About 3 weeks ago I posted a message asking how hard it would be to swap a 300 inline six in place of a 351m-400. A few of you said it is not worth it, so I spent a little more time trying to find another 351m-400, IMPOSSIBLE in ND. So my next question is, how hard is it to swap in a 302. PLease help me.

 

Matt, The level of difficulty would be about the same for the I6 or the 5.0. I would find a donor truck that was the same wheel base, and had the engine and tranny that you want to use, and start pulling and swapping out the parts.

None of us know what your skill level is. There are guys here that could do that swap nearly blindfolded, and others that wouldn't dare take on the project them selves.

Your least costly route would to rebuild the engine that is in the truck.

I hope that you make the right choice and good luck.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

Thanks for the response. Their is no engine in the truck, and like I said it is just about impossible to find a 351M-400 around here.Everything else has been gone through on the truck by myself so I dont just want to get rid of it. I guess I will just have to keep looking.

One more question though, did ford ever make a bellhousing for a 302 NP435 combo, or would any other bellhousing work. If so I would do the swap no problem, as I have access to a free 1978 302 with a manual tranny, but it is not an NP435.

 

what is wrong with the standard that is on the 302 it is just as good as your tranny. And other bellhousings will work for your application. probably the one you will get with the 302.

 

I am guessing that you forgot to mention that the truck is a 4X4 and you want to keep the tranny in there that is connected to the transfer case, right?

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

the bellhousing shouldn't be different but the bellhousing will fit.

 

Jowilker, the truck is actually a two wheel drive. I would just like to keep my tranny in place because the swap will be easier and because the tranny has been rebuilt. Now the question is, will my bellhousing bolt up to the 302 or do I need the bellhousing from the 302, or is their no difference. I can't thank you enough for your time and help.

 

 

If the top of the bell is flat, and the two bolt holes are about 4.5" apart the 302 will bolt up. If the top of the bell is flat and the two holes are about 7.5" apart the 302 will not bolt up. The two sizes are gesstaments, but close enough to see there is a big difference.

How about that?

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

There are bellhousings that will work with the np435 and a 302 engine. A bellhousing from a 300 I-6 will fit the 302 and there are plenty of them around.

Jeff

 

Thank you both for the responses. I will go get my free motor and then find the correct bellhousing, if the one with it doesn't fit, when I'm ready to drop the motor in.