Hi all

I have Chevy 350 (not my doing) in my 55. I’m trying to cross off my list of things I need to do while it’s all torn apart while adding the M2 IFS and power rack and pinion. I have a donor 98 ford explorer 5.0 that I was curious if anyone has used the power steering pump out of it on a 350? Would it even fit on the 350? Just curious since the donor is free and I’m trying to use what I can to save a few bucks. Any help, knowledge or wisdom is appreciated!

 

Better yet.......Take out the 350 and install that free FORD 5.0. What do ya think?

 

I like where your head is at! We will be installing a 429 in a year or so and the previous guy fully rebuilt the 350. So until I can get the 429 cleaned up and ready to go, the 350 will stay. I figure it won’t be too hard selling the 5.0 and 350 to help cover the costs of getting that 429 solid.

 

Allow me to offer some of the knowledge and wisdom you asked for in your first post. I will say first that yes, it is your truck and you should build it the way you want for you, no doubt. But consider this; if you have taken out the 350 and the entire front suspension to install a MII setup, you have undoubtedly removed the mounts and attachments for the 350, so you're really no longer set up for that engine. You have a clean slate. You will need to recreate everything from engine mounts to exhaust, steering linkage, possibly even brake components, anything that can be in the way or relocated will need to be done. It's expensive and time consuming. To do all that a second time in a short period will double your work and costs. It will all need to be redone to fit the big block.

Speaking of big blocks, if you really have your heart set on the 429, fine. Just know that they are heavy, expensive, large, (which means fitting exhaust and steering around the package can be problematic) and will cost a fortune to operate down the road compared to other engine options. As they say, you'll pass everything but a gas station. But you're also sitting on one of the most cost effective swaps out there with the Explorer set up. The Explorer 5.0 has all the latest and best updates to the 302 there were, and with the fuel injection and overdrive automatic can get 20 mpg and have gobs of power, and at least 3-400 pounds less over the front axle, which means driving will be a lot more enjoyable as a lighter, better balanced and more nimble machine.

Just something to ponder, at the risk of sounding like your dad.

 

Thank you! That definitely gives me something to ponder since I’m still in the planning stage. Both the 429 and the 5.0 are free right now. Both would have to be cleaned up and rebuilt before they were to be used. It’s funny you added sounding like my dad since my dad is the one that wants me to put the 429 in there haha. The points you made for the 5.0 make a lot more sense especially the weight, fuel economy and transmission. I will be pulling the 8.8 out of the explorer as well so it would make sense to use the entire set up. The 5.0 would probably be a lot cheaper and easier to modify than the 429 as well.

Damn you for being so rational!!! I appreciate it bud thank you