I purchased a 81 F-100 two wheel drive with a 300 6 in it "short-bed". I want to turn the truck into a sport truck. I need help with these questions.
1. What is the easiest conversion V-8?
"302, 351, 390 etc and is there a difference with a car or truck motor".
2. Interior parts? "Is there a company that would have these"
3. Wheels? Anyone know of any good companies they can reference.
4. Transmission right now it is a 4 speed manual with overdrive. What is the easiest transmission conversion that could handle a 400 hp motor and shift for the quarter mile?

It seems like my year truck is not real important in the world of sport trucks and on this board, anyone who can help I would really appreciate the assistance. I am going to make this truck a head turner.

 

For the engine swap I would stick with a Windsor engine (302w or 351w) if you want to keep it street legal. These engines were available in these trucks, and with the huge aftermarket support they have (5.0 mustangs use the same family of engines) you could build one to 400hp (might not pass a smog test). You should be able to find anything you need in the junkyard to swap the engine in. Look for 80 – 86 V8 (302/351) trucks and take what you need. The accessory brackets are different for the 302 and 351 because the 351 has a taller deck height. You could even use the serpentine setup off the later trucks just make sure you use the correct water pump.

If you don’t care about the smog test, go for a 460 (or 429). Look for trucks that have the 460 in it for parts (F250HD and F350). If you can’t find a 460 in the trucks, look for 70’s Lincolns and Ford big cars.

Why not be different? Find someone to make a manifold and bolt on a 6-71 blower to your 6. Port the head and cam it up... It might be tough to make 400hp, but it’d be really cool.

For the trans, the easiest is an automatic. C4 for the small bocks (302/351) and C6 for the big block; get a driveshaft out of an auto truck. If you want a manual I’d recommend a Tremec TKO 5 speed. I know it’ll bolt up to a small block, and I’m sure you can get a bell housing for a big block. Look at a hurst catolog for an appropriate shifter handle.

Wheels... There are tons out there, just get the right bolt pattern and backspacing. Weld, Centerline, American Racing are just a few.

Interior, I’ve seen some basic restoration stuff in JC Whitney’s catalog(www.jcwhitney.com), you can start there. A company called Just Dashes can repair dashes, steering wheels and other interior parts, plus the have interior dyes to change the color of parts.


Hope this helps. Post some pictures when you get it done.

David -=83 F100 - 300 4spd 4x2=-

 

What about cowl induction hoods and billet grills for our trucks. I always see stuff for newer or older trucks however ours seem to be in a void. I think I am going to go with with a 351 with the T - 5 and keep it manual. It seems to be task to lower the truck, find a positive traction rear end and drive shaft that will fit. This is going to be a tough job but it will be worth it in the end.
Thanks

 

Haven’t seen any billet grills; maybe you could find a welder in your area to make one using aluminum tubing? As for a cowl hood, go to Harwood or Unlimited Products and get the scoop and bond it to your hood. I think that’s the best your going to be able to do.

I would stay away from the T5 if you can. They aren’t that strong and if you beat on the truck it will break. If you add up the cost of a couple rebuilds it’d be cheaper to get the TKO to start with. The TKO takes a different bell housing then the T5, but they are available.

You should have a 9” rear, it shouldn’t be hard to find a posi, gears and axle shafts for it.

As for the lowering, someone (Bell Tech?) makes dropped I-Beam axles and there are dropped spindles and dropped coil springs. How low do you want to go? For the back, look for de-arched springs, and not blocks. Blocks are cheaper but you might have axle hop problems.

For a 351 you can raid the Mustang parts bin and get an EFI setup, a GT-40 manifold from Ford racing and bolt on a centrifugal supercharger. You could make 6 - 700hp that way....

David -=83 F100 - 300 4spd 4x2=-

Ohh and I almost forgot. For a drive shaft, go to Denny's... :-)
http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/

 

Thanks man and I will keep you up on the progress.