390 Transmission options
 

what are the options for transmissions on a 390? we have a 390 sitting in a truck we are planning on putting back together with a 351. we have a early 80's 3/4 ton truck and transmission that was a 400 but the guy we bought it from blew the engine. would it be possible to take the 390 and bolt it up to the 400 transmission.... the trans we have for the 390 is a 2wd and need a 4x4 we don't have a use for a 2wd..... all farm use.

im a diesel guy and don't know much about the gassers

The 390 is the FE series and will not bolt up to a 400 or any of the 351 motors. (C, W, M--M is same as the 400 for bell pattern)

If you are only going to use it for farm work, find a C6 4x4 trans in the FE pattern. Millions served, so you should be able to find one from late '60s to '76 truck.

If you are talking manual trans, then a 4 speed truck trans will bolt to the 390 with the correct truck bell. Again, lots of those out there, 352, 360, 390, any one will do as long as it is '66 or newer.

so its right that the C6 cant change bell housing? Not that knowledgable in Trans. How do you know that a C6 is made for the FE series. Will a C6 match all FE's if built for the FE's?

C6 case and bell is one piece. Unless you are a magician with a welder and are a machinist to boot, you can't change it.

FE bell pattern: Took me a while, but scroll down here and you'll see the patterns:

FordFE Forum Faqs

The FE C6 will fit all FE's.

Excellant info. Thanks, Mike

I have a 390 engine, and I run a c6 transmission through it. I would go that route, but if you think the 400 would bolt up right then go for that.

C6 trannys are 1 piece cases. While you can run a C6 behind the engines as you described, they can not be swapped between engine families. The bell must match the engine that you want to bolt it to.

Past that I agree.


John :-X06

Hello, I'm new here to the ford truck forum. Not exactly new to old fords, i have a long list. More on that later.

but I've recently purchased a 77 f150 4spd 4X4 with a seized 300 i6. I have a few spare 390s and C/6's. But I would really like to keep the manual tranny in the pickup. Is it possible to drop a 390 in there? what do I need to keep the manual 4spd? Or do i need to get a different 4spd to take the 390? Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Best, Kevin

Welcome to FTE!

You need to find an FE bell, flywheel, clutch etc.

The transmission to bell pattern is a rectangle, also called the "butterfly" pattern. The only other concern in the input length. You'll need to measure that.

Since you are changing engines, you will need to sort out mounts, front engine accessories, cooling, exhaust etc.

Quite a project. Sure you don't want to rebuild the 300?

The 300 and FE use the same perches just move them forward one hole. The input shaft is all the same no difference. Just need the bell housing and proper flywheel.

I have another 73 f150 4X4 with a 390 and c6. This is the donor vehicle for the 77. So I have all of the parts I need. Just not sure about mounting the 390 to the 4spd... I have two spare c6's in the garage, so I know the bell-housing doesn't come off. I may just swap everything out from the 73 and make the 77 an Automatic. But, I'd really rather have the 4 spd.

The original plan was to rebuild the 300. But it had a blown head gasket, and the truck has been sitting for about 20 years. I pulled the pan and saw rust everywhere, and I could tell that #3 was definitely seized. I then pulled the valve cover and have never, in my life, seen so much rust. Then, I removed the head, and it's warped. Don't think it's a contender for a rebuild. So, i have another 73 f150 already with a 390 in it. I should have all of the misc parts (radiator, exhaust, mounts, etc).

So what do I need: ?
1. I need The fe "butterfly" bell housing.
2. I need an fe flywheel.

3. And do I need a new clutch? Different from what is already in the 77? (i might as well put a new clutch in anyways, I'm just curious if it will be a different clutch, or the same as the 300/4spd combo)

Thanks, Kevin

'66 TBird 390 into a 67 F-150/ race truck build
 

I'm currently trying to build a race truck with an old 390 V8 from a Thunderbird project awhile ago. I'm looking at putting it into a 1967 Ford F-150 once it's built and was curious on what problems I'll hit with installing it and also was transmissions I can mate with it for better and faster performance.

What engine is in your truck now?

the truck came without an engine, it was a junk yard pull.