Hello from Canada!
I have a 1980 F150 2wd with no engine at all in it, it was built with a 302 engine (the automatic trans is still in it). Not knowledgeable on engine swaps as to E-X-A-C-T-L-Y what engines will fit with... ...NO....... mods, (my cutting torch etc. has been stolen) and I really want to find another carbureted engine that will drop right in and fit up to the existing tranny.

Could have bought a 351M from a 1981 F150 but the bell bolts would not align so.... am I limited to another 302 and that only from another 1980 truck or .........what........? Sheesh! How about a 351 "C" or "W" from an older truck? From which model years would a 302 engine fit the 1980 truck? Would an engine from the "E" series, Bronco, or even 4wd trucks present some problem? I wooda thought a 351 from a 1981 F150 should work but ...........no....?

Anyone out there who is sure of what fits what who could tell me what range of models and model years had the exact same engine setup? (302 or even a 351(*) if it would fit up to the same tranny)

Thank you all for any advice.

 

The 351M that you found from the 81 F150 shares the same bell housing pattern as the big block 460. Your engine choices are limited to another 302, a 351W, a 351C, or a 300 I6. All of those engines will bolt up to your current transmission.

However, you are better off finding a 302 or a 351W because those are a direct swap. The I6 and the 351C use different engine perches on the frame. You would need to cut the rivets both on your truck and a donor truck to remove the engine perches and then bolt the 351C or 300 I6 perches onto your frame.

 

What he said. But there is a minor downside with the 351W as I believe the exhaust manifolds are slightly different lengths than the 302's, so you may need to adjust the exhaust a bit. However, it is well worth it as the 351W has more torque by virtue of its longer stroke, so I'd opt for the W every time.

 

Thanks gentlemen, very helpful and relevant information !!
I do wonder about model years though, 1985 would be the first year for injected engines in Canadian pickups ??? so I should be OK up to '84 ? On the other end the mechanical ignitions not with standing how far back in model years could one go before running into some other....... changes?

In the olden days (Long before they stole my tools) I took a 352 from a '63 Mercury car to to replace the same in a '65 Merc. car and had to torch out the mount pedistals and re weld to a new location, otherwise it was fine. Question being.......... has the mount location moved about on the 302/351W blocks from year to year also?

Beggars can't be choosers but if given a choice of model years for an engine I understand the stock 302's HP varied substantially from year to year also, would guess (on pre injection engines) newer being the worse any thoughts?


My truck has "V" belt pumps, was that in fact still standard in 1980 and changed in a subsequent year?

In a 302 engine from a car - the oil pan and exhaust manifolds would be different of course but .....what else? (just curious)

Thanks again for all the good advice!

P.S. Tried to google some of this stuff but my dial up is slower than a tax reduction program.

 

Gary, It's the extra deck height of the 351 that makes the Y-pipe wider between inlets.

The 351 HO engine from a truck with GVW over 8,500# up through 1987 should be a direct swap if you want the larger displacement.
The DuraSpark 2 ignition without a feedback controlled carburetor should plug right in as well.

I think Ford installed DuraSpark II starting in 1977.
302/351 of lower GVW from 1983 on will have a two barrel feedback carburetor and TFI ignition . (you don't want this for a 1980 truck)

Perches didn't move forward or back.

Not just the oil pan, but the sump pickup too.
There are also likely different cams found in a car than a truck.

 

The best 351W's are the HO's which were available in the 84 - 86 trucks. But only available, meaning there were still the non-HO's. The difference is that the HO variety had a Holley 4180 carb and DS-II ignition with no computer, while the non-HO's typically had a computer-controlled 2bbl.

Engine mounts didn't move during the 80-86 era.

 

Thanks, Jim. I'd forgotten the deck height.

 

Yes Gary,
the intake manifold is wider on the 351W, so it would only make sense that the exhaust is too.This is why I made the GVW distinction.

He doesn't want a feedback/TFI engine for his 1980 truck if he has no current engine to swap parts from.

When did the "lesser" Windsors go to TFI/feedback?
I thought it was 1983, but I may be mistaken.

I'm thinking any '83 and down Windsor will swap, and any '84-'87 351 HO should work as well.

 

I don't know when TFI arrived, but not in 82 as I owned two of those and neither were TFI. But, he could go with any 351W and if it was TFI'd he could buy a rebuilt DS-II dizzy for a 351W and everything would plug/bolt in - save for the exhaust issue.

And the HO was available for light F150's. I had one in an 85. So why the GVWR distinction?

 

He asked for "The exact same"...

GVW distinction only after EFI, which I believe was an 'option' for the 1985 model year.

 

Here's a shot from the catalog, and from it I deduce that in 80 - 83 all engines used a round coil (yellow highlighting), the TFI's were introduced in 84 (red highlighting), and the HO's were 84 - 86 and used the round coils (green).

As for "exact", that's in the eye of the beholder. If it were me and I had the ability to buy a good 351W that used TFI and hadn't found one with a round coil I'd buy the TFI'd version and swap the dizzy.

 

What about the feedback carburetor???
Another $300 or would you find a way around that too, and all the solenoid (computer controlled) emissions garbage on a TFI engine as well?

If he is looking for "plug & play", a feedback/TFI engine is not the place to start IMHO.

 

And that, my friend, is why I have more posts than you do - I have to correct so many things I say. Yes, you are right, as always. I forgot the carb.

Ok, so basically he should be looking for an 84 - 87 351HO. I say that because the 80 & 81 pickups had 351M's, and when the W's were introduced most of the lighter GVW ones had feedback carbs. But, he could also be looking for an 82 - 83 351W from a truck with GVW of 8,600 lbs - right? That would dodge the TFI and the feedback carb?

 

Gary
I make mistakes all the time.
In fact I had to correct a post about the SPOUT plug in a 1990 460 truck just this morning.

Really the point is, he wants a Duraspark engine (2 or 4 barrel doesn't matter)

A truck or van engine should have the proper rear sump and a torque cam.
I know my old 5.0 HO Mustang had DSII and a 4180, but I doubt the powerband would suit a pickup.

 

I will correct a couple I have seen in this thread;

The 351c will bolt right in, using the same perches as the 302 and 351w. The problem that arises when using the 351c is, they never offered that engine in these trucks. So it's the little things that are going to get you on that one. Custom exhaust, throttle brackets and such, hoses, etc.

And the 351w exhaust manifolds are different. Yes, the taller deck makes the engine and thus the y-pipe wider, but they also put a different crook in the outlet of the manifolds, making it difficult to modify the 302 y-pipe to fit. I tried it, but it kept leaking on me. There was not enough adjustment in the "ball" and flange where the y-pipe met the manifold.