I see in this thread there have been some of the usual gang of clowns who say the 302/5.0 was not a truck motor.
Of course, Ford only installed it in their pickups from 1968 to 1996, just 18 years, so How could it be a truck motor?
Those long-lived engines like the 352 (3 years of factory installation) and the 390 (9 years? maybe) were obviously much better, just due to how long Ford installed them for, right?.
Go with the 302.
The only displacement engine Ford ever installed in pickups for more model years was the 300 six.(21 years)
I'm going to do some more measuring before the absolute final decision. Making motor mounts and trying to work out the front suspension details will be the final decision.
The '66 4x4 has an intergral mount under the transmission/case that really can't be taken out or the front suspension will lose all it's integrity. If I use a "longer" drivetrain, I may not be able to get a front driveshaft by the mount. Hence, using the stock drivetrain may be the simplest/easiest/cheapest way to go.
If I used the 302/5.0, I would not use the EFI, but a carb due to cost and simplicity. I am told that even though my AOD is not an electronic version, there are some electronics it needs to operate, which I was not aware of.
The 302 aod wont gain much if anything in the milage department. And if you add in the cost of the conversion, you're bucks behind on it. My brothers 89 F250 2wd with a 302 and a 5 spd manual, with overdrive, doesn't vary much from around 12 MPG. Your 65 being lighter might get a little better, but then the auto will take some milage away.
There would have to be another consideration in the equation to make the swap worth your time and money. Going fuelie for better emissions and drivability? Subsidizing your sons future, if you don't pass the cost of the swap onto him? Slightly lighter weight? Auto versus manual, for ease of commuting? There are more viable reasons, but your own wallet will be lighter.
As far as the 302's power, they are far more than adequate.
My brothers truck is a fuelie with that sweet truck tuned intake manifold and it has no issue with any load you put on it. And that's the the real measure of a truck.
I had the bed and a 3/4 ton pick-up truck based trailer, (they're very heavy) full of aggregate for concrete, and the loading dock was very poor, uphill, with the rear tires in foot deep ruts. I was worried when I pulled into it, but no need, the little 302 and the truck didn't break a sweat. Might as well have been empty as far as the engine was concerned.
A fuelie 302 MAY be going into my dads 65 F100 SWB. A manual for sure though.
When I went from the 352 to a 390 in my 66 4x4, the MPG went up. The engine works less, better wieght to hp ratio. I have squessed 15-17mpg out of it.
What are you running for gears? I just swapped a 79 4x4 chasis into my 65 352, it was getting 13mpg with 3:25's in the 2wd, now it's getting 10mpg with 3:50's and 4wd.
I have 2 390's on the floor that are both good and was thinking of swapping one in, but I may swap the gears out first and see what I can get. I haven't researched gears yet but I have a set of 3:00's I can put in the rear to try out. Any thoughts?
The 65 F250 2WD with a 390 and a t18 4 speed that I use to have got 15 MPG highway, and I certify it. I do believe, but I am not positive, that it had 3.91 gears in it. It accelerated very "freely". The rear end is still available for inspection so I could find out for sure if anyone is interested. Might take a while though.
My wife is gonna be excited to hear she's 10 yrs younger than she's been led to believe, since she was born in 1968! Me too since I don't have to trade her in now that she has 9 yrs to hit 40!
Sorry Joe, I don't understand your comment, " ... but like step sides, big blocks...". Can you explain?
What are you running for gears? I just swapped a 79 4x4 chasis into my 65 352, it was getting 13mpg with 3:25's in the 2wd, now it's getting 10mpg with 3:50's and 4wd.
I have 2 390's on the floor that are both good and was thinking of swapping one in, but I may swap the gears out first and see what I can get. I haven't researched gears yet but I have a set of 3:00's I can put in the rear to try out. Any thoughts?
Sorry, been a very long time sense I looked at what gears are under the truck, so I don't know. But I use 3.00 in a 64 Galaxie, they seem to be good for hiway speeds and gets better MPG than the 3.25's that were in her before.
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Allen D
1966 F-100 4x4 with 390 GT engine
1990 Areostar 2wd XLT ext
1980 Bronco with 460
1964 Galaxie 500 with 428
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