Just a quick question for all the Ford guys on here. I have a 1986 F150 automatic with a 300 i6 that engine is shot. I would like to make this truck a good usable truck and would like to put in another engine or even an engine and trans combo. This truck has been pretty much butchered over the years as far as the engine goes....... all the smog stuff has been removed, it is carbureted with a lot of wires taped off and has never really run since I owned it.
What would be a good option to keep it as simple and low cost as possible to get this truck back in operation?

 

Is the transmission good?

You have perches and radiator for an I-6
I would go back with the same engine, a non feedback carb, and a DurasparkII ignition swap.
If you want more power you can use EFI exhaust manifolds and a 4 barrel offenhauser intake.

 

Yep, tranny is good....... rest of the truck is solid, just the motor is shot.

 

I agree with Jim. If you change to another engine you need different perches and a different radiator, although that tranny will bolt to a 302 or 351W. But the 300 six is a darn good truck engine, so I'd go back with it. Or, if you have to have a V8 then go with the 351W, not the 302.

 

I've looked for 300's and they are not easy to find. Was hoping for a solution that would be easy enough to locate a used engine in solid shape.

 

Sure, but do you want to have to change the engine perches on the frame and the entire exhaust system, any and all hoses, radiator, engine bay harness, tach from 6-8 cylinder, etc, ad infinitum?

You can get the DSII ignition and carb from any older I-6 running or not.
It could even be from a Maverick or Granada.

 

why not rebuild the existing engine then you know what you have and no problems of anything fitting ?

 

I don't think the car engines are the same. Weren't they a different cubic inch and a different engine? I thought the 240's and 300's where only used in the trucks.

Anyway, here's some places where you can find a engine in Missouri;

Here's a older engine with AIR in the head.
1982
Engine
Ford Van E100, 4.9L (VIN E, 8th digit, 6-300),4.9L-114K 114,000 A 1210008 $500 Davis Auto Wrecking & Sales USA-MO(Independence) Request_Quote 816-229-3432 / 816-229-3636 Request_Insurance_Quote
1983
Engine
Ford Van 150 PARTS,REBUILDABLE SEE NOTES 34,322 A 830671 $Call West 7th Salvage USA-MO(Joplin) Request_Quote 417-623-3255 / 800-933-3255 Request_Insurance_Quote


Here's engines with AIR in the manifold.
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F150 BASE,6 CYL,MT,4x4 170,999 A 120128 $500 All Parts Auto and Truck Salvage USA-MO(Springfield) E-mail 1-877-863-9429
1986
Engine
Ford Truck F150 Ran carb motor 23877 $250 J & S Auto Parts & Salvage USA-MO(St.-Louis) E-mail 314-631-0297
1982
Engine
Ford Truck F150 CORE 4.9,4SP,RW 14,083 A AC032 $Call All Star Auto Parts USA-MO(Kansas-City) E-mail 1-816-921-9999
1985
Engine
Ford Van 11423 $Call E & J Auto Salvage - Yard 2 USA-MO(Cadet) E-mail 573-438-1010 / 636-479-4132
1984
Engine
Ford Truck F150 4.9L (VIN Y, 8th digit), AIR i,STOCK NO. FT191029 FT191029 $Call A - Z Recycling & Auto Salvage USA-MO(West-Plains) Request_Quote 417-256-4922 Request_Insurance_Quote
1981
Engine
Ford Truck 150 300 CNS TURNS OVER GOOD 153,981 A FO8608 $Call Rolla Auto Salvage & Sales, Inc. USA-MO(Rolla) Request_Quote 800-445-0254 / 573-364-4414 Request_Insurance_Quote

 

Dave, I hadn't given it much thought that the straight 6's I worked on in cars might be much different than those in trucks.
I just knew the 250's in 70's cars had DSII and a YF(A) carb.

 

Thanks for the help guys.

 

One other question: What do you mean when you say "air in the head" or "air in the manifold" and how does that make a difference for what I'm wanting to do?

 

Ford used a couple of different ways to get extra oxygen into the exhaust to react with the exhaust gas itself. One was via ports in the manifold, and the other was via a passage drilled in the head. The latter used a tube to the back of the passenger's side head and a bridge from that head to the other head.

 

"Air Injector Reactor" the A.I.R. (emissions) pump discharged into the exhaust manifold on some engines, and directly into the exhaust ports of other engines.

What DO you want to do?
Do you need to pass emissions every year where you live?
Do you want to convert to a stone simple system that is easy to keep running like a top?

I already made the suggestion of a Duraspark II electronic ignition system with a NON-feedback carburetor and the later (free flowing) EFI exhaust manifolds. (A.I.R. in head)
Heck, if you don't have emissions then get rid of the catalytic converter too and use the free flowing Walker Y pipe in combination with the EFI manifolds.

 

Gary, It's an inline 6, there is only one head.

 

My excuse is that I've just started on my 2nd cuppa and I'm not awake yet. But, you are right and, I'm wrong. What's new?