engine swap options?
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New User
Joined: Aug 2019
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engine swap options?
Hello everyone, I've got a 76 f100, 2wd with a 302, and I'm looking at possibly doing an engine swap. I've looked through the forums and I kinda want to just get a general list going to feel out all the options, and I figured the best way would be to ask the people who've done it before. I also kinda want to put this into 3 categories. Category Number 1 will be bolt in/no modifications, these are just the basic pull an engine out, drop a new one in, though it's never quite that simple. Category number 2 will be things that have been done many times, and there are kits available to do it easily. Category number 3 will be things that can be done, but would require fabrication. What do you all think would work?
Regular User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,798
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From: Bathurst, New Brunswick
Depends on what you are looking for. As for category 1 there are basically 3 options:
All three of these would be pretty much a straight bolt in - same motor mounts, bell housing, etc. Exhaust would obviously be different for the 300.
- Another 302
- 351W (Windsor, not Clevland or Modified)
- 300 straight 6
All three of these would be pretty much a straight bolt in - same motor mounts, bell housing, etc. Exhaust would obviously be different for the 300.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 992
Likes: 114
From: Dallas, OR
Category 1- These trucks also came with a 360/390 or a 460 so those a direct drop in with the required parts from a salvage yard. 77-79 also had a choice of 351M/400. A 351W would be a direct bolt in using your 302 mounts, though not originally offered in these years but should be an easy swap that could possibly use your existing transmission too.
Category 2/3- A lot of folks doing the Crown Vic front end swap and that opens up the 4.6/ 5.4 modular options. Also there seems to be a surge of options coming out for Coyote motor swaps lately.
Category 2/3- A lot of folks doing the Crown Vic front end swap and that opens up the 4.6/ 5.4 modular options. Also there seems to be a surge of options coming out for Coyote motor swaps lately.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Category 1- These trucks also came with a 360/390 or a 460 so those a direct drop in with the required parts from a salvage yard. 77-79 also had a choice of 351M/400. A 351W would be a direct bolt in using your 302 mounts, though not originally offered in these years but should be an easy swap that could possibly use your existing transmission too.
Category 2/3- A lot of folks doing the Crown Vic front end swap and that opens up the 4.6/ 5.4 modular options. Also there seems to be a surge of options coming out for Coyote motor swaps lately.
Category 2/3- A lot of folks doing the Crown Vic front end swap and that opens up the 4.6/ 5.4 modular options. Also there seems to be a surge of options coming out for Coyote motor swaps lately.
351M/400 also used the C6. 351W in 1975/88 Econolines = C6. 1981/88 F150/350 351W = C6. 351W installed in 1969/86 cars might have a C4, but the FMX & C6 were far more common.
IMO, the OP should fix what's he's got (302). No engine/trans swap problems, no labor, no looking in gawd only knows how many junk yards trying to find the correct parts to install whatever engine/trans OP decides on.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Welcome to FTE
Category 4 (5)??
Why are you planning on swapping the engine, what are your goals, what is your budget, and maybe most importantly, what is specifically wrong with the engine in it right now? Not trying to beat up on you, but knowing this will get you better answers.
Category 4 (5)??
Why are you planning on swapping the engine, what are your goals, what is your budget, and maybe most importantly, what is specifically wrong with the engine in it right now? Not trying to beat up on you, but knowing this will get you better answers.
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New User
Joined: Aug 2019
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Welcome to FTE
Category 4 (5)??
Why are you planning on swapping the engine, what are your goals, what is your budget, and maybe most importantly, what is specifically wrong with the engine in it right now? Not trying to beat up on you, but knowing this will get you better answers.
Category 4 (5)??
Why are you planning on swapping the engine, what are your goals, what is your budget, and maybe most importantly, what is specifically wrong with the engine in it right now? Not trying to beat up on you, but knowing this will get you better answers.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 12
If your engine has no issues, I'd stick with it and think about performance modifications. There are a ton for a 302. New intake, headers, heads... hell throw twin turbos on it or a super charger. I think any of these would be easier and maybe cheaper than a swap (which if you are just swapping in a stock engine isn't going to gain you all that much).
