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I am planning on swapping a 302 or 351 into my truck. I would like to use a manual transmission.
Will I be able to use the floor mounted clutch that is currently in the truck? Would I need a custom linkage? Will the old linkage be able to work at all?
Knowing what truck, and what engine and trans is in it now will help. If its 52 back, and you want to keep the 8 bolt trans, use an adaptor, and the clutch setup will work. Using a different trans will most likely require a make over on the clutch setup.
The engine in it currently is a Lincoln 337. It has no transmission, and as far as I know that's the reason that the truck hasn't ever run with this particular engine.
I haven't decided which year yet, but I've been looking at a mid 90's mustang or explorer. I also would like to swap the rear end so I'm looking for a donor vehicle to get everything from at once.
I'm not against using an older engine, just not sure which ones to look for.
The clutch linkage will depend on what trans you use. If its one with internal slave, that would be the most simple. Firewall mounted master cyl and a line. Or a firewall mounted master and line to an external slave. Most anything else could get interesting, but first you need to decide on what engine and trans.
Going hydraulic on an engine swap can make things easy. They make throw out bearings that expand right inside the bell housing now. Master cyl, slave cyl and just bending up some tubing. I used a suburban slave cylinder when I put a sm465 behind a smaller cummins in my f350. There can be a lot of lost motion in a Rube Goldberg clutch linkage.
When I bought the 351w it came with a C6 in great shape so that is what I will be using.
Do you think I will have to make firewall modifications? I am already replacing the floor panels so I can make adjustments if necessary.
Also, I have the steering column and gear box out of the 1982 f150 that I am using as a donor. Will it be possible to use that column and gear box? If so, can I use the factory shift linkage? Or would it be better to use an after market floor shifter?
I can't help on the column, still using the stock column on mine. But I can tell you that you will not need to modify the firewall to fit the 351. I have a 351 and FMX in my '46, and it all fits just fine without modifying the cab. Just use the forward most radiator mounting bolts and either get yourself the 6 cyber upper shroud and lower gravel shield or modify the existing parts and it will fit. The fuel pump and oil filter will need to changed unless you cut out the front driver's side motor mount.
Currently I don't have PS, that's a mod I will be looking into soon though. I am running an electric fuel pump and I used one of those oil filter relocation kits, believe I got mine from Summit.