Well finally got my truck back on the road after battling it for four months. My trucks a 78 f150 xlt 2x4 351m a/t she boiled her battery on the trip from colorado to michigan and stalled out and died on me in an autozone parking lot 100 miles from home. Thankfully I had my trusty roadmaster to tow her the rest of the way but alas it was a battle royal first we had no spark so an entire ignition system later and she still wouldnt fire then I rebuilt the carb thinking it was the issue to no avail I checked the timing chain and it had some slack so I swapped in a new chain and still no go so she sat for awhile while I pondered and calmed myself. I got brave one day and popped the heads off and found a burnt exhaust valve on the passenger side head. So I looked around for heads and decided to just pop in a used motor seeing as I had the original transmisson already out and waiting for a rebuild I figured hell why not swap and rebuild the motor and have a spare driveline ready and willing if ever need be. I swapped in an 351m with a supposed 78,xxx miles bought it from an older fella that had it sitting in his garage for 20 years he pulled it out of a 78 ltd is what he said. Got her put in and she fired right up had a little carb issues but I figured things out darn chokes and the egr plate was bad but shes alive and well now. Havent posted in awhile just figured id share. All in all its fairly easy to swap motors in our trucks. I wont mind doing it again someday far away.

 

I like your theory that everyone should have an extra driveline laying around, wish I had the room for that. Great find on the motor

 

Spare parts on hand make the Ford truck world such a better place.

 

Yeah it is a good theory for sure. I dont really have the room but Ive come to terms with the loss of space lol I eventually want to get a couple running parts trucks to have but thats just crazy talk.