I'm leaning towards having a small block Ford in my '49 F1.

However, I keep finding these late 60's F100's with the good 9" rear, manual transmissions, and 352 engines for real cheap. It's tempting to buy one that's bent and rusted but in good running condition, and just do a wholesale drivetrain swap.

Does an FE fit well in a '48-'50 F1, or would this swap be problematic?

 

I put a 352/automatic in my 52 F-1 I had in high school. There were no problems with room and it ran like a striped ape. I think that the late 60's trucks with standards had a 2 piece driveshaft and those truck transmissions aren't the smoothest shifting things in the world, so you might want to consider an automatic. We also had a 66 3/4 ton with a 352 auto and it ran very strong(it would squeal the tires when it shifted into 2nd).

 

Thanks for the info! As for the automatic, I'm one of those die-hard stickshift guys--just can't do it. (I'm ok with it shifting like an old truck, 'cause it IS an old truck!)

 

Im puting a 390 in my 53 and it should be fine and fits real nice even with the headers.The only problem I see with the fe's is the availability of cool aftermarket parts and race parts.It might make up for that fact in that there are a ton of engines available at the junk yard for cheap and parts there are plentyful.Mine is just a sounder and driver so Im fine but I wouldn't want to be building up one for racing due to the price and shortage of parts.351 is way better for that! Good Luck

 

Slim pickings in terms of speed parts wouldn't be much of a downside for what I have in mind. I'd keep it mostly stock--replacing the intake manifold with an Edelbrock Performer mostly to reduce weight, and installing headers and a dual exhaust mostly to work around the clearance issues.

Well, that and maybe a universal throttle body fuel injection setup...