Engine swap
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
Engine swap
I am getting ready to start taking my 53 f100 apart to fix all the rust and repainted it. When I do I want to take the chevy 350 out and put a ford motor back in. Not sure what I am going to use. Leaning towards 351 Windsor. I was wondering what the cons are to use a Y block. Opinions?
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,519
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
Availability of parts and costs of those parts. Not as many folks around who know how to work on a Y block as there are who work on a SBC or SBF.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,750
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
Agree with Ray about cost but the Y Block is period correct and sounds... like a Y Block. If you find a complete Y Block to start with you'll be money ahead. Last year I bought a 272 for $300 at a swap meet. It had G heads and a 4 barrel intake. The heads & intake more than covered the inital cost.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 9,750
Likes: 823
From: Wentzville, MO
The engine bay is big enough for any engine you want. Even those superwide 4.6 DOHCs. I think many just install what they have or what they can get got the price they're willing to pay.
Where you located in the Show Me state?
Where you located in the Show Me state?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,580
Likes: 29
From: in a barn
I am a low buck guy, so myself I would use an EFI 5.0 5 speed setup out of a late 80s early 90s mustang GT, I always liked them, they revved to the moon with no complaints. The modern Ford engines have the "wow" factor but for all the extra money and work the need to install I dont think it they worth it.
Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,519
Likes: 403
From: W. Central FL.
If I had a truck with a good running SBC, I would keep the SBC. I just don't buy the "Keep it all Ford" or some other line. Ford factory has installed SOB engines in trucks for a long while. 
Your truck, your call 
Your truck, your call
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2014
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From: Maryland
I have all ford engines going in my trucks but i really would love to make one a diesel. The 7.3 would be nice for the Coes but i really like those smaller europeeing (not a misspell ) diesels and the years of service they provide for the F1s.
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IF it is a good runner. IF it is a clean installation. IF it has a 700r OD automatic that works.
THEN I would keep it.
I like the SBF. Light and easy to work on.
The Ford AOD transmission---not such a fine jewel.
Manual trans--T5s are ok, but you've got to make that clutch work right.
Anyway, good luck with it.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,692
Likes: 1,259
From: Jefferson City, MO
I vote for the Y-block. I don't get out much, but I have yet to see a truck with a Y-block at a show.
I really enjoy my Y-block. I only have 300 miles on it since I got it up and running, but there is something special about having the engine that the truck originally had. Parts might be a little harder to find, but I have the 239 which has even harder to find parts and I've been able to find what I need. Wait, the 53 had a flathead originally didn't it? Well, everyone loves the flathead....
That being said, put in what you feel most comfortable with. What are your plans for driving? That could make a difference. Also budget becomes a factor. Still, I vote for the Y-block.
I'm also interested in the area of MO you are in. I'm in Central, BJ is the St. Louis area. There are several guys in the Southwest of the state.
I really enjoy my Y-block. I only have 300 miles on it since I got it up and running, but there is something special about having the engine that the truck originally had. Parts might be a little harder to find, but I have the 239 which has even harder to find parts and I've been able to find what I need. Wait, the 53 had a flathead originally didn't it? Well, everyone loves the flathead....
That being said, put in what you feel most comfortable with. What are your plans for driving? That could make a difference. Also budget becomes a factor. Still, I vote for the Y-block.
I'm also interested in the area of MO you are in. I'm in Central, BJ is the St. Louis area. There are several guys in the Southwest of the state.
But if I do I'll give you a holler
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
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I have considered keeping the SBC but I am one of the weird ones I believe it is a ford and should have ford Motor. I am going to have to pull it anyway because I want to box the frame in so I will need to do something different withe the motor mounts. I have a cross member from Midfifties in there now. How do you measure for positioning of a motor in our ford trucks? I always wondered if mine is still right. There seems to be a lot of space between radiator and front of the engine
Last edited by Pappys53; Mar 19, 2017 at 07:50 PM. Reason: Adding more text
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
What is the measurements for making sure a motor is in the correct location? It seems there is a lot of space between the front of my SBC and the radiator. The distributor is close to the firewall