engine swap
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 6
engine swap
I have a 74 hi-boy 4x4 that I am doing a restmod. It has a 360 or a 390 engine with a manual trany and devorsed transfer case.
I would like to bolt up a modern engine to it, what are my options. I need some power for towing my trailer plus better fuel mileage than the 8mpg that it now gets.
I would like to bolt up a modern engine to it, what are my options. I need some power for towing my trailer plus better fuel mileage than the 8mpg that it now gets.
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,505
Likes: 2,822
How much do you want to spend?
Easy? Cheap? Already supported? Billions served? Hundreds if not thousands of swaps already done? .....wait for it...... LS swap, bring a transmission along with it.
Like complexity? Coyote swap.
Got time, like to check for updates? New 7.3 gas swap. (No controllers yet)
Cummins oil burner?
Or build the FE into a 445 CI roller motor with EFI and a 5 or 6 speed trans, MT or AT.
So, how much are you wanting to spend and how much of this can you do yourself?
Easy? Cheap? Already supported? Billions served? Hundreds if not thousands of swaps already done? .....wait for it...... LS swap, bring a transmission along with it.
Like complexity? Coyote swap.
Got time, like to check for updates? New 7.3 gas swap. (No controllers yet)
Cummins oil burner?
Or build the FE into a 445 CI roller motor with EFI and a 5 or 6 speed trans, MT or AT.
So, how much are you wanting to spend and how much of this can you do yourself?
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,954
Likes: 64
And your talent , one , the other or both.
What does the truck do normally, could be a new set of gears would help your mileage a lot.
Eric
What does the truck do normally, could be a new set of gears would help your mileage a lot.
Eric
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,217
Likes: 154
I'd probably just do a SBF 302 or 351W, since they're cheap, relatively plentiful, and can probably be made to fit properly, using all OEM mounting parts.
I'd probably go for the new 7.3 Godilla OHV engine over the OHCs Coyote, but a few years from now, when they're less uncommon and expensive.
LS? I would never do that, (except to an old Chevy) but a fellow on here named JacobJ, I think, has I think a stock 5.3 in his Highboy, and loves it. I guess I could settle for some aftermarket LS heads on a SBF or even on a 351M or 400, but that would require a custom intake manifold.
I've never had an FE engine. The first car I rode in and the first truck I ever drove both had FEs, but I think I would tend to shy away from having one which I was going to have to work on. I think they're pretty heavy too. But I'd readily own one if it was in a vehicle which was all finished up with nothing left to do but drive it.
I'd probably go for the new 7.3 Godilla OHV engine over the OHCs Coyote, but a few years from now, when they're less uncommon and expensive.
LS? I would never do that, (except to an old Chevy) but a fellow on here named JacobJ, I think, has I think a stock 5.3 in his Highboy, and loves it. I guess I could settle for some aftermarket LS heads on a SBF or even on a 351M or 400, but that would require a custom intake manifold.
I've never had an FE engine. The first car I rode in and the first truck I ever drove both had FEs, but I think I would tend to shy away from having one which I was going to have to work on. I think they're pretty heavy too. But I'd readily own one if it was in a vehicle which was all finished up with nothing left to do but drive it.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 10
From: Indiana, PA
Just 12v Cummins swap it.
If a 5 speed overdrive would make you feel good, a NV4500 will bolt in nicely with an adapter and trans crossmember modification. Thats what I did with my 390 until I decided I was still not satisfied.
If a 5 speed overdrive would make you feel good, a NV4500 will bolt in nicely with an adapter and trans crossmember modification. Thats what I did with my 390 until I decided I was still not satisfied.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 103
From: North Idaho
I'd keep the FE honestly. It's the engine family that won Le Mans four years in a row - overall wins too, not class wins like today.
Get some modern aluminum heads and intake manifold, decent camshaft, and up the cubic inches - no reason the FE can't do anything you want. I'd keep it because it's the original engine type and a very capable platform. Keep it, but at 390 cubes or better.
Get some modern aluminum heads and intake manifold, decent camshaft, and up the cubic inches - no reason the FE can't do anything you want. I'd keep it because it's the original engine type and a very capable platform. Keep it, but at 390 cubes or better.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 6
Thank you all for the idea,s. I was wishing for a bellhousing swap and keep the trany but thats not happening I guess.
A friend reminded me of the 72 F100 360 I had till 1990. I made a turbo exhaust manifold with a crossover tube, back then
the choice of turbos was slim, I used a truck T04 but it was to big, I think I still have the manifolds somewhere, I will have to look,
Today turbos are everywhere, so I might just rebuild the 360 and add good heads, turbo it and use a Holley sniper Efi.
A friend reminded me of the 72 F100 360 I had till 1990. I made a turbo exhaust manifold with a crossover tube, back then
the choice of turbos was slim, I used a truck T04 but it was to big, I think I still have the manifolds somewhere, I will have to look,
Today turbos are everywhere, so I might just rebuild the 360 and add good heads, turbo it and use a Holley sniper Efi.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 896
Likes: 55
From: Bothell
One way to do this is to just go find something that has what you want and make it work. In reality it doesn’t matter if it’s a Ford/Dodge/Chevy or what ever, they all take about the same amount of work (well diesel might be a bit more). A 90’s 351w or 460 would be a good swap but it’s an outdated motor/efi system and the effort to swap one of those is just as much as swapping something from a newer truck.
If you are a Ford purest then a coyote or 6.2 raptor motor would be sweet but $$$
Honestly an LS swap is probably the least expensive and best supported swap.
Have you considered just bolting on fuel injection to your FE?
If you are a Ford purest then a coyote or 6.2 raptor motor would be sweet but $$$
Honestly an LS swap is probably the least expensive and best supported swap.
Have you considered just bolting on fuel injection to your FE?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,117
Likes: 103
From: North Idaho
Thank you all for the idea,s. I was wishing for a bellhousing swap and keep the trany but thats not happening I guess.
A friend reminded me of the 72 F100 360 I had till 1990. I made a turbo exhaust manifold with a crossover tube, back then
the choice of turbos was slim, I used a truck T04 but it was to big, I think I still have the manifolds somewhere, I will have to look,
Today turbos are everywhere, so I might just rebuild the 360 and add good heads, turbo it and use a Holley sniper Efi.
A friend reminded me of the 72 F100 360 I had till 1990. I made a turbo exhaust manifold with a crossover tube, back then
the choice of turbos was slim, I used a truck T04 but it was to big, I think I still have the manifolds somewhere, I will have to look,
Today turbos are everywhere, so I might just rebuild the 360 and add good heads, turbo it and use a Holley sniper Efi.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 805
Likes: 145
From: 59701 West Valley Phoenix
As a purist I would put a Ford in a Ford, so if you are doing a restomod as you say and you are and you will be doing some towing, then I would say get the 7.3 Godzilla, or if you aren't towing big loads then wait for the 6.8 pushrod rumored to be coming in 2022 to the Mustang and F150. ( https://www.motorauthority.com/news/...tang-and-f-150 ) No matter what you throw at a 390 to make it faster, tow more, or to try to see 12 MPG, it isn't a "Restomod" The 7.3 is a better choice than the Coyote for towing as the torque starts to hit at 1500RPM whereas the Coyote gets it's torque much later in the rev's.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 504
Likes: 4
From: Malheur County
I haven't done one either, but guessing the hard part is the rest of the drivetrain behind the engine. Perhaps you can mate your existing with an adapter, but if I've learned anything just doing "bolt-on" stuff to my Mustang that has been anything but that this is surely a lot more difficult. One of those easier said than done type of situations.