As Im working on my 67 F100 I am starting to plan my next move. The direction I want to go with the truck is resto-mod. The body will be left alone, but the suspension/engine/interior will be updated. So naturally Im looking at an engine swap. Im sure the 240/3 speed was great when new, but it just doesnt really make me think cool truck thoughts. I need a rumbly V8. I would prefer a 5/6 speed manual, but as I get older an auto might be better. I havent decided. I plan on driving it quite a bit.

What engine would you put in it? I have welders, a plasma cutter and I can get things fabricated. New mounts or cross members wouldnt be a huge problem. What I DONT want is a modular engine. Yes the coyote is nice. Yes it makes power....I do not want a non-conventional engine. Im not against fuel injection. Im against over head cams. I have a Ford Taurus rotting in my yard because of the overhead cam. No thanks.

I thought about a 5.0 HO. They sound good with a cam and exhaust. Descent power and a great aftermarket. Maybe a 351? Nice power, good aftermarket. Doesnt sound as good cammed as a 302, but still nice. Some go with the FE engines. Im not even against an LS1 swap (gasp) Any advice? Just wondering what to keep an eye out for, and what to avoid.

 

Put a Y-block in it.

 

Fuel injected 351 windsor, e4od overdrive trans

 

Well, other than not trusting overhead cams and wanting a rumbly V8, you haven't given much away about what you want to do other than drive it a lot.

For me, it had to be an FE. I went the stroker direction and have a 445 that pleases me, but it is what I wanted. 302, 351, and modern engines are all fine, but that old FE magic speaks to me. Good enough to win LeMans 4 times, good enough for me.

 

Well if you want a conventional engine start looking for a flathead. I mean what's the phobia here?

 

I'm an FE guy myself but a sbf will give you more options for tranny...both stick and auto can be had with overdrive. I think a stroker 351 would be fun and they have tons of aftermarket support.

 

I didnt want to write a novel, so I tried to keep it short. I get a little wordy sometimes. I wanted to see what others would say without restrictions. Im not really sure what I want. I obviously dont have $10k for a swap. I want a conventional cam in block pushrod engine. While I think flatheads are cool, I just dont like going backwards in technology. If it was something from the 30s or 40s I would look at a flathead. I think I would like about 400 hp. I drive a Charger RT that has 350 and it does good, but its over 5000 lbs. Im not sure what this truck weighs, but its a lot lighter. 400 hp should be a nice driver.

I can make that with a 302, and a 351 as well as a slew of others. Im new to Fords so Im familiar with the 2 different 351s, and obviuosly the 5.0 HO and the FE engines, but only a little. I was driving age when the Fox bodies came out, and had a friend in the Army who had one that went 11.20s, and that was in 1993. That car, and about half the other fox bodies just sounded so good, with the flowmasters and a huge cam. I was into the formula Firebirds. Irocs, and GNs also roamed the streets back then. It was a good time, and a 15 second car was average. Then came the ZR1 and the Viper, the Syclone, Impala SS, Saleen mustangs, Cobra Mustangs.....Those were the days...

Anyway, Im open to an easy way to make 400 HP. Someone will surely ask: "at the crank or the wheel?". And honestly I dont think it matters. I wont dyno the truck, or race it. Im going to build it and drive it and use it like a truck. I will lower it, and upgrade the suspension and brakes and interior. Some wheels and tires and itll be done till I get bored of it.

 

I'm sure you will end up doing what YOU want, but my vote is for FE....Just seems like the logical thing to do,

 

I have a 1967 Ford F-250 that I am working on. I've had these same thoughts. I want to keep the truck in original condition and have painstakenly been putting pieces back together for this. I simply want to keep the look and feel of this era, and this year in particular. But I'm not against making a change in brakes, or differnetials, transmission, and even engine. Wtih that I've given a lot of thought to it.

