Econoline V8 - myth?
 

I recently purchased a 1962 Econoline pickup. The VIN plate indicates it's a 144 cu in (E10SH250209). Trans code "A", Axle "1", 3600 max GVW.

......as an aside.....Color is "J" is that red?

Anyway, my question/concern is the engine. It has what looks to be a 260 cu. in. V8. Was this offered as a dealer installed option? This installation looks too good to be a homemade job. The doghouse was neatly modified, the engine mounts look original. It has been converted to an alternator, which I know would have been incorrect for 1962.

Any info would be helpful. :-X22

I have already messed up one uber-rare Ford, and I don't want to do anything until I figure this one out.

BTW, the rear axle makes me laugh. I have an 8" out of a Falcon wagon I may substitute at some point. ...after I compare dimensions.

I worked at a Ford dealer installing options back then and nobody ever asked me to put a V8 in one of those, in 65 when the 240 became available we thought that was hot stuff. More than likely some body did a real good engine swap at some time.

agreed. it was a previous owner that had it done. a dealer would not do it because they would not use non ford parts.
a buddy of mine has a 64 with a 302 in it. looks stock, but his uncle paid good money to have it done properly.

Thanks for the input. To this point, most of the parts apprear to be Ford. The sheetmetal mods are very professional and it's hard to imagine someone went to all that trouble. I am trying to degrease it to get more info. As I study it, perhaps something will rise up.

The thing that really amazes me is that someone did a V8 conversion and left the little rear axle alone. I especially can't imagine a Ford dealer NOT upgrading it to a 9".

I cleaned the bottom of the engine late yesterday afternoon. I see it has 3 freeze out plugs, so I'm guessing it's actually a 289.....which pleases me a little more. I may get energetic and curious and pull the starter to check number.

I also noticed last night, it has a 3 sheave crankshaft pulley. That speaks to me too.

This (hopefully) is a pic of the passenger side doghouse. The extensions on the side, are those on the 6 cylinders too?

As I look, the radiator support looks a little amateur-ish, assuming it was done with the rest of the conversion. But I'm also guessing the flex hose was not "original" to the swap either.

http://thumb17.webshots.net/t/81/81/...7HYWNrU_th.jpg

that was boxed out to fit the exhaust manifold

Function understood, I just didnt know if the 6 cylinder models looked like that too. On the limited number I have seen, they were not. But I was wondering if there was someone mass producing them or these were custom fabed.

every V8 conversion i have ever seen was custom made by the builder, and no two were alike.
the 6 cylinder doghouse is smooth

No factory V8s. Who knows what dealers would do. I had a Petersons "Engines" book that showed how to put a 289 in these. It was a popular swap, although how popular I can't say....

Here's some pretty good reading about Econoline engine swaps.
Econoline: Engine swap! - THE H.A.M.B.

econoline rear end swap
 

I have a 67 econoline p/u with a Mustang 5.0 and aod trans. I bought the truck with the engine in and driveable. I did all the doghouse and floorboard mods myself. More about me later, You brought up your rear end, your truck came with a 144, witch means your rear end is a 7 inch with 400:1 gears. My first Econoline was a 63 3 window with that same power train. In order to change the rear end using only wrenches you need to find a 63 Galixy,,,, OR do what I did. I found a 66 super van (funny lookin extended van) I could see from the hiwayand knocked on the door. Many econos came with the Big Block 240 ci 6 cyclinder, and all big block econos came with 9 inch rear ends, usualy with 350:1 gears. If you still have your stock 3 speed, then you need the 9 inch rear, drive line AND the yoke from the trans. I swaped it springs and all, took 4 hours from both trucks on the ground to same. Don't forget the speedomiter cable driver from doner van, this will make your speedo correct with the new gears. I paid $500 for the parts van, sold the rebuilt 250 in the back to an econo pal fore $500 did the rear end swap on my 63 then sold it to buy the 67, and many interior parts for the 67 came from the parts van. Good Luck, Mark in Citrus Heights:-X06

The OP mentioned an axle code of 1, which means a 3.50 ratio. This is a good ratio to have, but the 7" rear end is too light duty for hard driving with a V8.

Based on the data you supplied, your Econoline was assembled in January 1962.
E10 is an Econoline pickup
S means the original engine was a 144 straight six
J is Rangoon Red paint color
A is the 3-speed manual transmission
01 is WCC-A 7"-gear rear axle, 3.50:1 ratio, 2300 lbs. rating

E10 = E100 Pickup.

S = 144 1V I-6

H = Lorain OH Assembly Plant.

250209 = 1962, assembled January 1962.

J = Rangoon Red.

TRANS code A = Ford Light Duty 3 Speed Manual Transmission.

