Questions about parts swapping

[phemti]

Hey there. I recently bought my dream truck and of course it needs work. I would like to convert the front brakes to disc brakes and put powersteering on the truck.
My question is, will the front end parts off a '87 F150 swap over without too much modification? I'm hoping they will.
But, if anyone has any info, please contact me. Thanks

[bigblockford_390]

Originally Posted by phemti

Hey there. I recently bought my dream truck and of course it needs work. I would like to convert the front brakes to disc brakes and put powersteering on the truck.
My question is, will the front end parts off a '87 F150 swap over without too much modification? I'm hoping they will.
But, if anyone has any info, please contact me. Thanks

Welcome to the FTE forum! There is lots of good information here and lots of people to help you out when you need it.

As for your question, the parts from the 87 F-150 will not easily bolt up to your old truck. You would be much better off removing the body from your old truck and putting that on the 87 frame. The problem with that swap would be the difference in wheelbases from both models and getting things hooked up like steering to hook up correctly. With a little time, money and fab skills anything is possible.

What year is your slick? If it is 65 or 66 then the parts you need can be found on any 1973-1979 F-100/F-150 and they will bolt right on with no problems. You are money a head to buy a parts truck for a couple hundred bucks then remove the parts you need and by having a parts truck it saves you trips to the salvage yard to get more pieces you didn't think you would need, plus you can sell off parts that you don't need such as the body parts and get your money back. I found one for 400 dollars and I feel I got more than 400 worth in parts plus I have sold off a lot of stuff from the pickup.

Hopefully this helps out.

Jeff

[ddavidv]

Disc brake swap how-to here:
f100discs
Power steering is a little harder, particularly if you have a column stick shift. Do a search...the info is on here numerous times.

[phemti]

I don't have a coloumn shifter. Plus I was gonna use the column out of the 87 cause it has tilt steering..but you think I'll have any trouble using the brake parts off the 87 on the 66? Would swapping the whole I-beam work?

[bigblockford_390]

Originally Posted by phemti

I don't have a coloumn shifter. Plus I was gonna use the column out of the 87 cause it has tilt steering..but you think I'll have any trouble using the brake parts off the 87 on the 66? Would swapping the whole I-beam work?

The I-beams on the 87 bolt to the cross member verses the frame like the 65-79 trucks do. The 80 and up I-beams use ball joints while 65-79 use king pins.

Like I said before you could install the parts from your 87 to the 66 but it will take a lot of time, a lot of fabrication and money. There is nothing on the front end of the 87 steering or brakes that will bolt right on to the 66.

Go find a 73-79, the I-beams, steering, brakes, springs ect....... will bolt right up to your 66 with no problems. I have done the power steering and power disk brake swap on my 65 using pieces from 72 and a 73 F-100. Very easy to install the parts and the pickup drives great.

If you put the 73-79 parts on you will have you pickup up and running a whole lot quicker than trying to put the 87 parts on.

Jeff

[phemti]

Thanks for the info big block...Well, I guess I need to get rid of a '87 F150 then...haha..Could you answer me one more question? Is the Ford 400cu a big block or small block?

[bigblockford_390]

Originally Posted by phemti

Thanks for the info big block...Well, I guess I need to get rid of a '87 F150 then...haha..Could you answer me one more question? Is the Ford 400cu a big block or small block?

Big block and small block are more chebbie terms, the Ford engines are grouped in families. The 400 and 351M are the same engine, the 400 has a longer stroke. The share the same bell housing pattern and distributor as a 460. You can pull out a 351M/400 and drop a 460 right in its place. The 351M/400 use cylinder heads much like the 351 Cleavland 2 barrel heads, in fact I think they can be interchanged but don't quote me on that.

In my honest opinion 351M/400 are garbage, they can be made to run good but are also good for boat anchors. A 351W is a much better engine and performance parts are plentifully. If you really want to get adventurous you could install a fuel injection engine in your old truck. That way you get the old school work plus modern day technology.

A 302/351W out of a early 90's pickup would be a easy swap as the engine will bolt into your old pickup with out too much work. I am currently installing a 4.6L MOD motor in my old truck but that project is going to take more fab work to install than a 302/351W fuel injected engine would. I stole the engine (only paid $150.00 for the engine, tranny, wiring and everything to make the engine run) plus I like to be different so that is why I am going that route.

What ever you decide to do, keep everyone posted as we all like to see progress on projects and are here to help out where ever we can!

Jeff

[phemti]

one more thing..will a transmition that is bolted to a 302 bolt to the 400?? im new at this stuff if you haven't noticed...haha

[bigblockford_390]

Originally Posted by phemti

one more thing..will a transmition that is bolted to a 302 bolt to the 400?? im new at this stuff if you haven't noticed...haha

What kind of transmission, automatic or manual?

An old school 3 or 4 speed manual like a T-18 or NP435 (both are 4 speeds) will bolt up, however a different bell housing would be required as the 260/289/302/351W and 351C have the same bell housing pattern, they also share this with the 240/300 six cylinder engines were as the 351M/400 and 460 have their own pattern bell housing.

If you are taking automatic then the answer is no as the C-4 has a removable bell housing, but it was never put behind a 460. The C-6 transmission has a one piece housing which is a better transmission, but would require one type to go behind the 351W and another type to go behind the 400. Internals are the same, the case is what is different.

Jeff

[phemti]

Well crap!!! Back to the drawing board then...Thanks for the help tho...