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Hey Gang! I've been out of the loop for years and I'm finally getting back in the game... gonna build a 1982 F100 (with no motor or transmission) that gets delivered next week. I'm straight up gonna take the advice of the forum and buy most of the parts you guys recommend.
My first question is what motor and transmission would you suggest? Obviously I'm aiming for a motor with tons of power... something I can 4x4 with, but also drive across country. So far I'm leaning towards a 460. Your thoughts?
Hey Gang! I've been out of the loop for years and I'm finally getting back in the game... gonna build a 1982 F100 (with no motor or transmission) that gets delivered next week. I'm straight up gonna take the advice of the forum and buy most of the parts you guys recommend.
My first question is what motor and transmission would you suggest? Obviously I'm aiming for a motor with tons of power... something I can 4x4 with, but also drive across country. So far I'm leaning towards a 460. Your thoughts?
460 would be the cheapest way to gain power. I would also suggest a overdrive transmission of some sort. They make conversion mounts to put the 460 in the smaller trucks like yours.
Great looking Flareside. The only auto o/d trans for a 460 is going to need a controller to go with it (E4OD, 4R100). You can get a non-electric AOD in 4x4, but only small block engines unless you made some kind of adapter I believe.
Well for 4wd you would need to change the I beams. Then that really depends on if your F100 has the standard F100 front suspension or if it has what some call as the HD F100 front suspension which is the same as the F150.
Engine wise I don't know if I would go with a 460. Not even sure if it would fit properly in the engine bay. I know the 5.0 Coyote transplant I did at work required heavy firewall and frame modifications to get it to fit properly. That is a beefy engine but not sure if its comparable to a 460.
Engine wise since you don't have anything motor or transmission, I would lean towards a 351W. You can also get them as a stroker up to 427 cu from when I last looked years ago for my Mercury as an upgrade.
Me personally my '82 F150 is just getting a 94-96 truck 302 with E7 heads. should make around 200-250 hp with the stock intake and stock 351cfm 2150 2V carb. Only change I plan on making on mine is the use of 86-96 Headman Shorty street headers.
Too much more money to upgrade with an aftermarket roller cam so I wont change any guts in mine.
You have that option as well. Or if you want fuel injection grab up a EEC1 Fox body mustang 5.0 with fuel injection and throw the whole assembly in the truck.
I'm taking notes guys. Keep sending me your suggestions. I would like to buy the motor & tranny in the next couple of weeks. I'm gonna be posting pictures of all the parts I purchase that you recommend. I'm prepared to modify the firewall and frame in order to drop a big block in. If the 460 is too hard, I may consider the 351w that Rusty S suggested.
Feel free to spread the word on the forum if anyone wants to help build this truck. Keep in mind I'm paying for it all... I don't want people to think I'm asking for money. lol
This place sells the "kits". They look expensive, but have all the little parts you need. Or you can buy the conversion mounts and get a 460 from the truck that already has the proper oil pan and pump, those kits assume you have a regular front sump pan from a car 460. You will also need a remote oil filter kit for it. You can see you need to figure out what engine your truck had originally.
Your 4x4 conversion will be a bolt it no matter what axle you have.
I would say get a donor truck with a 460 and get all the parts you need. Problem with that, 460's only came in f250/350's and the 4x4 parts from a f250/350 will not bolt in to a f100/f150. If you did find a donor f250/350, you could swap your cab and bed onto the f250/350 frame. But you would have to shorten the frame for the shorter flareside bed. That would be unique though, a 8 lug f250/350 with a short flare side bed.
Well for 4wd you would need to change the I beams.
Then that really depends on if your F100 has the standard F100 front suspension or if it has what some call as the HD F100 front suspension which is the same as the F150.
Engine wise I don't know if I would go with a 460. Not even sure if it would fit properly in the engine bay.
1980/86: The engine bay is the same whether it has the pipsqueak 3.8L V6 (1982/83 F100), 1983/86 F250/350 460 or 6.9L diesel.
But, I would not recommend putting a heavy 460 plus a transfer case and etc. in a F100 with a "Swiss Cheese" frame that never came with it originally.
No 460's with 4WD until 1983. No 460's in F100's after 1976, in F150's after 1979, in 1980/82 F250/350's. 460 reintroduced in 1983 F250/350.
Converting an F100 to 4WD and installing the parts will not only be very labor intensive, but expensive...and where will the OP find all the parts?
I would say get a donor truck with a 460 and [...] you could swap your cab and bed onto the f250/350 frame. But you would have to shorten the frame for the shorter flareside bed. That would be unique though, a 8 lug f250/350 with a short flare side bed.
That is my suggestion. I can usually find a 4x4 460 bullnose in my area for less than $1500.
An 8 lug F250/350 with a short flare side bed? Unique indeed
Engine and transmission from a 5.0L explorer. Buy a donor and swap the efi too. There are write ups out there for swapping the rear disc brakes from an exploroer 8.8 to a 9" as well.
I got to say I like the color combo of your flare side. Then again that is what mine is going to look like.
Any pictures from the side and does it have a white top?
What motor, trany and rear axle did the truck start with?
Originally Posted by James Wagoner
That is my suggestion. I can usually find a 4x4 460 bullnose in my area for less than $1500.
An 8 lug F250/350 with a short flare side bed? Unique indeed
Why not make a long bed flare side? Ford has not made one in years.
And I don't think it would be that hard to do. Then again I swapped fire walls for AC and used a style side metal bed floor in place of the wood floor.
Originally Posted by Rembrant
I vote for a small block.
X2 I would do a 351w
I think the 460 is just to heavy of a motor and way too much work for what you want to do with it.
BTW a 300 six will do good off road so big power for that is not needed.
Now if pulling a heavy loaded trailer then maybe the 460 but never in a short wheel base truck.
Oh also know the flare side only has a 16 gal side tank. 16 gal dose not last long with a big 460 motor.
You can add a style side 19gal rear tank for duel tanks but it is not as easy as it sounds either .... I know as I have done it to my flare side also.
Originally Posted by bbf385
Engine and transmission from a 5.0L explorer. Buy a donor and swap the efi too. There are write ups out there for swapping the rear disc brakes from an exploroer 8.8 to a 9" as well.
It looks like his truck has the larger wheel bolt pattern. Does it have power or non-power brakes? Take it has a 9".
As a wrap up I think he needs to find a full 150 4x4 parts truck with a small block to use if he does not go the 250/350 cab swap route.
Dave ----
Greaaaat info guys! @Franklin2 (along with @FuzzFace2 ) totally nailed it. Both of you helped make one of the largest decisions for the forum truck. I would save a ton of money buying a donor truck. I'm going to look at 1989 F350 this afternoon. It's has a 460 4x4 with a C6. Would the 1982 F100 cab & bed mount on that? I'll probably have to shorten the frame as one of the guys recommended.
Is there actually a full size stepside... I've never seen one?
Greaaaat info guys! @Franklin2 (along with @FuzzFace2 ) totally nailed it. Both of you helped make one of the largest decisions for the forum truck. I would save a ton of money buying a donor truck. I'm going to look at 1989 F350 this afternoon. It's has a 460 4x4 with a C6. Would the 1982 F100 cab & bed mount on that? I'll probably have to shorten the frame as one of the guys recommended.
Is there actually a full size Flareside... I've never seen one?
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**** Recommend Engine? F100 ****
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