5.8 to 4.9 in 78 F150

tatonka04 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-26-2007, 10:37 PM

Hopefully, my question is an easy one. I just searched through 99 pages of the engine swap forum and have "kindof" an answer.
I have a 78 F150 4x4 that had a 351m/C6 and I want to put a 300 in it's place, with the NP435/205 combo behind it.
All I have to do is swap sides with the existing 351m towers and move them up one more hole on the frame right? I'm pretty sure this is what I learned from the search, just want to make for certain. Thanks in advance for the help.

havi · #2 (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 06:38 PM

Maybe one of them will swap, but the other is definitely different. I found my 300 perches in the jy and swapped it into my 79 Bronco. And yep, they bolted right into the other set of holes. There's a bunch of other stuff needed, too...like throttle cable, the 300 specific clutch Z-bar and such, etc... On a good note, I was able to use the 351M's radiator.

tatonka04 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 08:11 PM

Thanks for the reply! Yeah, I figured I was probably going to have to hit the junkyard again for some small stuff. I was hoping that just by luck I might have all the pieces that I needed and that they were all going to fit together nicely. Here goes my ignorance.... what is a Z-bar?

havi · #4 (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 09:10 PM

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...00_429_460.htm

Equalizer bar shown here is for the 351M/400/460/429. The one you need is for the 300, because the the inline is positioned differently than a v8, you need a different bar. Same with the throttle cable, the carb sits further to the passenger side thus the cable needs to be longer, but if you go with an Offy intake and 4bbl carb, Lokar (IIRC) sells the cable.

tatonka04 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 10:20 PM

Wow! What was that? lol, Thanks for the info. Luckily there is a half decent junkyard down the road with a few Fords with 300s. I didn't realize the linkage for the tranny would that different. I do have a hydraulic clutch setup on the bell housing though, maybe I can just get away with picking up a resevoir and slave cylinder from the junkyard...
So just to recap, I'm going to need the 300 towers for sure? Are they 300 specific or small block maybe? Thanks

havi · #6 (**permalink**) 11-27-2007, 11:25 PM

300 specific 4x4. 2wd are even different. However I believe the FE ones will work, too but may need some hole modifying for the 78/79 years. Your best bet is to find a 78/79 f150/250 4x4 with the 300. That way the tranny and tcase will still bolt up where they need to go. BTW, the small block towers are the same as the 351M/400.

The tranny hooks up the same either 300 or 351M, but just the EQ bar and maybe the clutch rod are different. But I'd grab the bar, and both pieces that it's connected to from the JY. The throttle cable isn't too hard to take off either. If you go with the hyd. clutch setup, keep in mind the firewall might need reinforcement for where the hyd. mounts. You'll need the pedal assembly, and the tranny hump cover too, and maybe the steering column, since you have an auto. ( in my old '78 f150, I switched to a np435 and 205, and just left the auto column in there. unsightly, yes, does it still steer?, yes.) Good luck.

tatonka04 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-28-2007, 08:37 AM

So far, I have changed out the column and put in the pedals. Mine is the same way, I have the auto shifter on the column. I don't care, as long as everything works safely. Hey thanks for the info! Now it's time for a trip to the junkyard..... I'll keep ya posted, once again, I do appreciate it.