I'm looking for some input on some motor choices for my F100.

It currently has the 300 4.9L, but soon I will be doing the crown vic front end swap and was thinking I might as well do a v8 swap while I'm at it and wanted to know what motors you guys would recommend. I would prefer to keep it ford and carbeurated but I'm open to a lot of ideas. Thanks - Cole

 

I would love to throw a beefed to he!! 460 in my truck.

 

500 Cadillac with 460 valve covers. Just to see if anyone can tell...
Eric

 

IMO, the "best bang for the buck" in terms of ease, parts availability, and horsepower/torque combo is a 460 backed by a C6.

For your perusal;
Ford 460 Build: 500 HP-CarCraft Magazine
Budget 460 Big Block Ford - Spike TV's Horsepower
Off the Shelf Ford 460 - Popular Hot Rodding
460 Big Block Build Part 1, 437HP/507TQ- Mustangs & Fords Magazine
460 Big Block Build Part 2, 609HP/557TQ- Mustangs & Fords Magazine

 

I will also be driving the truck a lot, I've never driven a vehicle with the 460 but I'd imagine it gets 9 mpg downhill with a tailwind. I'd have to think about it bc it is very tempting.

 

Well, it wouldda helped if ya stated MPG would be an issue.

In that case, i'd stick with the 300.. it's a torquey ***** and gets decent MPG.. around 18 highway depending on the combo. Headers or EFI exhaust manifold, dual exhaust or a merge the collectors into a single 2.5-inch system, to uncork the potential the 300 already has. If you want to get ambitious, then an Offy intake with either an Autolite 2100 (two barrel) or a 500 cfm, four-barrel carb with vacuum secondaries. A 3.25 rear gear leans more towards MPG... for even more highway MPG, then consider a 3.00 rear gear. Do you know what you have?

 

Do you want a powerful v8 or a mpg friendly motor kinda need to make your decision and go from there. You could build a decent v8 that gets good milage but that isn't cheap to do so depending on your budget it may or may not be in your reach.

 

Ohh I choose a 460 or a 440 by the way. But I don't care for mpg always drove gas and fuel hogs so i'm used to low numbers.

 

MPG isn't to big of an issue, I just don't want anything that goes under 10-11 mpgs. I want something with a nice sound and decent power since it will be a sleeper/rat rod. I have thought about a 302 but I have had a truck with one and that motor is not made for a pickup.

 

Ok.

I concur with not going with a base 302. I had one in a 76 2wd longbed but it managed to get 17 mpg regularly.. empty. But when towing or loaded it was really anemic.

So, I'd stick with an upgraded 300 or ... a 351W just for the extra cubes and relative simplicity. But be advised that shorty headers is what you'll end up with since the 351W wasn't spec'ed for these trucks. But if you can fab, then a modified set of Windsor headers isn't out of the question.

 

I have seen some 351 Cleveland's for sale, anyone have any experience with that motor? Is it worth the extra money?

 

How about the 400m could be made decent without all the smog stuff and some basic mods.

 

I like a built 302 stroked to 331 or 347, you can get 350-400 hp out of it and not break the bank.

 

One of my buddies has a ford flathead v8 for sale and he would sell it too me for very very cheap. I know that motor won't make power for today's standards but it would be unique and that motor is badass. Running straight headers it would sound nice on a rat rod.

 

A flathead will be gutless... better for a lightweight street rod than a 4,000+ lb truck. Stick with the 300-six.