My 50 f-1 has been in moth ***** for the past few years. I had no idea what to do with it. I thought of going back stock but the truck has been modified so much that returning it to stock would be very expensive.
Since stock is out, the gloves are off and I am free to do what I want. What I do want is a late 50s early 60s era ride. I want it to have an over drive transmission, vintage but reliable power and a good margin of safety.
The Truck......
A 1950 Ford F-1 that in it's history It has had the front sheet metal replaced with a 1951. From the front it looks like a 51. From the rear it looks like a 50. Right now it has a 302 and the original top shift 3 spd. Suspension is FOMOCO straight axle.
The plan.......
New wiring EZ harness
1959 Mercury 312 with a Police interceptor camshaft with a 2300 500cfm 2bbl or a 600 cfm Holley 4bbl, the ole 1850. Headers possibly straight pipes or Smithys.
1990 AOD with a Lokar shifter that will be a dead ringer for the original top shift 3 spd.
Lap and shoulder seat belts.
Stock suspension.
Eventually power disks.

How does this sound.

 

It’s your plan; that fact alone makes it sound like a great plan.

<o></o>What’s more important is what’s stated in your signature, “Drive that thang”. You have a goal. Let it be your flagstick in the horizon that provides the stimulus and guidance to measure your progress.


<o></o>Plans often change; goal should not. You have the liberty to take the road less traveled. Hope to see you at the finish line.

 

Good luck on your project -- sounds like a plan -- with all that " go " under the hood, I hope you don"t wait to long to go with the front disc brake conversion -- cause your sure going to need it !!!

Gib

 

I think a SBC 350 would perfect your plan......lol

As was said edzakory........it's your plan, it's what you want.......it don't get any better than that. Just git 'er done so you can enjoy it.....

 

Your best bet would be a 292. Alot of 312`s I have heard of has cracked crank mains on the block and not repairable. Most was caused by the improper torque spec on the main caps printed in the ford manuals as well as the haynes manuals (said trq the main caps to 120 ft lbs. later ford manual stated 95 ft lbs and thats the one to be used). Go to amazon and do a search for 292 they have 292 crate engine fairly cheap with heads and such. I would also recomend if you do find a 312 block to check this guy out on youtube. He has a 312 he punched out to 340 or so cubic inches.

But it is fully up to you though. If it was me how ever, I would use a 292 with a more modern performance camshaft offered, a blue thunder (i think thats the brand) 292 4V aluminum manifold, have the heads worked over some and have it backed by a Ford-O-Matic (only if gearvendors could make a overdrive/underdrive for that transmission) and installa gearvendors underdrive/overdrive on back to the rear with say 3.55:1 gearing. That gearvendors unit would change that 3spd auto into a 6 spd auto basically by splitting each gear as well as providing a overdrive to raise the 3.55:1 gearing to maybe 3.22:1 or something like that. Would have the acceleation and performance but also streetability as well as being able to go on the highway without having the 292 wound up at 4,000 rpm just to do 60 - 70 mph. But that is what I would do if it was me and cost wasnt an issue.

As have been said before its up to you but your plan sounds good though just have to warn you about the 312 being harder to find since so many of them were damaged.

But you talked about a police interceptor camshaft would that be a fomoco spec camshaft from 55-64? I would be interested in that if it would work great in a 2V 292 with 1.78" / 1.51" valves. I was just going to go back with a oem stock camshaft but a police interceptor camshaft would really give the car more get up and go I bet.

 

I know it's been awhile, but was wondering if you ended up with a y block in your '50. I have a 51 with a 312 and I am trying to find out what exhaust / headers will work. Any help is appreciated.

 

Sounds like a plan. The AOD won't bolt to a Y block engine but you probably already know that. I believe there are adapters avalable should you choose to go that route...