I have a 1972 ford f250 with a 390 in it. my plans for the truck is a street rod with a mustang suspension, has anyone put a 302 in these trucks?

 

Your 250 is a pretty heavy truck, the 302 is gonna be short on gonads unlike the FE.

You will have to make a complete swap including tranny & perches should you go in that direction.


John

 

Sure. The factory did it but with a half-ton. A 302 is a bit of a weakling for a long bed. Better work on boosting torque to move the pachyderm off the line.

Build a 351 stroker (393 or 408) and its additional CID/HP/TQ will compensate.

 

I guess I should have explained my intentions. The 302 is going in temporarily. I'm getting the motor and transmission set up for near to nothing. The 302 set up is going in until I decide what to do either a rebuild the 390 and keep the numbers matching motor in it with a 400+HP build. Or b go with a 400 motor swap later. Most likely going with a. the 302 will be going in a 60s mustang I plan on building later I just need the truck up and running didn't know how easy it is and what ask I will need or need to modify. Can I bolt it up to my c 6 or will I need the 302s c4?

 

Plus the bed is getting shortened and might be adding an extended cab.

 

And my 390 is also burning a quart of oil a week which is why I need to pull the motor.

 

You will need the C4. Different bell housing pattern. Possibly need a different drive shaft.You will also need the correct engine perches as the FE perches won't work. Here is a site to look at to help you get the correct perches. Comparison Photos of Engine Perches - FORDification.com

 

Yep, that wouldda helped.

Temporary? Why? Build it right and build it once. FEs are notoriously inefficient mpg-wise but generate lots of torque within its very strong block. Building an FE takes more dollars than most other Ford engines. Plus it's old technology.. the last time a block came off the production line was 1976.

I think dollar for dollar, building a 460 is better value... more common, more recent engineering, and lots of aftermarket goodies. 400hp is really easy to make with a 460 and it's not even breaking a sweat.. do some mild porting on the heads, a performance cam, dual plane intake, headers, dual exhaust, and a 750 cfm carb will garner 400 HP. Step up to aluminum heads and it'll get real close to 500 HP.... with the mpg of a stock rebuilt FE!

Oh, there's really no such thing as "numbers matching" when it comes to 99.9 percent of Fords. "Period correct" is as close as you'll get. As far as I know, only K-Code Mustangs (Hi-Po) are the only ones that got a VIN stamp to make it truly matching.

That's a C6 specific to an FE so no joy there.

 

K well that clears up allot. I don't know much about these old ford trucks other then I love the body style. I guess a better question I should have been asking is what I should put in the truck instead lol. My buddy suggested a 302 which is why I was thinking that rupee but he is a Chevy guy so wouldn't know much about fords.

 

Oh, there's really no such thing as "numbers matching" when it comes to 99.9 percent of Fords. "Period correct" is as close as you'll get. As far as I know, only K-Code Mustangs (Hi-Po) are the only ones that got a VIN stamp to make it truly matching.

There kind of is with the casting codes if the block and other parts have a code of D2, if a person is really that **** about it, but nothing like GM's numbers if true. And for the OP, how do you actually know it is a 390 withouit doing a stroke check? Remember ND's "a 390 on sale day, a 360 every other day".

 

I've done the stroke test. Multiple times its a 390.

 

Same perches (aka towers, stands, supports): 1969/79 F100 302 / 1975/79 F150 302 / 1977/79 F100/350 351M/400 2WD.

 

Nope...Again, it would be considered "period correct" but never numbers matching as in VIN for VIN like GM.

If ya really wanna be ultra-**** like the Mustang Club of America's Thoroughbred class where only NOS parts are permitted, then the month/day/shift stampings have to be around 30 days or so its build date.