hey yall i have a 1980 ford f150 and i bought it for 150 ( body pretty bad and blown head gasket ) i also bought from the same guy a 351w for 250 well i have been installing this newer engine....i put on tthe torque converter and i cant get it to sit back in to the trans came out fine and the teeth line up and all ive tried putting into gear and rolling it everything... it just doesnt seem to want to go any ideas on how to get it to engage?

p.s. im doing this solo no cherry picker or anything

 

If I read correctly, you've got the TC bolted to the flexplate and are trying to install the tranny. It won't work that way. Set the TC in the bellhousing and rotate it until you feel it set back 3 times. You may have to rotate back and forth several times but make sure it moves in 3 times before trying to install the tranny.

 

Project beast!
Barf Brooks is correct! If you have not already done it, you MUST install the torque convertor into the TRANS first! Just like he said, carefully turn the T/C and push simaltaneously until you feel the T/C 'seat' all the way into the TRANSMISSION. You may want to pull it out a couple times sort of 'check and re-check' until you are sure it is seated properly. Believe me, the extra effort is all worth it!! If not installed properly, you can easily TRASH the pump in your transmission.....$$$$$$$$!!! After you get it in, be sure not to let the tranny get moved or bumped because it's that easy for the convertor to come out one c**thair and your f***ed!!

As you move the engine into position, try to line up the 3/8" studs on the torque convertor with the flywheel on the motor. When the engine block and bellhousing are together, the tips of those studs should just barely be sticking through the holes in the flywheel (more or less). Get the bellhousing bolts in and snug. Then go back under the truck and pull the convertor 'forward' towards the flywheel and start putting on your convertor nuts. One side of the nut should have a 'taper' on it; make sure it faces into the hole in the flywheel. This holds the stud 'center' in the hole.
When your working alone, I find it best to pull the sparkplugs out the motor (remove compression). Get a 1/2" drive socket wrench (the one that fits the 'big bolt' inside the crank pulley. This is so when your under the truck, you can easily turn the motor to expose the T/C studs so you don't have to keep getting out from under! Also, when tightening the nuts on the T/C studs, it'll want to rotate. Let it go 'round till the socket touches the edge of the bellhousing then you can tighten 'em down nice and easy w/out having to fight it plus it makes it nice and stabil.
Hope I can help! J.Malone

 

Just curious as to what engine the flywheel came from and what transmission you are bolting to. May be able to prevent some other problems you may find, problems a "friend of mine" had swapping a 351w with a 302.

 

travis is probably referring to the 28/50 imbalance issue. All 351w and pre-81 302's were 28oz imbalance while post '81 302's had a 50oz imbalance.

 

i got it all linked up and all now i used the flew plate from the 302 cause i had a 4 speed manual on the 351w so i changed the flex plate and put the torque converter in first and got 2 pops in so i bolted up the tranny first and then the tc as for the rest of the questions i dont know the answers to them i just know the 351w is a 1986 and the 302 is the stock engine in my 1980 f150 thanx everyone for your help