Thanks Pete, I'm going to check it out. Greg

 

Thank you!

 

Took engines out of both trucks, and took inventory of what I have and don't. The old blue 85 has about 120,000 miles and the engine runs great. I bought a non feedback carb and duraspark set up and switched it while the engine was still in the 85. Sort of used the body as a test stand. I had bought a 96 F 150 I was going to use as the donor but later sold it after I found the 85, but now I want to find another 5spd and clutch set up to use behind the carburated engine. It has a 3 speed now. I plan to go look at a 92 pickup this weekend. I may buy the whole truck for the integrated 5 speed.

 

What are your plans for the y-blocks? You mentioned 239, but I didn't think those were ever put in a 56. Save those water pumps. They are hard to come by.
If I were closer, I would acquire the engines just to have spare parts just in case.

I look forward to your build.

 

It appears some one converted what was a '54 to a '56 by adding the top of the cowl/dash/roof/doors to the '54? Is that whats going on? seems like a lot of work with a cab floor that rusty. Anyway, looks like there enough for a good truck, good luck.

 

Yes it is a Frankenstein. I hunt and pecked out a explanation (About 45 Minutes) and lost it all VERY FRUSTRATING!!!! I Hate my internet connection.
hope this works.

 

Ok that did work it is a hodge podge of a 55 and 56. Dont know the history but some one did it years ago....

 

Thanks, Yeah the 55 engine is a 239 the 56 is a 272. After I know I am all set putting in the 300 I will probably offer up the 2 yblocks.

 

Congradulations on your retirement. I been out now for going on six years. Wonderful and have so much fun working on three of these 56's. Everyone keeps asking me when I am going to get one running, LOL, Im in no hurry. Will be fun to follow your thread. You came to the right place for a ton of good information and sharing.

 

Went to Wyoming Michigan for a swap meet last Sunday. Didn't buy a thing there but then stopped to look at a 92 F150 with a 300 6 and M5r2 transmission in Grand Rapids. I bought that and drove it home! A real beater. I'll get some pics of it soon. Monday I took out the transmission out. Now I have to figure out how to get a speedo cable hooked to it. I think I will put a 53-55 tank back in the truck. Heres some pics of the crossmember mount I bought. It seems like it will work fine. I cant tell exactly where to set the engine yet until I combine the 85 engine with the 92 trans. I'll get there.. I'm retired... I've got time...

 

Hers pics of 2nd parts truck.

 

The red 92 leaked oil. The transmission I took out of it was really greasy. Since the weather was good I decided to pressure wash the 56 and the engine and transmission. What a mess and didn't clean up real well- no heat.

 

Trial fitting. I had to oblong the holes on the crossmember. It is actually made to put a FE engine in the 53-62 F 100 but I was told it would fit the 300 6 also and it does. Looks like I'm going to have to cut down or remove the crossmember that the old style transmission mounted to. The M5R2 hits on it and it needs to go down in the rear to be level. As it is now it actually goes up in the rear. I noticed that the rear pinion is not actually centered in the frame. See pic. I marked the center of the frame and then tied a socket on a string you can see that the pinion is about a inch to the right of center. I plan to center the engine. Any advice? Or am I sweating the details too much?

 

The 92 M5R2 trans I have has no speedo gear. I saw a fella on Slick 60's site drilled out the tail housing and modified the output shaft to put a gear on it. Unfortunately the pics on his thread are lacking and I cant get in contact with him. I ordered a speedo drive gear for a 1990 F 150 w/a MR52. We'll see if I can make it work. Any of you done this? I heard the 92 up has a beefier 5th and Reverse but of course no speedo gear. I hope I can do it because i drove this old truck home about 100 miles and it's a great Transmission.

 

The cross member that the old bell housing mounted to hit on the bottom of the M5R2 bell housing with the engine is in position. I took it back out and cut out some of it. Then after putting the eng/trans back in I found I had to cut out more. Now the combo is back in and I think I have settled on how it will set. I have the engine just slightly tilted up in the front. I planned to make it level using the carb mount to level off of, but realized that with the weight I have in the bed and also the front clip and radiator etc aren't installed. So I set the combo just slightly raised in the front. I plan to go back and box in the cut cross member. I ordered a 6" drop cross member for the rear of the trans. I think it will work good.