What I've come back to is that I like the FE 352 in this truck. It runs well, very smooth, quiet. Starts well and is just pleasant to drive. This is my third 1967 with an FE 352. I even have considered making this 352 into a 390. But I just couldn't tell myself there was anything wrong with the 352 as it is. So at this point, I'll be keeping it and just doing a mild rebuild. Not trying to make it a 360 or 390. Not increasing stroke. Just rebuilding it as if it was a brand new 352. This may mean one size up in pistons and have to get these custome made. That's fine.

I just can't find anything wrong with this engine if I consider the way I'm using it. Driving arond town, towing a small sail boat, and camping trips. The only thing that comes up for me is getting it to burn as cleanly as possible. The least amount of emissions is important, more than power and torque. So I'm trying to figure out what else I can do to lower emissions but still keep the stock 352.

The other thing that comes up is noise and comfort at highway speeds. 60 mph is just fine. 70 mph is just slightly over smooth, quiet, efficient. So I have been considering an overdrive transmission, like the NV4500. But even that I'm not sure about as it does change where the stick is inside the truck and I don't really want to do that. Maybe the Tremec transmission won't do that as it has different locations for shifting. Still walking through that.

Bottom line, the FE 352 engine is what I'm sticking with. It looks good, runs goods, has plenty of power and torque. I'm keeping the same 2 barrel autolite 2100 carb as it works fine when turned. Keeping the stock manifolds. I'm not sure about changing to electronic points yet, as these have not been a problem in the past.

I decided not to think what to do by comparing to newer technology. Honestly, I'd rather just go buy a Toyota if I wanted that. Instead I just look at the engine I have and ask is this working for me? And nothing comes to mind that is wrong with the FE 352.

And I like how it looks under the hood.

Here is a picture of a redone 352, this is not my truck but what I'm after. I have exactly this same airclearer, emissions, power steering, and booster.

 

Ok with more info I'm sticking to what I said. A stock mid 90s era roller 351 windsor shortblock with some middle of the road aluminum heads and mild cam will easily hit 400.


They are pretty cheap and plentiful out of Van's and pickups. Grab a good used shortblock or rebuilt can he had for around $1200

 

i'm in the middle of building my 71, I just swapped a '00 explorer 302 and a 4R70W into it. it's going to be factory efi and a daily driver.

 

I'd suggest an FE engine. For a stock 390 FE there is an Edelbrock top end kit (cam, heads, and manifold) for about $2K on Summit that says it'll produce ~420 hp. Not bad for a top end kit. And you have the FE as well. I'm building a stroked FE (444 ci) with Edelbrocks heads and Pro-Flo 4 EFI kit which should be a fun engine. Just food for thought.

 

I can also ship you FE engine mounts if you need them. I just removed mine as I'm doing a CV front end swap.

 

Lots of opinions here, no real bad ones. One fact to keep in mind - DON'T put in a 360. Rated at 175 HP and you can't make much more. They are a de-stroked, low compression engine for trucks that had gears to make up the shortage of torque, and meant to last a long time. The 352 is a very good option, made much more power than a 360, 390 is a little more torquey with a longer stroke. If you have a good 360 block, stroke it and make a 390 or bigger out of it.

You can make good power from a 352 or a 390 with iron heads, but you need to do some research on what heads are best, and what intake, and get ready to do some porting. Two books to buy if you go the FE route - Barry Rabotnik's "How to Build Max Performance Ford FE Engines" and available on Amazon, and Jay Brown's "The Great FE Intake Comparo", available on the FEpower.net site. In fact, if you go the FE route, join the FEpower.net forum, you will be astonished at the quality of advice you will get.

If you go the SBF or modern engine route I'm sure you will also wind up with a good engine.

 

No matter what engine build, always be aware of the cost of racing fuel and higher octane. I built a wicked 351 Cleveland engine for my car, but have to run 110 octane...so the daily driver stuff will never happen there. My truck has the 360 with the 4 speed, drive it daily and it always a joy/challenge.