After a motorcycle wreck I picked my truck up as a project supported by my mother and girlfriend as a way to get me off my bikes. Not 100% sure what route I am going to take with her but as a former Fire fighter and her Fire Service Heritage may be the key. So here she is...









If I had the cash and could find a wrecked Shelby Mustang... As if, but I'd love to steal the engine/ tranny, throw an air bag suspension in, restore the outside back to her Fire Department days... Anyhow the budget is more bare bones then that and my first task is going to be to go through all the brakes and suspension to get her on the road and have a rolling project.

 

As I live in San Diego and the trucks former home was in Bishop, I had a long, long drive to get her home. As this project came into the works after a motorcycle crash and the resulting injuries have me off work for 6-8 months, to say this is a shoe string project is an understatement. To save dollars the plans were to drive up and back in a day but Murphy was out that day and all did not go as planned. I had reserved a Uhaul trailer but as the truck looked very solid when I arrived, it changed to a flat tow home...

Here she is ready to go...



Here she is around 11pm, after a tire and wheel fled into the Sierra Desert... This picture was taken from the CHP road side call box as I was so far from anywhere that there was no signal. And to set the stage for all you guys a little more, picture a guy who had set out from San Diego's 70-80 degree weather for a day trip... It was no 11pm and about 40 degrees and there I was, still wearing my shorts, t-shirt, one flip flop, a cam boot for my motorcycle accident ankle injury and a sling... Oh yeah it was a good night!



Here she is the next morning...



Thankfully after a quick visit to the local tire shop the next morning, some new studs and a used tire on the spare wheel and I was back on the road home.

Lunch time in Victorville CA...



And finally home in our drive way...

 

Outstanding thread and welcome to FTE.

The truck is fantastic and looks like the start of a great project.

 

Glad you weren't hurt (any more) when the wheel flew off! The sound of a 57 firetruck lowered and restored sounds like a mean combination! I have no doubt that will be a killer combination.

Best of luck on the recovery and restoration!

 

Dang,you get some awesome raw material to work wit in southern cal.That is a really nice truck.

 

Looks as good as some finished trucks here in New York state!

Pretty cool that you got the radio!

 

If only I could afford this...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mustang-Shelby-GT500-SVT-5-8L-Dohc-32V-Engine-Motor-6-Speed-Transmission-2013-/190815361675?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6d7b5a8b&vxp=mtr
Now back to reality I am contemplating either building the 272 or swapping in a 302 and 5 speed tranny. Definitely want to keep the truck stick but not sure I can get the power and drive ability I want from the old 272 and what I suspect is a T98 tranny. Not seriously planning on the 600hp like the Shelby engine, no matter how much I'd love to do something like that I have a much more modest budget. Looking for something more in the range of 250-300hp... Anyone seen a 272 built to do that? And still be reliable with decent (for truck) mileage?

The goal is a truck that can be used as a truck for light loads but one that I could also jump in and blast up the interstate to LA without having to worry. The girlfriend would love if I ended up swapping in something modern with AC. If I do swap I will need to source an F150 5 speed or something more stout as I am not a gentle enough driver to run a Mustang tranny in a truck.

So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as I need to plan carefully because I can't afford to make mistakes.

 

Yikes! Thats a ton of power from an old 272. While I'm sure it CAN be done, I'm also sure it will break the bank. Building anything up to those numbers will be tough to keep reasonable costs though. With all of the conversion kits out there for cross members and engine mounts, I would be willing to bet your best and most cost effective option will be a transplant. If you want so much power is the small engine really what you want? how about a 390? you could start out at ~255hp stock. Just a suggestion

I run the monstrous 223 in mine and love it so what do I know?

 

A/C can be added to anything, the engine really makes no difference for that.

1957 - 1960 Ford Pickup Truck Air Conditioning System | 57 - 60 Ford Pickup Truck AC

Selecting a System For Your Vehicle

 

If you do want to keep your 272, I believe these are the guys to give a call!

FORD Y

 

I thought about a big block but a buddy who has one always complains about the weight in the front end. And 250 out of a Mustang 302 is not all that much. I see Mustang a with 302s having over 300... And really if I get 225 I'll be happy.

 

My first engine swap was a 302 into a 40 ford ton and a half. T18 even though it was a big truck,was a nice jump in power. I think there can be issues with oil pan clearance, but not with all the springs I had in that thing. It was really quite straightforward. Spurredon and I like that yer keepin it all FORD.


E=Crazy Canadian;13045495]I thought about a big block but a buddy who has one always complains about the weight in the front end. And 250 out of a Mustang 302 is not all that much. I see Mustang a with 302s having over 300... And really if I get 225 I'll be happy.[/QUOTE]

 

Ah I see your point with the 390. I think I may have a different view of a modest budget! Just doing a google search says that a 302 has 130-160 hp stock (for a pickup engine) and my mental math says that there would be a few go-fast parts to be had for 225-250 hp. If that is in your budget, I have lots of "classic truck" magazines with 302 powered fords with very happy owners! Might be tough to find a decent 5 speed? It seems I was reading somewhere that the f150's chewed them up. The later Mazda built ones seem to have a bad reputation. Have you heard anything like that?

 

I was looking at Fox era Mustang 302s and even today talked to guy about a totaled 98 F150 with a 4.6 and 5 SPD.... At least I would have everything all in one go that way...

 

In my opinion; the biggest issue in motor swap is mounting hardware for motor mounts and trans cross member; also consider oil pan clearance in your research.