Hello fellow ford lovers. I recently acquired a '78 f100 shortbed stepside 2x4 pickup. The engine that was in it when I got it is a 351 Windsor. I looked up the vin and the truck originally had a 302. The problem is, the windsor has a front sump oil pan and it looks as though whoever installed it had clearance problems and just beat the oil pan in to clear the cross member. So, my question is: is the oil pan supposed to be a rear sump design, and if so will a 302 pan and pic up tube bolt up on the Windsor motor? Thanks in advance for any info. Ross

 

Howdy, and welcome to FTE! There's a lot of helpful people and information here.

Unfortunately the 302 pan will not fit the 351w block. To "properly" install a 351w in a 73-79 2wd, a rear sump oil pan and pick up needs to be sourced from a '70s, '80s or '90s 351w equipped van (E150/250/350) or, a truck pan from an '80s or '90s model will also work.

I had a similar truck years ago...mine was a '77 F100 shorty, 302 4spd. I swapped in a '69 351w using mid '80s van pieces for a simple install, it was a huge improvement over the tired California emission 302!

 

Thanks fordrealdrive! That's valuable information. I've got a lot to do to get the truck road worthy again. I started at the rear and working my way forward, so far I've replaced the leaf springs, the rusted out front leaf hangers, spring and shackle bushings, new brakes all around and the seals and oil on the differential. I've barely scratched the surface, as the old truck was pretty rough. I found an aluminum short box utility bed to replace the rusted out stepside bed. Once I get the rear squared away, i'll pull the engine and tranny to do the oil pan, gaskets, and seals, as it runs great but leaks oil and tranny fluid. My goal is a daily driver for fishing hunting and hauling fire wood etc...
Thanks again, and I'll post up some pics when I get it back together.