Ok gang, am I nuts to think about swapping my 351m gas’s guzzling motor out for a coyote.
I really want to make this my daily driver in the summer but the way it sucks gas it’s kinda unrealistic. Last time down the highway at 70 I could just about watch the gas gauge drop by the mile. And honestly I’d like my wife to drive it but currently wont due to carb.

My 2013 f-150 5.0 gets around 16 so id imagine I could get close to that with a swap. My 90 mustang GT gets better mileage than both trucks.

If I get a used one id get engine, tranny and all other equipment off that motor. I can’t imagine it being over complicated for my mechanic.

 

First yes you are
Have you done a search in here and the other truck years for this swap?
What it took to do and what MPG they may be getting?

You can not compare any of them to each other.
The 78 is a brick, what gears and no over drive and to push it to 70 MPH is just asking for the fuel needle to drop as you look at it!
BTW the speed limit back then was 55 MPH! See what MPG you get at that speed?

35 years later that 2013 you have is not so much like a brick any more, has over drive and the whole package made to get better MPG.

Then you throw in the 90 GT that cuts thru the air like an arrow and bet also has over drive.
No way you can compare them!

I dont drive my 81 F100 for the MPG I drive it because I like driving it.
Yes it dose have a 300 straight six, NP435 with Advance Adapter's Range Spliter over drive and a 2.75 rear gear but the best I have gotten is 17 MPG and the worst 14 MPG I hope with the new carb it gets better or more of the 17 MPG than the avg of 15 MPG.
If I run it at 70 MPH the MPG dose go down as it is also a brick going thru air.

My 02 Durango 5.9, auto OD, 3.92 rear gear gets an avg. of 15 MPG and on a trip not log ago I got 17 MPG at 70 MPH and it goes thru the air a little better than the pick up but the shape.

So after the motor and trans? swap what do you think it will get for MPG?
Why cant the wife drive the truck now? Is it because of the carb?
Maybe a cheaper way to go would be to put EFI on the truck like a Sniper kit?
No more dealing with a carb & choke, the 02 will adjust the mixture to keep it as lean as you want and not hurt the motor.
Just my .02
Dave ----

ps. if I drive my truck to / from work for a week it is all most 400 miles.
I put 28K on it in 4 years so I do drive it with a smile all the time

 

My '77 likes 50-55 on state roads, but it does "just OK" on interstates at 60-63 mph. 12 mpg is good on interstate, but it does seem to push 14 mpg if driven an easy 50 ish mph looking at the turning colors of Fall. Back when I took it out of state, I have seen a wide variety of mpgs, but from 60-65 on up it was dismal.

My '07 5.4-3v will reliably travel 20-21, even 21+ miles on a gallon of BP, and do it for hundreds of miles just keeping it under 70 mph. Even it will dip into teens at over 70 or if fighting head winds.

Our '08 GT 5 speed is an easy 29-31 mpg car.

I do "anticipate" my needs to slow or stop.

 

You will spend thousands of dollars on a Coyote swap. You'll never recoup that money in gas savings. Just sayin'. . .

 

For one that has done the swap, go for it, but only if you love this truck! It’s expensive but oh so worth it. Look for a gen1 f150 and 6r80 for least cost, but still expect to spend 10-15k minimum. I love it and have no regrets swapping out my 460. Super reliable, absolutely 0 problems. Crazy power and in my lowered ‘73 with 6r80 and 28” tire I get 22-25 mpg. Last road trip was 165 miles round trip at steady 70 and used exactly 6.5 gallons. I think this is primarily due to the truck weighing 2,000# lighter than a modern truck along with the 6 speed. I would drive it anywhere and do drive it a couple days a week. Here is install photos. Be glad to help with questions.

Engine and Trans - 5-8k
Fuel System - 1k
Gauges - 1k
Steering - 1k
Engine and Trans wiring and Management - 2k
Miscellaneous -2k
Labor??

 

Exactly what you said is what I’m thinking.
Reliable, better on gas and can get up and go anywhere. Bonus is it will rip!!
I wanna drive it all the time and work I have multiple offices over 2 counties so im putting some miles on each week and some interstate driving.
Current truck prefers non ethanol, carb is finicky so my wife won’t drive it. I can have even more fun driving it, get better gas mile so I am technically getting value and it will increase the overall value.

 

💯 if you can swing it, it’s alot of work but awesome reliable setup. I have the mustang setup and it rips. Note: added some more detail to post above.

 

If you don't mind the cost of the project, sounds AMAZING.

 

Regarding the cost and recouping it, you’re looking at it wrong. What daily commuter could you buy for $15,000 and have the same fun/cool/head-turn factor? I actually think if done right, you could get your money back. Will it be a problem to get insurance at the higher value for a classic, daily driver?

 

Oof. Man, I hope you have thousands and thousands of $$ just for labor. That's assuming your "mechanic" even wants to or could take on a job like this.

 

Regarding the cost and recouping it, you’re looking at it wrong. What daily commuter could you buy for $15,000 and have the same fun/cool/head-turn factor? I actually think if done right, you could get your money back. I wonder if it will be a problem to get insurance at the higher value for a classic, daily driver?

 

You have to make this decision for you and not think about resale. We went the modern route with the 2 trucks we built and used late model drivetrains (4.6/4R75). In my opinion, it is the best of both worlds. You have modern convenience of EFI (OBD 2 to boot), Overdrive transmissions and 4 wheel disc brakes. You have the cool factor of an old truck and reliability of a new one. The purists will always look down on you, but if you are keeping an old truck on the road, that is a plus.

One way to offset the cost is to buy a complete donor car and sell off the parts you don't need. We bought complete (wrecked) cars on Copart.com and sold off the parts we didn't need. In many cases we sold complete leather interiors, tires and wheels, rear ends, catalytic converters and even body parts. Just be mindful of vehicles hit in the front and flood vehicles.

 

Yep, already spoke with mechanic (Ford tech for many many years) and have est cost for install.

 

So you are paying someone else to do the install?

I would say most on the forum that under take a project like this do the work them selves but if you got the money then go for it.
I would like to know when done what the MPG improvement is and what you think the pay back will be over time?
Good luck and keep us posted with pictures!
Dave ----

 

Appreciate the input. I always like to put things out there and get different views and takes!
I would use my mechanic. To big of a job. Can get most of it prepped.
Yes the whole job will cost quite a bit, I will recoup some of that over time with better gas mileage but drivability and fun should make up the difference.

Here’s how I look at this truck. It cost me less than my ferris zero turn mower did. I don't have a ton into it.
So if I can upgrade engine, add fun, functionality, reliability, most likely less maintenance and better gas mileage for a decent price, sounds attractive to me.