What if I wanted to use the C6, what would I have to change in the Getaway Van? Shifter linkage and the steering col

 

Check my reply in post #11.

Besides what I mentioned there, the biggest deal with swapping in the C6 would be the driveshaft. If the C6 isn't the same length as the AOD it would require a different driveshaft. And a lot depends on the wheel base of your E150 donor compared to that of your E250. If you are lucky it may swap over. If not you might have to install a hybrid rear U-joint ( two different sizes ) . Or you might need to have a driveshaft shortened or a new shaft made up. Or hunt down the correct shaft from an E250 that had the C6.

 

My concern is not whether it will function or not.. it will, my concern is if the gearing is suitable for a truck of this size and weight.
I'm assuming the whole reason you are swapping a 351 into this truck in the first place is because it is a total dog with the 302 in it.. right? Well that is partly because the 302 is a weak truck motor in general but it's also because Ford is well known for installing totally inappropriate gearing in trucks. This being an E250 there is a good chance it has a decent truck axle ratio like 3.55 but wouldn't you like to know?

 

The vans are the same length, good possibility the drive shaft from the donor will fit. I was thinking, keep the drive shaft with its transmission, no matter what transmission I decided to use.

 

Just remember the E250 is going to have a larger rear diff. That may change the length of the shaft that is needed. Or at the very least could require a different U-joint. If that is the case then you'll have to install a Hybrid U-joint like I mentioned earlier.

 

The reason I am swapping engines is the 302 died on me and these vans and engines are hard to find locally. Not a lot of carbs left. The donor van was 1 of 2 I found from the early 80s. The other 1 was $1000 .this 1 is rusted out bad but 20000km on the rebuilt 351 4brl. For $400 and Yea I admit that that 351 4brl made me want that power and yes the 302 is badly under powered for the heavy van. not to mention the wind resistance factor with the raised roof.

 

Looks like the best way to go is buy the proper flexplate for the 351. AOD. That way all I am changing is I'm adding the HP the van should have been built with.

 

These vans were ordered special by the Getaway RV company in British Colombia Canada. The 302,AOD was probably used for fuel economy. What dif gears do you think would have been best for fuel economy and not power? Remember, this is an RV on 3/4 tone van. A loaded E250 cargo van would weigh more than the RV loaded to go camping.

 

I drove this van through the mountains in northern Ontario and got better fuel mileage than driving in the wind in Saskatchewan. the 302 has to work so hard and it really won't stay in OD unless its not windy at all.

 

HELP! What do I do about all the vacuum hoses and wires on this?

 

I got most of the vac hoses and wires figured out except this.

 

Those look like vacuum solenoids for smog, not sure what the 3rd thing is to the right.

 

This truck should have 4.10 gears, I suspect it has 3.55 and that is partly why it struggles so badly. My new-to-me van has 4.10s and it has no problem climbing hills even with a load in it, that is with the 4.6 which isn't any more powerful than the 5.0 that it replaced. My first tank of gas returned 17.5mpg US with mixed driving.

BTW.. you could have used any year 5.0 for a swap even a later EFI motor, all you had to do was strip off the EFI intake and accessories and install the parts from your original motor. That would have also given you a nice bump in power and economy.

 

Is that picture the 302 or the 351W?

 

This is the 351 that I am installing