Hello,

I have a fairly clean 54 f100 that I would like to update and get back on the road. I have a mustang II front suspension that I need to install and I want to swap out the tired 239 and 3 spd. The goal is to make it so that my wife can drive it safely at 65 mph and I can have some fun. 300 hp😊 Therefore I want a fuel injected more modern engine and an auto with overdrive along with powerbrakes and steering, however my engine/tranny fidget is about $3-$4k.

I have a 5.3 vortec with 120k. I can do a few simple mods to it such as a 218/228 cam and upgraded Valve springs along with a 4l60e and it would fit the ticket. I'm comfortable with doing the wiring myself as I've done lt1 swaps in the past.

But I also located a 1999 mountaineer with a 5.0 HO and 136k miles that has a roasted tranny for $1200. This would require me to rebuild the tranny and swap a 2wd output shaft and tailhousing. It would be a Ford drivetrain but I am not as confident that I can easily make the 300hp with a simple cam and valvetrain swap. I don't think I can afford $1500 AFR heads. How difficult are these to wire, defeat the pats, and tune?

I am not exactly a purist when it comes to Ford vs Chevy unless it will have an adverse effect on future resell. Thoughts?

 

300 HP on a SBF is very easily obtained. Three angle valve job and a small cam and your there. I a am not too **** but believe keep a Ford in a Ford. My take is if you want to use the LT1 buy and put in an old Chevy truck. That is my .02 for what it is worth.

 

Welcome to the forum. The Mountaineer donor will offer much more than the engine and trans, and you'll get your money's worth going that route. The rear end will be a perfect compliment for the truck, and with the MII front you're planning, it will drive just like a Mountaineer when done. Your wife will be happy. As mentioned, achieving your hp goals won't be an issue. The '99 5.0 will have all the latest factory upgrades and is nearly there already. A little tuning and you're good to go.

Don't overlook the possibility of using other interior trim components, seats, brakes, pedal assemblies, etc. Personally, I'd be all over that and sell the LT stuff to fund it. But, admittedly, I am a Ford guy, so perhaps a bit biased. Good luck with your project.

 

PATS is easily removed with a tune.
You could buy a low mileage 4r70 out of a v6 mustang for a couple hundred and save yourself the time rebuilding yours and adding a 2wd tailshaft

300hp... Are you talking crank hp or wheel hp?

 

I am currently building a 54. I bought a 98 explorer with a bad transmission for $400. I'm going to use the 5.0 out of it but I'm going to make it a carburetor engine. I'm going to use a non electronic Ford AOD for the transmission. The 98 I have has the GT40P heads the same heads that are on your 99 explorer 5.0. You can make 300 horsepower with these engines easily. Some head work, a cam, and headers will get you their. The stock exhaust manifolds hold it back. The ford racing shorty headers for the GT40P heads will work. Part# M-9430-P51. Read up on this link below. I plan to do this without the nitrous.
Make 503HP With A $350 Junkyard 302

 

Thanks for the replies, 300 at the flywheel would be fine. I don't really plan on doing enough suspension mods to get much more than that to actually hook up. Seems like the consensus here is to go with the 5.0. Does $1200 for the mountaineer seem high? I live in west central Idaho and finding parts has been a challenge as there isn't much in my area.

 

I can't say I don't know how hard it is to come by on something like that up their. Where I'm from in San Antonio Texas area you can find some on craigslist from anywhere from $400-$700. Usually a blown transmission or a wrecked one. If its complete and its hard in your area to come by I guess you have to pay out the $$$$.

 

So for the ability to say it is all ford you will be willing to spend 3K just to start the goal of 300HP????

1200 for the mountaineer
1800 IMO to rebuild trans

 

Yes well everything does cost more up here that is for sure. Plus, not having a major metro area within 7-8 hours really limits availability.

Regarding being able to say its all Ford....I am not real hung up on that. I more wanted to hear the input from others as to whether or not it would be best for re-sale or a future buyer. I'm not looking to make a bunch of money or anything. Not sure If I would ever sell it but sometimes things happen. I've never even owned a Ford before I inherited this truck. I have only owned 4wd Toyotas.

The Toyota crowd seems to flock to the GM V8 conversions or the occasional expensive late model Toyota V8 engine conversions but I've never seen a Ford in a Vintage Toyota. I wasn't sure if the Ford crowd loses it's mind when a GM is put into a classic Ford truck, therefore limiting a potential buyer if required.

 

Yup we have lost our minds already, that's why we do this here stuff, it's for therapy.

 

Nice, I like that.

Well, after doing some more reading I think I've realized that my question is essentially preference based and there is perhaps no right or wrong. So, I guess I just need to develop what is best for me. If I go with the 5.3 some may be in disgust yet others may just care that it runs and drives well and could care less that its a GM engine.

I will admit that perhaps the 5.0 sounds best but my pocket book may feel otherwise since I already have the Vortec. Well, I look foreword to starting a thread for the build after my leg heals and I get off these crutches.

 

I hate to disagree with the Posting Guru, but I really don't believe you can add 100HP to a 5.0 with a new valve job and a small cam. It is going to require something more than the stock Ford heads.

 

Actually, the stock Ford GT40P heads that come on the '99 Explorer/Mountaineer that the OP is considering are among the best flowing and power making factory Windsor-type heads ever produced by Ford. As noted above, it doesn't take much to improve the power potential of this engine to hit the 300 mark. You won't need expensive aftermarket units, these stock ones work great. It's just a shame Ford waited until the near-demise of the 302 before making them.

 

Hey ETOWN55! Glad to see someone else from the San Antonio area here on the forum.

 

Believe it or not, until recently no one made an adapter to put a Windsor against a stock trans, but there are 4 or 5 outfits making the SBC to stock adapters. In some respects including the oil pan shape, the SBC fits a little better. Personally, I'd be a lot more comfortable with the 4L60 than with an AOD/AOD-E. If you are just going to sell it anyway, go with the GM.