Engine/Trans Swap Questions

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Apr 17, 2016 | 05:11 PM

Martin Torres

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Tuned

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Engine/Trans Swap Questions

Hello all, instead of adding to my original thread with all the different topics I thought it best to start a new thread with my specific topic. Easier to find and follow.
So my ’58 F100 project has a 292 and T98a. It suffered who knows what to the engine. The driver’s side valve cover and rocker arm were removed and the farmer parked it in his equipment graveyard in 1969 with 52,460 miles on it. I plan on pulling it apart and rebuilding it if it is rebuildable. Until then, I want to get the truck on the road with a temp engine. A friend has a running 1989 F150 with a 289 (5.0) that has a minor issue with the EFI. Pretty sure it is the fuel pump and or pressure regulator. He doesn’t want to spend any money on it and will give it to me if I make the bed into a trailer for him. So basically I have a complete engine, tranny, wiring harness and computer and anything else I can rob. Is there a bellhousing I can use to mount the T98A to the 5.0? I may take a stab at making a front mount for the 302 to use the original frame mounts but am unsure how I would mount the tranny. Maybe throw in the auto trans with the 302. Anyone mated a 302 to an original T98?

Apr 18, 2016 | 05:20 AM

Walston

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 2,575

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From: Greenville, SC

You can easily get motor mounts for a 302, KMC, Dennis Carpenter, etc. Using the trany support from the donor should be easy, just make a cross support from frame to frame under the donor support. I think that would be much much easier than trying to mound the T98 to it. Hopefully the donor has a floor shifter.

Apr 18, 2016 | 11:03 AM

Martin Torres

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Tuned

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Thanks for the reply. I'm hoping to keep the T98a vs the auto. I did do some surfing for mounts. Looks like an engine mount crossmember might conflict with my axle and tie rod. Hoping to find something that comes off the frame only. I can run a cross support forward or rear if I need to stablize it.

May 1, 2016 | 12:07 PM

Martin Torres

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Tuned

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Well I am starting to feel like I am in a restaurant with too many choices on the menu. In 2002 a co-worker and great family friends husband passed and they parked his running early to mid F250 with a 390 and I believe manual transmission. They were starting it for the first few months but then stopped. The wife passed last week and the kids gave me the truck. Now I am considering putting the 390 in my '58. I read somewhere that the 352 was an option in '58. Did they use a front mount and bellhousing mount like the 292? Anyone have one laying around?

May 1, 2016 | 02:48 PM

3414

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2008

Posts: 693

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From: N E Ohio

The F Series did not have the 352 as an option in 58, it only came available after 1964. The problem is that the engine mount system used in the 57 to 60 used mounts at the bell housing and a front mount. Later F 100/250/350 used the mid mounts on the engine and a trans crossmember to support the trans. There are two ways you can use the 390/mt in your truck - first is to fab or purchase and install a setup to put mid mount engine mounts in your truck and adapt the trans crossmember to your truck. The second is to get a bellhousing and front mount from an FT engine (330, 361, 391) used in the larger F trucks (F500 and up) to use with the 390/mt and adapt the existing mounts in the truck to suit it.

May 1, 2016 | 06:18 PM

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

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From: Simi Valley, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Torres

Until then, I want to get the truck on the road with a temp engine. A friend has a running 1989 F150 with a 289

(5.0) that has a minor issue with the EFI.

It's a 302 (aka 5.0L), no 289's after 1968.

352: 1958/67 Ford Passenger Cars; 1958/60 Thunderbird & 1965/67 F100/350.

May 2, 2016 | 01:29 PM

Martin Torres

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Feb 2016

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Quote:

Originally Posted by NumberDummy

It's a 302 (aka 5.0L), no 289's after 1968.

352: 1958/67 Ford Passenger Cars; 1958/60 Thunderbird & 1965/67 F100/350.

My brain keeps getting stuck on 289 vs 302.... Maybe just wishful thinking....

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May 2, 2016 | 01:47 PM

Martin Torres

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Tuned

Joined: Feb 2016

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 3414

I went back and found the posts I had browsed. It was an option in '58 for cars but not trucks.... But I did find some picks of a 352 in a later model F100 with a front mount. Does anyone know if that would be compatible with my '58 as long as I find a bellhousing to match?

Well I stopped by the soon to be mine and home F250 I mention earlier. It is actually a 1976 F250 with a 360 and Warner T18 4 speed. I believe those were 2bbl. Hasn’t run since 2002 but is a fairly clean truck and is all there including the smog parts which is important where I live because ‘76 is still in the biannual smog check program. Now I have 2 donor trucks. Hmmm, 302 or 360 in the ’58? Or do I just sell them? My wife pointed out yesterday that I now have 11 vehicles at the house and that doesn’t include my Falcons at the ranch…. This truck will make 12… I guess I may need to thin out the herd. That would generate some cash for the ’58 project too. If this F250 runs good, any ideas on a value?