sump oil pan, may be advantageous when it comes to the front crossmember swap.

 

Been a bit since I've had a chance to do much to the truck, but this past weekend got a little done. Yanked the cab and bed off then got rid of what was left of the front suspension stuff..
I've also picked up a dana 44 with 3.73 ratio w posi out of a late 60's f100, and got the CE crossmember, now set loosely on the frame.

Here's a couple pics for now. Plenty of work ahead still...

Girlfriend blasting the last couple rusty bolts on the frame to finish striping it, her dad overseeing of course.


CE crossmember being test fit on frame

 

Hey Jthesby,
Looking good over there! You don't have much left you can take off that frame - now the building begins! That's the fun part. I've always been curious how those CE cross members work - Are those the bolt in ones?

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Yup, bolts in, it's just loosely bolted to itself right there, was verifying that i had to cut off the original brake hose brackets. you need to drill holes in the frame. seems like there is about a dozen bolts to each side. really looker the fact that there is about two inches of adjustment in the spring/shock perches. They say it won't work with power steering, gonna see if i can actually get it to work out...

 

Looking great! Keep up the good work! I honestly think I could have used a power rack with the spacers I used to prop the engine up. I think I used 1.5 inch spacers on my engine mounts. But I decided to just go with the manual rack.

 

Good Job! That was the hardest for me, those dam rusted bolts. Just cut it off with a cutting tool.

 

ok. have made a bit more progress. got crossmember all bolted up. swapped tail housing on the mustang t5 to an s10. didn't get fancy yet with the Speedo drives yet, just still mocking it all together so i can get the frame out to powder coat.
after swapping the Trans tailhousing i bolted to the engine and set it all in place. hoping the bronco oil pan would give me the room for a power rack as this will mostly be the girlfriends truck.
no dice on the rack. so off to mock up spacers i went. with just a hair over an inch spacer it gives me a comfortable amount of space on the power rack. I'll probably have to drop the rack to remove the pan, but I can deal with that.

now i just need to get the spacers made for real from my mock up...

Not sure if I would have made it even this far yet without you fine gentleman to inspire and lead the way!

 

Hmmm. After I had stepped back and looked at where everything sits, was wondering what kind of interference issues I may have with firewall... Anybody have issues with a 302? Seems like it sits back a bit?

 

I just went and looked at mine (50F1 with a 289). Looks like I have the front face of the harmonic balancer about 3" back from the lower lip of the front crossmember. That gives me around 4" between the back of the engine and the firewall.

Keep in mind that how high you mount the engine will affect the clearance of the trans. I have a C4 and used the original trans corssmember, notched slightly, and welded a pad to the rear for the C4 mount to sit on.

I don't have any close up pics of the engine and firewall, but here is what I have.

 

Hey J,
We have a 351W/Aod in our's - It's tight but it will fit. We had to go with a thin electric fan set up at the front to make it work.

Good luck over there.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Pleased to meet you Elmer! - great name by the way.
You're lucky to find a lizzard, i found a blackwidow spider nesting in mine and heard of guys finding a rattlesnake crawling out and taking up residence in the shop.
Welcome to the forum. That rear bumper has got to be a keeper.

 

Dmack thanks for that quick measurement. I'm about 4&3/4 from lower lip of front crossmember to front face of harmonic balancer...

Hopefully doc or reed51 will come in here with their experience as I believe they used the same crossmember.

Another quick reference shot of where the engine is currently sitting...

 

Progress has still been slow. Decided with the possible clearance issues I'm thinking I'm gonna run into with the cab that the 93-94 5.0 bellhousing on the t5 want going to do me any favors so located the shorter less rounded fox body bellhousing and input shaft. Got that installed. Also got the rest of the front suspension bolted together, need to get some tires mounted on the wheels to set her on the ground and decide what springs to order for the rear...