When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I imagine the 262 can be rebuilt to factory specs if desired. On the other hand, any of the Ford V8's made since the mid 60's are currently enjoying a lot of aftermarket support, perhaps the best in their history.
The small block family has a reasonable selection of autos and manual trannies.
Interesting to hear other people's perception of the various Ford engines. I've always heard the 351w was built for wide torque curve at the cost of horsepower. I'm fairly certain it can be built today to pull all an F100 would want to handle...certainly more than any of the inline 6 motors. Don't get me wrong, I'm familiar with the 300 and how it can work for many many miles. The 6's have power bands similar to diesels. The 351 will make more torque at an albeit higher rpm and at least the same or more power in the rpm range where the 6's make their power.
I like to see these trucks stay as close to original as possible though I realize we often modify them to make them more enjoyable. I see this as a positive because we're more likely to get them out and drive them.
"1963" has a 1964/66 F100/250 2WD & 1966 F100 4WD Styleside Bed.
The paperwork for the truck states it’s a 63. From what I understand the current grille on my truck is a 1965. Clearly the truck has been in a crash because a number of the body parts in the front left corner are not original. Could it be possible that a previous owner did a vin swap of some sort or some other type of gobbledygook. If somebody could give some insight into the true year of my truck that would be much appreciated.
I learned to drive my dad's '64 short bed with the original 292 V8 and 4 speed (Granny gear, so it drove like a 3 speed) in '89 my dad sold me the truck, and I almost immediately put a '68 429 in it - mostly because the 292 needed an align bore to fix the oil leaks from the rear main. I drove it with the 429 a couple of times, and then sold that engine to a friend. (couldn't afford the fuel) I built and installed a 351W with an AOD. It stayed that way until last year when I needed the 351W for the race car. I'm currently in the process of installing an '01 4.6L with the electronic OD trans,
In my opinion, the 351W was the best power plant for reliability and mileage of all those I listed above. (the numbers bear that out). I have been hauling the race car behind my 01 Crown Vic for a couple of seasons now, and am looking forward to the 4.6 power in the pickup, because the pickup weighs about 1000 lbs less than the Crown Vic.
The Hudson Hornet glory was discussed in the movie Cars.
I knew about the Hornet long before the film came out and the Hornet is the reason that Clifford got into the engine biz: 6 = 8 because he used to race them.
Back to the OP,
When I did my 429 swap into my '64 I cut out the front motor mount and made my own motor mount pedestals from the frame to the middle of the motor. I left the crossmember between the engine and trans for frame stiffening. Also because I was too lazy to cut the rivets. That was in '90 and nobody made engine swap kits for anything then.
In '03 I wanted to upgrade the brakes and steering So, I found an Aerostar "K" member which gave me disc brakes and rack and pinion steering. I removed the old straight axle, and the crossmember between the engine and trans, and bolted in the Aerostar sub-frame. I again fabricated some motor mounts to mate the 351W to the k member which never had a V-8
If you want to install a 302 and automatic trans in a pre-65 pickup, you'll have to fabricate your own mounts, As far as I know, nobody makes a kit. You have the option of keeping the front engine mount, (modifying it to bolt to the front cover of the 302, and using a marine front cover which is cast iron) and the rear engine mounts (fabricating brackets to bolt to the bellhousing bolts on the engine), or, you can make pedestals like I did with my 429, or, go the route many have chosen here and find a front sub-frame from something with the same frame rail width like my Aerostar, a Crown Vic ('03 and newer) the Dodge Aspen, et cetera. I'm quite sure there are aftermarket front suspensions which will fit, but they're pricey.
Aiden: Job one is determining exactly WHAT YEAR your truck REALLY is.
I'm going to speculate that it's actually a 1964 (based on the Styleside longbox, which started in 1964), because if it was a 1963, it would have had a "wrongbox".....AND would only a 122" wheelbase.(the style of box on your truck only came on '64 thru '66 trucks, which were 128" WB)
Below applies to F100 & F250 2WD, 4WD & F350 is not relevant to this topic, so not discussed
1961-1963 = 3 bolt front bumper (# of bolts per side)
1961-1963 = 122" WB for LWB version
1961-1964 = Straight axle on leaf springs in the front
1961-1964= cab has "Stepwell" when you open the door
1964-1966 = 128" WB for LWB version
1964-1966 = 2 bolt front bumper (# of bolts per side)
1965-1966 = Cab floor angles up from sill
1965-1966 = Twin I Beam front suspension w/coil springs
There are also differences in the roof, '61-'63 use the same skin, then '64-'66 use a different skin.....
Having said all of this, your Warranty plate (assuming it's original to the truck) will reveal all once it's been decoded, and it never hurts to check the VIN on the frame against the Warranty plate to confirm this.....
That's unfortunate that your 351W only gets 10 mpg, as a friend of mine had a 1986 F350 Crewcab 4WD, 351W/4spd, and he rebuilt the engine. With all six seats occupied, an Alaskan Camper in the box, and pulling a single axle trailer with his Model A street rod on it, the truck used to get 15 MPG. So they're not all gas pigs
James
Originally Posted by Christmas
I've seen plenty of 6 cyl beat the crap out of built 8's. If power is the need? Torque needs the first chair (power off idle). A built right 6 can get right with it and are easy to work on. My 66 F100 351W CC CS only got 10mpg on a good day.
That's unfortunate that your 351W only gets 10 mpg, as a friend of mine had a 1986 F350 Crewcab 4WD, 351W/4spd, and he rebuilt the engine. With all six seats occupied, an Alaskan Camper in the box, and pulling a single axle trailer with his Model A street rod on it, the truck used to get 15 MPG. So they're not all gas pigs
My '64 with the 351, C6 and 4.11 gears got 15 mpg. I imagine that the new 4.6L overdrive with 3.25 gears will get closer to 20 mpg, like the 'Vics do.