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,609
Likes: 1,179
From: San Jose, CA
First thing I thought of when I read simple swap was a 351W/5.8 out of a '90's pickup or Bronco. But then when I read 300 to 500 horsepower, I just figured crate motor. Ford Racing if they still offer them, or Blueprint Engines with EFI.
With power in the 400-500 range on tap, and the torque to go along with it, you'll be upgrading your rear differential quite a bit I would think. Maybe a different transmission entirely and even beef up the frame in a few areas.
If you keep the engine to the 300-350 range though, fewer things need to be changed.
Of course, some of the upgrades will depend on the enthusiasm of your right foot, and the attitude behind it. With the wrong attitude you can break anything.
With the right attitude, you can get away with almost anything!
Of course, the right differential gearing for the tire size and transmission (overdrive or not) is a key factor in how long everything in-between will live.
Paul
With power in the 400-500 range on tap, and the torque to go along with it, you'll be upgrading your rear differential quite a bit I would think. Maybe a different transmission entirely and even beef up the frame in a few areas.
If you keep the engine to the 300-350 range though, fewer things need to be changed.
Of course, some of the upgrades will depend on the enthusiasm of your right foot, and the attitude behind it. With the wrong attitude you can break anything.
With the right attitude, you can get away with almost anything!
Of course, the right differential gearing for the tire size and transmission (overdrive or not) is a key factor in how long everything in-between will live.
Paul
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Brett Foote
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Right now I'm just feeling out different options, my goals would be between 3-500 hp, 
my budget is still to be determined but probably around 5k. 
There isn't really anything wrong with the engine in it now, but the transmission has some issues, and I may end up having to replace it, and so I figured I may as well pull the engine and put a new one in or rebuild it.
Right now I'm just trying to see what I could do instead of rebuilding.
my budget is still to be determined but probably around 5k. There isn't really anything wrong with the engine in it now, but the transmission has some issues, and I may end up having to replace it, and so I figured I may as well pull the engine and put a new one in or rebuild it.
Right now I'm just trying to see what I could do instead of rebuilding.
shows up and wants to build a mega-horsepower engine for whatever old truck they own.The thread goes on and on
sometimes for several weeks and then the OP disappears, vanishes like a phart in the wind because the OP finally realized what the build would cost.If you think you can build a mega H/P engine for 5 grand, you're dreaming. Plus you're going to have to upgrade the trans, rear axle, brakes and suspension to handle this much H/P
If the truck is minty to begin with, it might be worth the effort, but most are not.
Some are rusty, mangy old rolling piles of misery...and if this applies...forget it. You'd be lucky to get 25% of your investment back when you sell it.
Sorry to say this, but I've been in the old car hobby for over 60 years, owned 100's of old piles of misery, so I've seen and done it all.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 854
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You don't need *swaps", EFI and computers to make extremely reliable and viciously fast 3 to 500 horsepower, plenty of N/A no electronics tras basic 302s h out there taking Coyote and lS money every day, and the Windsor engine series has been doing it since the early days of Shelby..
That 302 has lasted almost 50 years, obviously it's a good engine. Build it into a 347 with some TFS heads and go waste some late model Garbage
That 302 has lasted almost 50 years, obviously it's a good engine. Build it into a 347 with some TFS heads and go waste some late model Garbage
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,218
Likes: 325
From: Central Florida
Number Dummy is spot on but there is an up-side to it all. If you genuinely derive pleasure from resurrecting an old car or truck, building your skills, etc., the negatives cited above really don't matter. For many of us, it's the journey rather than the resale or the kudos or the trophies. List your goals for this project. Even if all you do is read it for yourself, it will help you see whether you want to invest your time and treasure in this truck. This is why seasoned FTE'rs always ask you what you want to do with your truck and how much you're willing to invest. No one wants to encourage another to proceed along a path that will likely take them to heartbreak hotel.
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