Okay, did some wrenching and cleaning under the old 69 F250 today and almost gave myself the bug to get goin on my engine swap. The blue beast has a tired 360 V-8 with good working C6 behind it. Plan is to swap in a good used 300 I-6 with small block C6. I've found the I-6 and C6, plan to get them soon and mate them together to make the swap easier. So here goes with some questions that I need answered before I get real adventurous and go at this alone myself:
1.) What's a reasonable price to have someone do the swap...we're talking pull hood, pull the radiator and hoses, set the PS pump aside on the fender skirt, disconnect the tranny lines, speedo cable and linkage, move or remove the crossmembers, drop the driveshaft, unbolt and remove the 360 and C6 together as a one unit and then drop the I-6/C6 back in as a unit and reconnect what was disconnected/removed. I've gotten one quote of about $650. Are they jerkin' my chain or is that reasonable? Don't know the exact hours involved for a competent/experienced hand to do this.
2.) Almost got the bug to do this myself while I was under the truck today. Was cleaning crud and grime off the undercarriage so I got a good look at the crossmembers, rear tranny mount, driveshaft and engine perches. On a mechanical skill scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate myself about 7.5 or 8...but I've never done an engine/tranny swap before. Plus, I'd have to acquire/rent a hoist and I'd be working alone in the driveway...unless I can find a good hand to help me out. So how hard and tight a swap is this, really? None of my buds are mechanical and my one reliable cuz is more than 100 miles away.
3.) I've got the $$ together to buy the I-6 and C6, but am wonderin' what to do with the old motor/tranny. I'm in W. Texas, and there's not a lot of market hereabouts for old Fords/engines/etc. I'm thinking maybe try to find a competent mech who is willing to take the old motor/tranny plus some cash to do the swap for me, with me helping.
That's my questions for those with more experience at this. I know I could pull and rebuild the 360/C6 combo and put it back in...but I'm a straight 6 guy (had four Fords with them in the last 34 years and love 'em) and too gray and creaky to enjoy switching to a manual tranny. When done, the truck will be a daily driver and firewood and boat hauler, plus hunting/fishing rig since I have a camper for it. I'm lookin at a July launch/completion timeframe since I need the truck as a daily work driver until then. End of June my teaching gig is over and I have almost 60 days to loaf and be wurfless...according to she who must be obeyed (aka wife...for you younger guys).
Any ideas/tips/input is welcome.

 

As long as the 360 is running why bother?

$650.00 is not out of line to hire the swap. IMHO



John

 

Things to think about: (I've done many engine swaps)

1. Drive shaft shorter/longer
2. Need a drop in motor, the power steering, alternator brackets will not be the same, often the power steering pump mounts differently.
3. Motor mount perches are going to be different
4. Re do exhaust
5. Transmission crossmember *might* be the same, but the trans mount may not be.
6. To have plenty of room you'll want the core support and front of the truck off, also the hood. So expect to replace some stuff you break taking it all apart. Lowes sells those lil captive nut clips ford likes to use, also expect you'll destroy your radiator core support bushings.
7. You will want the engine hoist for many days (or at least the duration of the project). It sure is handy for moving the engine this way or that when you need a lil clearance.


My experience has been that you are best to buy a donor truck, swap the parts straight out and sell whats left over..... it's cheaper than hunting individual parts.

Good luck
Drew

 

If your going FE c6 to small-block c6 then the drive shaft, mounts and cross members will all be the same, and the 6cyl uses the same engine perches as the FE, you'll just have to move them forward or back a bit to the other set of holes on the frame.

It's not a hard swap, look up a fella here called F250restorer, he's done the exact thing your thinking of doing, and I've considered and researched it a lot as well.

I hope it all goes well for you!

Sam

 

The engine mount perches are the same?? I never knew that. They are much different than the 335 series.

 

I've talked to a couple guys that have done it, and they say they work just fine!

Sam