I've got a 1960 f100 292 with a later 4 speed (granny plus 3 speed but I forget which one at the moment but I want to say it's a T-18) The y-block needs a complete rebuild and I might end up just doing that but if I'm going to pull the engine anyway, I was thinking I'd go with something with more options.

At first I was thinking a 390FE because I've rebuild a few of them and am fairly familiar with them, but they can get expensive fast, don't have as many trans options and guzzle gas like I drink beer.

So I started thinking about i6 300, but it's such a long engine, I'm not sure it'll even fit without some work.

So I think I've settled on a 302 or 351. I honestly don't know much about these engines but I know they are cheaper to get parts for, have a bunch of power options, a few good trans options and, if I don't feel like rebuilding, I can get a rebuilt/upgraded one for $800 to $1500. Which would make the process a breeze.

I don't plan on towing anything more then a motorcycle trailer and not trying go faster then the speed of traffic on the local freeways so I don't need anything with a lot of horse power or torque. So I'm guessing the 302 (rather then the 351) would be better for me.

That leaves the question of Trans; T-5, M5R2 or spend a little more and get a ZF? Craigslist has T-5's listed for around $400-600, I didn't see any M5R2's listed but it was the only trans I've ever rebuild on my own and it was fairly easy, and there's a rebuilt ZF (2wd gas) listed near me for $900 right now.

I know that some of the T-5's have a clutch conversion issue (hydraulic vs cable) which I don't think is an issue with either the M5R2 or the ZF.

I'm really just looking for some insight, trans suggestions, things I should be aware of, and if my logic with my engine choice makes since.

What say you guys?

 

Col Flashman, a member of this forum (he lives in Pomona) has a 1958 Mercury M100 with a swapped in 300 I-6. It also has a Toyota P/S box.

The T-18 will not bolt to the bell housing of a Y block, but its forerunner, the Warner T-98 will...and it was an option for 1957/64 F100/700's.

Look at how your Y block mounts, no 302/351W/360/390 mounts this way. 1965 F100/250 4WD, 1965/66 F350, 1966 F250 4WD 240/300/352 mounted this way, but these parts are very hard to find.

In order to mount these engines, you will need an expensive aftermarket kit, because the parts from 1965 and later 2WD trucks cannot be used. You will also have to change the trans.

 

I'd recommend the 302 or 351 Windsor. While the 390 has been a good engine for decades, it's heavy and you just don't have the speed or aftermarket parts for it like the 302 or 351. Engine swap parts are also available for many sources. However, if you look at the FE engine, swap kits are available for it also, so I guess it's your choice.
I've got a '60 panel that I want to do an engine swap with. I'm seriously kicking around the idea of a 4.6 DOHC from a '93 Mark VIII that I have. The front end was totaled by hitting a deer, but the engine and tranny is still good.
I'll see what happens.

 

John Mummert sells a kit to put a T5 behind a 292. Plus anything you need to rebuild your 292. He sells conversion rods to make your 292 into a 312. Offset grind the crank and bore the block.
Shave the heads and up the compression a little. Then you don't have to deal with new mounts and any other stuff.

 

 

 

Engine swap front and rear cross members are pretty cheap. Several catalogs list them. Try Speedway.

 

Ok. I've got some good information here. But I do have a couple of questions. Is the T5 the transmission to go with? I wanted to try the ZF but I'm not sure the shifter will line up correctly. So I think I'll just go with the T5 but aren't most t5 tranny's equipped with a cable clutch? So I'll have to find one off of a mid 80's Third. Is this correct?

 

 

Not sure the ZF shifter will line up with what? The hole in the floor? How hard is that to fix? A T5 probably won't line up either.

 

As someone who has done the engine/trans swap, if I was to do things over again, I'd rebuild my Y-Block. I had to have new engine & trans mounts custom-made & still not happy about having to remove the stock rear-engine/trans crossmember - felt like it took away some of the structural integrity of the frame, even though I have a new transmission crossmember about 8 inches rearward. I've got about 5 grand in this swap & feel I could have built a hell of a Y-Block for that money!

 

I dropped a 302 with an AOD in my '60 about a dozen years ago, '86 vintage. I love it to this day! I was a commercial driver for decades and got to the point where I didn't want to shift gears once I got off the clock. The AOD w/3.0 gears made it nice for me. My 2 cents!