I just think that putting the 6BT in it would not be cost effective, I've already got way to much in this thing already. My tale of woe, I bought the truck in El Paso, Tx. friend and I started up the trail to my cabin, my cabin is in Alaska, you can all say "oh ****" now, we got as far as Butte Montana, stopped for fuel, truck wouldn't crank when we started to leave, naturally it was Sunday, called a mobile repair guy, he replaced the starter, all was well leaving Butte. About twelve miles south of Great Falls engine expired. Got wrecker service to pull truck into GF. Hired a fellow to repair truck, left the truck in GF, this was in August.
My friend and I completed the trip, (we had an additional vehicle). I was in contact with the mechanic in GF, he replaced the engine and had it ready to go but Winter came along and I didn't get back to GF until April 2018. The truck ran good, and I proceeded to Bellingham Wa. and caught the Alaska Ferry to Whittier AK. Got the truck off the ferry and preceded to the cabin, about a hundred miles up the Glenn Highway, all was well, flew back to the Southwest three days later, leaving the truck with my son, we were going to haul enough gravel to fix the drivewaaaay. After about two or three loads,truck died in son's driveway. So that's the tale of Patrick's Alcan Adventures so far, son is pulling engine to see how bad it is, an old man once told me " If all of your troubles are those which can be cured with money, consider yourself blessed", I am testing this. Cheers, Patrick

 

Still looking for an engine, will try the folks at So Cal wrecking, any others?

 

Were the 370 and 429 Lima engines all the same between 1979 and 1989? Still on the hunt for an engine, can find some but they sure are pricey, think I may just try to buy a runout and rebuild it. I can find complete trucks for about what dealers are asking for an engine, the Cummins is looking better.

 

I messaged you about one I know about..

Maybe check Ebay item # 332703098104

 

Other than the bent rod what other damage is there to your present engine, may be cheaper to fix what you have.

 

Destroyed 450, Were the 370 and 429 engines pretty much the same during that series run (385)? I found an F700 with a 429, carbureted that sounds worth the money, just have to take the whole truck and go get it, about 400 miles away. If the 429 will fit in without a great deal of modification I may go this route. Thanks for the help

 

429 should be a direct bolt in, it's a much better engine than the 370
370 is the same basic engine as a 429 but has a much smaller bore, motor mounts, bell housing bolt pattern are the same.

When you get it going replace the rubber hood seal or make a cover for the air cleaner, air cleaner lids on those trucks resembles a small bowl in the middle.
If the hood seal is bad rainwater and snow melt with leak pass the seal and collect in the air cleaner lids bowl, it will then leak down the carb stud into the engine normally filling the back 2 cylinders with water hydro locking the engine.
If you try to force the engine over without first removing the spark plugs it will bend the rods.
A mill I worked at had a 83 F-700 with a 370 engine and 2 barrel carb, it was a slug. I pulled the spark plugs several times to blow water out of the cylinders before finally making a rain deflector to go over the air cleaner

 

Have a guy who has an engine, it's in a 1977 f600, would this be the same as mine or is this maybe a y block?, He says the transmission is a 4 speed, I'm wondering about mating to my 5spd, any thoughts or advice?

 

77 engine would be a FT series, probably a 330 or 361, completely different engine than what you have.
They changed to the 370-429 engines in 78 or 79, don't remember for sure.
You could swap the FT engine in your chassis but I'm not sure if it's a direct bolt in or if you'll have to modify stuff
You'll for sure need all of the exhaust off the 77, not sure if your 5 spd will bolt on or not.

 

Sounds like a no go, think this era was 361's, thanks again, Patrick

 

Destroked, found the problem, just as you said the number 7 cylinder was full of water, looks like the only damage was the bent rod, my son is looking for a replacement now. I think I read somewhere that the rods on the 370,429 and 460 are all the same, is this correct? we're also going to put a different air cleaner on it, thinking about something like a K&N design snorkel. Thanks again for all your help and advice, Cheers, Patrick

 

Google search show 370-429 rods the same, look for a casting number on these of the beam, most likely D9TE-AA which was used from 1979-1991
I found reconditioned rods ready to install your piston on for $35-60 each

I'm not a big fan of the K&N style oiled filters, I've had them and switched to something different.
You could go with one of the cheap 14" dia, 3" tall chrome air cleaners or about any Ford V8 air cleaner for 2 bbl or 4 bbl will work, anything that doesn't have that water collecting soap bowl in the center like your stock one has.

 

1 Should be, watch out for people trying to sell you a 429 Car engine. Even though ford din't use the 429 in cars during those years.

Make sure the rod you want to use is the same size and weight as the factory one.
I'm not sure if the Medium duty truck 429s had heavier/stronger rods than the car 429s and 460s

 

370-429 MD truck rods had the foot ball head rod bolts, many of the 420-460 car engines had square shouldered rod bolts.
There where a few exceptions, not sure what rod they used in the 460 powered F series pickups during the 80's-90's.

 

I have an 85 with a rebuilt 370/2V on a 14' dump bed -- about all you can do with it is load mulch, compost, light materials. It simply doesn't have the get up and go the 429-460s have.......................