63 econoline project
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63 econoline project
I just purchased this 63 econoline and wondering what i do with it. I haven't been able to find out alot. Its just a good straight body with no engine. Trans is a 3 spd but don't know what kind of shape its in yet. Rearend is shelled so i'll have to replace that as well. I have heard that i will have to do modification to dog house if i put anything back in it with the exception of a 170cu. Would like to go back with 302 or 5.0. with 3 spd. Is there a company that specialize in maching up crossmember to adapt to a v-8? Also will i have a hard time with the clutch linkage adapting with the v-8? Is there a suggestion on converting to disc brakes? Thanks in advance.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 546
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From: Fayetteville, NC
You could bolt a 200 to your transmission.
Many of the 1963-1967 Econolines came with a 9" rear axle. Great to have with any engine.
V8s go easier into a 1965-1967 Econoline, but it is not impossible in yours.
The dog house was larger in 1965, but it is possible to modify your small doghouse to fit. It will just take more work.
Engine cross members from 1965-1967 can be modified to hold a v8.
Vic Fountain, Old Skool on the web, makes these, disc brake kits, and many other things.
Many of the 1963-1967 Econolines came with a 9" rear axle. Great to have with any engine.
V8s go easier into a 1965-1967 Econoline, but it is not impossible in yours.
The dog house was larger in 1965, but it is possible to modify your small doghouse to fit. It will just take more work.
Engine cross members from 1965-1967 can be modified to hold a v8.
Vic Fountain, Old Skool on the web, makes these, disc brake kits, and many other things.
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 546
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From: Fayetteville, NC
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Joined: Dec 2014
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63 Econoline
You can get kits for the disk brake conversion at dddiscbrakes dot com (D & D). A bit 'outside the lines' and not sure anyone has done this, but since you don't have a motor, an electric motor might be fun. The truck is fairly lightweight (probably less than 2200 lbs with no motor) and with a bank of batteries in the 'too light' bed behind the rear wheels it should even out the weight distribution. And you could put a tonneau cover over the bed lined with solar cells. Food for thought. In any case, have fun with it. Good luck.
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Joined: Nov 2010
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The Ford Small Six series included 144, 170, 200, and 250cube versions; the first two had four main bearings, the latter two had seven main bearings for better crank support. A 200 or 250 will give plenty of power for that little van. The 9" rear end is tough all right, but a Ford 8.8 would be plenty good enough, would be cheaper, and could give you a little better mpg.
Drum brakes up to the early Fifties could be pretty inadequate. But then some of the Detroit brass started going down south to watch their cars in the big NASCAR races. When they saw their car lose races, and their drivers hurt or killed because brakes failed (also spindles, wheel bearings, trannies, etc., etc..) they went home demanding upgrades, so that by the mid-Fifties, production cars generally were a lot better. Personally, I think good drum brakes, such as came on my '66 Econoline Supervan HD, were perfectly fine, and disc brakes (which are heavier than drum brakes) aren't worth the effort. My opinion.
Ditto boojuum's suggestion on battery placement. Those shorty vans are nose-heavy.
Try fordsix.com for a ton of info on the Small Six.
Drum brakes up to the early Fifties could be pretty inadequate. But then some of the Detroit brass started going down south to watch their cars in the big NASCAR races. When they saw their car lose races, and their drivers hurt or killed because brakes failed (also spindles, wheel bearings, trannies, etc., etc..) they went home demanding upgrades, so that by the mid-Fifties, production cars generally were a lot better. Personally, I think good drum brakes, such as came on my '66 Econoline Supervan HD, were perfectly fine, and disc brakes (which are heavier than drum brakes) aren't worth the effort. My opinion.
Ditto boojuum's suggestion on battery placement. Those shorty vans are nose-heavy.
Try fordsix.com for a ton of info on the Small Six.
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Joined: Apr 2015
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From: Portland, Oregon
hogfan,
I have done the complete V8-302 swap into my 65 econoline and a larger manual transmission that had the standard under transmission mounts as opposed to the 61-67 econoline hanging transmission style. If you're serious about doing the V8 install, you have a bit of work cut out for you on the 63. The easiest thing to do to initialize your project would be to get many parts out of a 65 to 67 econoline that had a 240-6 in it. The clutch linkage modification to fit the 302 was not as bad as you might think, just moving the crossarm brackets forward about 5" and shortening the main horizontal rod was all I had to do. The 302 will bolt in directly onto a 65-67 240 engine cross member arm but I dropped that same arm down about 1.5" to center the engine a bit better and improve the driveshaft angle. You will want a 65-67 doghouse also, which will then only require minor cutting and modification at 2 points: mainly where the exhaust pipe flanges bolt up to the exhaust manifolds. There's much more to this modification/swap, but in the end it was way worth it.
I have done the complete V8-302 swap into my 65 econoline and a larger manual transmission that had the standard under transmission mounts as opposed to the 61-67 econoline hanging transmission style. If you're serious about doing the V8 install, you have a bit of work cut out for you on the 63. The easiest thing to do to initialize your project would be to get many parts out of a 65 to 67 econoline that had a 240-6 in it. The clutch linkage modification to fit the 302 was not as bad as you might think, just moving the crossarm brackets forward about 5" and shortening the main horizontal rod was all I had to do. The 302 will bolt in directly onto a 65-67 240 engine cross member arm but I dropped that same arm down about 1.5" to center the engine a bit better and improve the driveshaft angle. You will want a 65-67 doghouse also, which will then only require minor cutting and modification at 2 points: mainly where the exhaust pipe flanges bolt up to the exhaust manifolds. There's much more to this modification/swap, but in the end it was way worth it.
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