AXLE code 1 = Ford WCC 7" Rear Axle / 3.50-1 / 2,300 lb. Rear Axle Capacity (AXLE code 2 = Ford WCC / 4.00-1).

3,600 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

First Econoline to have factory installed V8 (302) 1969. While the new Econoline was introduced in February 1968, FoMoCo called 'em 1969's.

You cannot tell a 221 from a 260 from a 289 from a 302 by looking at them, because all look identical. So your Econoline could have had any one of these 4 engines "swapped in."

Does the 3 speed trans have a 'crash' 1st gear? Or is it the Ford type 3.03 3 speed manual all syncromesh introduced in 1963, installed initially in Fairlane/Meteor 260/289, 1963 1/2 Falcon 260, V8 Galaxies.

Alternators became standard equipment in 1963 Thunderbird's, everything else in 1965...after the 221 (1962/63 only) and 260 were cancelled.

Last gasp of the 260: Installed in 1965 Mustang's assembled before 8/23/1964.

221/260 and 289's assembled before 8/23/1964 have 5 bellhousing bolt holes. 289's assembled from 8/23/1964 have 6.

* The harmonic balancer includes a single sheave pulley. Ford offered single, double and triple sheave outer accessory pulleys, these bolt to the harmonic balancer.

Look on the side of the balancer for a stamped ID engineering number, similar to this: C5AE-B and post what it is.

The outer accessory pulleys could be two single sheaves bolted back to back, or a double sheave. Look for an ID number, post what it is, may include either 6312 or 6A312.

Thanks for the vitals, on the truck itself and the Ford background. I have done a fair amount of work on it thus far so I know a bit more about the engine.

When I looked underneath I found 3 freeze out plugs so I figured it was a later 260 if not a 289.
Pulled starter: casting C3OE -6015B 3A16 date caode.
According to the charts I found it's supposed to be a 5 bolt bell, 2 freeze out plug, but it's not. It has 3 and, of course the mounts are at 7". After I found a dead cylinder, I pulled the heads. Looks like a standard bore 260. Actually looks pretty clean inside. I am happy.

#5 cyl (10 psi) has a bad valve. Machine shop has them now. I am having hardened seats installed. He's having a hard time finding either the guides or the valves. I'm not sure how long I will leave the 260 in, but figured I could probably sell it later. I saw a timing cover with the front oil fill go for about $225 on Ebay...so I figured I'd get some money back out of it. Perhaps the date code may fill a need for someone down the line.

Currently it has a 3 sheave crank pulley and a single sheave water pump pulley. I need to clean it off to get a number. I'd rather have a single crank pulley. I already have a 3 sheave crank and 2 sheave water off a 65 Falcon 289.

I am going to convert it to a newer timing cover from a 5.0. I need to drill the dipstick boss and get an electric fuel pump. I want to do this so I can use a one wire alternator I already have on the shelf.

Trans has a non-sync 1st, with a side cover. I pulled the tag and bead blasted and painted it. Looks like "1-U-3-C-4 ....1-M-12-A"
I was able to get the correct rear ext. housing seal from Green.
Pretty sure it's not a 303. I had one of those in an early Bronco, so I dont thing so.

I'll post up the pulley number.

Thanks for your help.

3A16: Block cast January (A) 16, 1963 (3).

NOTE: The waterpump and timing cover used before 8/23/64 are not the same as used from 8/23/1964.

The early 221/260/289 waterpump will not bolt to the later 289/302 timing cover. The T/C gasket is the same 1962/96, so the early timing cover will bolt to the later blocks, but only an early waterpump will bolt to it.

You do not have a 3 sheave crank pulley, because there is no such thing.

What you have is a single sheave harmonic balancer with either two single sheave outer pulley's, or a double sheave outer pulley bolted to it.

Accessory outer crank pulleys were used with dual belt alternators, P/S, A/C, T/E.

Since the engine was originally installed in a Passenger Car, it probably had P/S & A/C. No T/E until 1/1/1966.

D9BZ-7052-A (replaced A2TZ-7052-A & C4TZ-7052-A) .. Extension Housing Seal / Available from Ford.

Use with: 2.77/3.03 & T86 3 M/T's, New Process 435 4 speed, RUG SR-OD single rail 4 speed O/D and etc.

MSRP: $17.98 // FTE sponsor tousleyfordparts.com price: $11.87.

What did Green Sales charge you for this puppy? OH resident, did you buy it in person, or have it shipped?

260's and early 289's use the same exhaust valves (C3OZ-6505-A) 37 available NOS

Early 289's use different intake valves (C4OZ-6507-A) 62 available NOS than 260's (C3OZ-6507-A) 141 available NOS.