This is my first post here but I have been lurking on here for a few months. I finally pulled the trigger on a 52 ford five star with a cost clipper 6 in it. It runs and although it needs body work it's solid mechanically and I love it.

I would like to leave the 215 6 in it but I'm afraid to drive it down some of the streets here in Raleigh. Is there anything I can do to get a few more mhp out of the top end? without trading out the 3 speed or rear?

Eventually (next year?) I have a 351w that will be going in but thats phase 2 and I want to drive it around and enjoy it for a while. Any advice would be really helpful. Thanks guys.

 

Welcome to the madness! The 215 (which became the 223) is a good motor to start with. What is sitting behind it for a transmission (I know you said 3 speed but which one) and rear end? While the 215 won't crank out a ton of horsepower, I have comfortably driven a 215 with a 3 spd and 3.73 rear end at 65-70mph down the interstate. The size of the tires make a difference also, the larger the tire the faster you go with less rpms. Let us know what rear end and tire size you are running. Also, are you running the original oil bath air filter or something else? And swapping in a different rear end isn't that hard to do.

 

Short answer: No. You'll want to replace the rear end so it could keep up with the 351. You may as well replace the rear end now.

 

Any suggestions on a rear that would work for both? Think it has a 3.92 in if factory?

 

teardropty, how do I go about IDing the 3 speed?

 

Welcome! There are some sticky's at the top of the forum page that lead thru a relatively tortuous path to articles like this:
1948 through 1960 Ford F-1 and F-100 Rear Axle (differential) Swaps .: Articles

 

Check this out:

1948 through 1960 Ford F-1 and F-100 Rear Axle (differential) Swaps .: Articles

 

This may be one where I disagree with the masses. I may be wrong though.
I don't know, but would guess very low 100's for horsepower. Stick a lower numerical gear in it and you will have yourself a genuine turd that is hard to drive away from stopsigns, AND can't pull against the wind hard enough at the lower cruising rpm to actually maintain 65 mph on even the slightest grade or against the slightest wind. That would be my prediction. I'd leave it be myself, and avoid the freeway.

 

1951/52 F1 trans application charts.

EZ to ID one 3 speed from the other, as Warner T-87D Heavy Duty came with a floor shift (C), while light duty came with a column shift (R).

 

Not that it makes much difference which transmission is in the truck high gear is going to be 1-1

 

They are rare but could be a BW OD unit (0.7-1 final). I had one in my first car but was too stupid to appreciate it (51 Custom).

 

No OD's on 48-52 trucks, '53 was the first year.

I agree with Wolfracing. I had a '53 with 215, completely stock, and it ran all day at 55 - 60, with a load. Not sure I'd bother changing axles for a little benefit, you're not going to see any more MPG. A dual carb manifold and headers really makes them run better and sound better, but it is a costly road to go down for probably 15 - 20 more HP. The bottom end isn't real robust.

 

Good luck with a dual carb set up on the 215 and using the Holley 1904s. I'd suggest changing out the intake to be able to attach a newer Holley, but like Ross said, it's an expensive road to maneuver.

 

I wouldn't do the dual 1904's, one is bad enough. Personally I'd make or modify a manifold to use sidedrafts, and put the Load-a-crapic on the curb.

 

Look at the 1951/52 trans application chart in post 9, do you see an O/D listed? No, but O/D is listed for 1953.

O/D introduced in 1949 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars, 1953 F100.