All, I am most familiar with the FE and 385 series engine families, not so much with the 302/5.0 Windsor series.
My '66 F-100 with a 460/C6 I have used for hauling and towing. Since medical issues have put me on disability, I would like to replace the drivetrain with a 302/5.0 and an automatic, and make the truck more of a daily driver.
The actual swap is not unfamiliar to me - but what I do not know is what year 302/5.0 would be suitable, or unsuitable.
Nor am I familiar with lighter duty automatic transmissions.

I am looking for a donor car or truck, with a decent running engine so that I don't need to do head work and the like. A good example might be, from your experience, that an "RV" cam or a different timing set might be worth the investment. I am not looking for performance so much as a decent daily driver truck. It should stay a relatively simple swap.

However, I am sure there are things to look out for. For example, in the 385 engines, changing the timing gear in '72 or later engine will really wake it up - and I am looking for simple fixes such as that to do to the donor engine before it goes in.

As to transmissions, I would prefer to get away from the C6, mostly because I do not need the strength of a C6, and it loses a lot of power. I also don't want to mess with electronics or the issues of an AOD. A plain self shifting slushbox will do, but I don't know what the differences are. MX? FMX?

What engine\transmission would you recommend for a daily driver truck?
What modifications, if any, from factory configuration for that year would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

John; Not an authority on the subject but from my limited experience our 65 is the families daily driver and workhorse. Installed 70 Torino 302 in 1972, as is, and had rebuilt in 1989, kept the T18 all these years w/ no problem. Parts are relatively inexpensive and easy to come-by. Never had an issue with hauling material, believe me in saying over the past 40 plus years I have put it thru the test. Occasionally make trips to SoCal with our 6x8 enclosed trailer to the top of the infamous 'grapevine' with ease. Having said that, if ever came to replacing I would go w/ later model 302 or 351w with roller cam and stay carbureted, I would not have a clue with EFI. Another issue, should you decide to use the truck to haul a car trailer, is to check with local rental outlets to determine if it would be an issue. Checked with local U-Haul who would not rent a car trailer for the 65 with the 302 but had no issue with the 65 and 390ci; only in Ca. If don't get sufficient input from 61-66 forum may want to wander over to the appropriate engine forum?? Anyhow, food for thought??

 

John, Stand down, Take a DEEP breath, leave the truck alone. You love the truck as it is. Everyone needs a truck, you have one. Or sell it and find a nisson to haul the garbage with.

Find a used small car to visit your parishioners and use as a daily driver. The truck will be there for you when you need a truck or want something to drive and raise the hair on the back of your neck.

Don't make me drive out there with my stick.


John

 

go to your pick a part and grab a 5.0 from an explorer
Bad *** Mustangs Forums - Explorer 5.0 engine in to fox body mustang FAQ´s
here is a little info
1999 Explorer 5.0l swap into 1964 1/4 Mustang - Ford Mustang Forums
convert to carb. add regular distributer and ad a bigger bump stick
as far as trans I don't like c4s unless heavily modified, an fmx will do just fine

 

As Banjo mentioned, looking to use as a daily driver, and again speaking from limited experience; occasionally drive from home to residence in SoCal for a total of exactly 300 miles, which I can make on a tank of gas with the 65 and 302ci; whereas, the same 300 mile trip using the 65 with the 390ci and 3 speed w/ O.D. and quit calculating mileage after the 2nd tank of gas.

 

I would go with the roller 5.0 and a C4 if you do not want the AOD.


The earlier 289/302 does not deliver the same hp per dollar as the roller.


The VMF Mustang board covers this swap pretty good as far as the particulars on what parts work and don't work together and setting up the accessory v-belts or serpentine belt, 28 or 50oz imbalance, front cover and all the other odds and ends that go with a drivetrain swap.


I would consider the AOD, a good rebuild with a constant pressure valve body easily handles 300hp and will give you good service and much better mpg's.

 

May want to factor cost of swap to the estimated amount of use 'as is' to the cost despite 8 mpg???

 

Got mine from a '92 Mustang GT. '92 was the last year for factory forged pistions in the GT. My donor had been rearended with 62K miles. I kept the fuel injection and AOD. Got most everything I needed from the same car. The HO version is rated at 225hp before any upgrades.

 

i see no reason to not go with the aod. you gotta switch transmissions anyway, make it worthwhile.

 

Thanks so much for all the recommendations! I now have a better place to start with, and hopefully I can find what I need when the time comes.

In the decade or more that we have known each other, John, I can always count on you looking our for my best interests.
A better quality in a friend cannot elsewhere be found.

Good thing, the truck is 500 miles away, back home in SC.
The cancer has out me out to pasture, so to speak, and I may not even be able to rebuild my truck. But I won't give up hope.
Here is what it is now:
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/...d.jpg~original
http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1db79902.jpg


Our plan is to sell the house and move back home. Maybe then I can work on my Slick, at least it gives me something to look forward to.
Since I need a truck, right now is the best time to change out the engine!

 

Banjo, listen to John. If you are used to a 460, or FE engins, you will never, ever be happy with a Windser engin.
As my dear ol' Dad used to say "There ain't no substitute for cubic inches."
Please belive me when I say there is no such thing as a rig too big for the job, just one that is too damned little. 'Nuff said.
Tom

 

Lots to debate here.


IMO if you need a work truck, get a F250.


If your 50 year old F100 is a cruiser/DD, then a 5.0/AOD is a nice combination for power/performance/economy.

 

Really, NO there there isn't. There is more to the story than you know. John da Peeker really needs to find a nice Ranger to get to the short rows.

F250s are tooth rattlers, shake the sheeet out of you. I have used and owned work trucks for nearly 50 years, and a half ton has done the job, and didn't beat me up riding in it.



John

 

If there isn't anything to debate why are you in the conversation?

 

You know that is a very good question. Cancer has the man facing the backdoor of life, he is very unsure what next week, next month, or next year will bring and you are suggesting he get a F250 work truck.

Standing down, yall carry on.


John