OH? Sorry Blue Oval Rage/you pretty much said the same .
I gotta read more/quicker or at least better.

 

Hey, your truck looks like it's matching the green on my 53 F250 exactly! Is that Greenbriar Green or something else?

Also, I'm feeling kind of optimistic about the mileage you're getting out of your truck. Are you running a 239 flathead? If so, did you do anything to maximize your gas mileage?

I really do plan to use my truck as a daily driver, so I was hoping to prioritize mileage over anything else. Of course, I'd rather stick with the flathead motor if I can. It may seem a bit odd, but I would appreciate any advice to tune that classic motor for mileage if at all possible.

Power is such an afterthought to me ... I just can't wait to be driving down the road in that beautiful time machine

 

That's a really good point Tom, but the real question is if it will actually physically fit in the truck! With my 390 install, I have spaces and clearances for some critical items that are measured in FRACTIONS of inches!

I have one item (my transmission shift rod) that is so close in tolerance, that if I adjust it 2 turns of a fine head nut too long, it binds up behind the brake pedal.

I look under the hoods of the modern trucks and see 50% engine and 50% supprt crap - in a far larger engine compartment than we have, and can not see daylight coming up from the floor.

And that's another point to this discussion is the amount of modification you will have to perform on the chassis to get either engine to fit. Neither is horrible, but with a 390C6 combo there will be quite a bit more than a 351W with AOD.

That 3.0 V6 I have in the Ranger is ok, but towing up a hill, the Ranger has the gas pedal to the floor and won't keep up. With the F1 with the 390 will actually accelerate up a big hill loaded and pulling trailer.

I've never had the nerve to floor the gas pedal on the F1. I started to one day but by the time I had it half way to the floor, I was involuntarily sitting back in the bed of the truck and my foot had come off the pedal!!!!!

The power difference between the two is phenominal! And FE is latin for "Torque"

 

I recommend the 337cu inch Lincoln, Ford Truck Flathead!
BTW, I have one taking up space in my garage....slim

(what happened to the little guy laughing an banging his fist on the bar?)

 

The "Smileys" rotate to the "Big" Smiley Page.

Click on the [More] on the bottom of the "on page" Smiley Chart and find him on the big page......

 

as far as my flatty in the truck , here's what i can tell you as i got it / po told me . it is a 8ba flatty , , supposedley has a " mild cam " , has headers and duals , stock intake and carb . optimized for mileage never , not that you can call any thing with 3.92 rear gears a fuel sipper . i just replaced the valvesprings in it getting ready to put some eab heads on it too bump compression up a lil' and i don't know for sure which way on the carb , either a bigger version of the 94 style that ross turned me onto or a rochester 2 jet , and electronic ignition . it ran sweet other than the failed valvespring , and electrical gremmie's that have her sidelined . the truck gets 8-9 mpg . now the 52 mentioned is the 52 customline 2 door . it has an all oe 8rt flatty in it { the eab is in peices under my bench came with it from the original p.o's great granddaughter } and unknown gears yet . she cruised down the road to new berlin from springpatch about 26 miles each way on I-72 at 70 mph real comfortably and not under any duress , and barely moved the fuel gauge . it shows maybe just under an eigth of a tank missing from full . it's down now too due to ancient delapidated wiring . getting rewired , an alternator , and 12 volts then petronix . i think it's got an 18-20 gallon tank so do some math ......... all i know is she too is a sweet runner . my buddy norm has an oe 3 speed overdrive and wiring , etc. on a flatty he bought i turned him onto . i'm trying to barter with him for it for the 52 .................

 

oh and if anything this thread show's that there are two distinct schools of thought , those who like the old , innefficient ways , and those the new . i did not say the new was bad so don't anyone go thinking that as that 95 bird i bought is quite a suprising lil' ride . what mods it has had it responded to rather nicely , and is quite efficient . it'll stick around me thinks , but like i said it is not the two i derive the most pleasure from !!!!!!!! i like old bloated dinosaurs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

From your pics I see you've got at least one completed truck with a really nice looking motor and its a 56? Which year F100 would this motor be going into? confused as usual Because Julie makes good points regarding fit etc. Of course Julie has a smaller-in general F1. Or at least the cabs are smaller--aren't they? F1's narrower etc, i believe in general. And she's right of course fit is a huge deal/its gota fit.

Have you googled around looking for other 56's with a modern EFI Ford V8/with overdrive tranny? Here's a link to just one I quickly saw for sale at what appears to be a pro shop: this might give you an idea

Sammy's Rod Shop - 56 Ford F-100****** ***For SALE Call for info***

I didn't study this guys setup closely-Rushed as usual sorry-but this might be worth looking at and I'm sure its just an example of lots of work being done.

Dont' get me wrong I'm sure the 390 with a 6 pak would be totally cool retro/I'm just projecting about how nice it would be to delve into modern tech.

Goodluck

 

It really depends on your vision of your truck. If you get a kick out of burning tires and having folks at shows compliment your engine, go for the 390. If you want to drive alot and the gas prices are an issue, the 351 is a better choice. I agree with Julie, I have a 289/c4 and I can still spin the wheels and it's not so thirsty. It's your truck, do what you want.

 

Put progressive linkage on the 6 pack, run with the centre carb until half throttle, then adjust the 2 'secondaries' to start opening, make all 3 open fully at pedal floored. I have a six pack for my flatty! A caution here, you can tinker with a 6 pack forever! I am not sure but the next generation after the C6 was an overdrive version, they put behind 460's might see if it works on FE blocks? Cheers.

 

If you're really going with the 6 pack on a 390, I'd stay with the C6 - VERY strong.

And I can tell you for a fact that other than passing a semi on a hill you will only "floor" that set up one time in an F-series truck and be so sufficiently terrified that you will never do it again unless you are a complete fool! Guaranteed!

 

some of us were just born FOOLISH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If it were me, i would ask myself, what else would i put a 390 fe tri power into if not my truck? if i dont have an answer i would put it in the truck. That being said, ive got a couple of fe's with C6 transmissions, but im putting a fresh built 302 in my 55 this winter. I just like hi revving small blocks better, Besides im well stocked with performance parts from my Son in laws Mustang drag car.

 

And I can tell you for a fact that other than passing a semi on a hill you will only "floor" that set up one time in an F-series truck and be so sufficiently terrified that you will never do it again unless you are a complete fool! Guaranteed![/quote]

Amen to that Sister !! I am hesitant to apply near full throttle at 25 MPH since it wants to swap ends .Later , Denny

 

chicken.....have a look at the 429 in the snake.......lol