I have a F-7 big job and don't want to hot rod and I want to keep it as a big truck ... so what motor and trans would you use
7.3 diesel
460 gas
351 gas

and what trans that has a floor shift ,so it would look right
thanks for the input...

 

Projects 1947 Ford 1.5 Ton 'Heavy' Turbo Diesel - THE H.A.M.B. check out this guy's build. Might give you some inspiration.

 

I saw that , I just wanted to be all Ford...

 

Can't complain keeping it all Ford. Perhaps a newer F350/450 with a 460 or 7.3 and 5 or 6 speed ZF manual trans would be a good candidate.

 

What's wrong with the stock motor?

 

You're gonna need lots of torque to move that thing. Especially since it's probably gonna be your tow vehicle. So to me that rules out something small like the 351. I like the 460/ZF 5 or 6 speed idea myself. That's what I have in my daily driver and love it. The only thing I've read is that the ZF is a really big tranny so you'd have some fit issues to work out. A late Power Stroke 7.3 would be my other choice. But that'd be even bigger and heavier to fit. Stu

 

the stock motor a Y block has 13,000 mile on , I drove about 300 miles before I park it .. But the top speed was 45 mph (the fire was out before I got there) and its going to take a lot of grinding on the trans to learn to shift it...It took me 3 days to cut up and remove the 1000 gal. tank off the back ..

 

As I've thought about it, it'd be a whole lot easier to go with a C-6 and Lokar shifter than to try to work out clutch hydraulics.

 

I'm going with a 6.9 diesel and ZF-5 in mine. The 6.9/7.3 does have some potential fitment issues because of the length (my radiator is going to be moving forwards a bit to clear the engine). I second truckdog62563 on going with an autotragic - the clutch linkage is another annoyance.

 

The F7 is a medium truck by todays standards, so engines in the 250 to 300 hp range are reasonable. A lot depends on if you want a period drivetrain or a modern one. A built up Y block with manual and taller rear gears is one option. A Ford truck 361, 391, 370 or 429 with a 5 speed OD truck transmission is an option. The car/light truck 460 is another. If you want to stay Ford, how about a Cat 3208 (which Ford called the 636 diesel in the 70's) with a Clark 5 speed OD or an Allison automatic? Much depends on what you want and how you will be using it.

 

Old thread
any updates? How about a 5.9 cummins with a 5 or 6 speed out of a f700-800

 

there is a guy on here by the name bigjob. he is partial to the 391 ft engines in his big trucks and swears by them. plenty of bottom end and if I am not mistaken he claims it is a bolt for bolt drop in swap with the y blocks that came in them originally.

 

Why not a 300 six with ZF overdrive or AOD automatic? Ford installed this engine in F-600's for years and they are one hard pulling engine, an economical alternative to a 4BT. EFI engines are particularly good on fuel and are a very easy swap.

 

As F6Guy said by using any FT with its own bell housing and try to find an
5sp OD. The big But, is what year is this. We relate a "F7" as 1952 and
back, 1953 & up is another ballgame. It is possible to use FE 352s 390s
but you will need FT exhaust manifolds that dump in the center so just go
with FT thats 330s 360s 391s. You said Y block so its gotta be 53 & up
(F700) No cutting welding all standard even exhaust system from Napa.
Theres still a lot around buses Cab overs well into the 70s. Use all the
senders from the former engine and all is well. My opinion by going diesel
is way to complex and your going to need deep pockets,not saying it cant
be done but if so, you might as well buy a whole diesel truck and put your
cab on it ask Wm Joe. There is a pic click on my garage, of a 391 in a
1953 F900 but gotta look around in there to find it- even I have to look
searce around. Too bad I cant att. photo to a reply but such is life.

 

that thing probably had less than 150 hp new.... just about anything you put in it will be an improvement.... I' like my 337 though.