Hi everyone, first of all, Merry Christmas to everyone.

So in a few weeks I am about to pick up a 79 F100, 18 hours away. I have the info in the “intros” section of the forum, but I’ll do a refresh.

Long story short, my dad had a 79 f100 302 3 on the tree power steering long bed, I grew up in it basically for my whole childhood until I was 16. I’m basically looking for a solid foundation to make one again like he had and found it, sort of.

It’s a 79 F100, 300 6, 3 on the tree, manual steering long bed. Beautiful 0 rust free truck. My plan is to drop in a V8, whether it’s a 302 or 351W. Also put power steering in it.

So my questions are:

For the engine swap, I read on here I need obviously the engine. What year(s) 351W would fit the 3 on the tree trans? In general with 302s and 351s what year range would I look for?
What L bracket for the engine side on the Z bar? I know I need mounts, flywheel year specific to engine, perches, radiator, shroud, hoses.

For power steering swap, I’m aware I need the 3 on tree column for power steering, gear box, pitman arm, pump/engine brackets, lines.

Is there anything else I would need or to look out for? Won’t be doing it for a while probably summer time. Just would like to get a plan going ahead of time. Thank you.

 

If you're willing to dump the 3 speed there's really no end to your engine options. I would seriously consider a 4 or 5 speed floor shift.

 

Keep the 6 cylinder, lose the 3 on the tree.

 

The 300 and the 302 / 351w are all small block motors so the bell housing you have now will bolt to them.
Just get the right flywheels for the motor used.

Me I like the 300 motor, it gets the job done just not really fast, sometimes it is nice to slow down and look at what you are missing.
Some like the 3 on the tree if they work right. There is a post of too much play and if not that it hangs up in gear.

If the truck was mine I would add the power steering and drive it and feel it out. You may find you like the 300 / 3 on tree.
Now if you dont like the 3 OT you can swap in a T18 or NP435, granny 4sp non-over drive but think you would need to change the bell housing and drive shaft.
My 81 F100 came with a bad T18 so I swapped in a NP435 as the truck is a back up to pull my 20' open deck car trailer and the granny first it good to get going from a stop when heavy.

When you get into any of the 5sp that have over drive the bell housings are part of the transmission and the clutch is hydrolic so you would need to fit a clutch master to the truck.
The 87> M5OD is a 5sp with over drive found in 150 / 250 trucks, the later years dont have a hole for a speedo cable.
I hear this trans shifts more like a car trans than the truck T18 / NP435 trans.
BTW any of the above trans can be used with the 302 / 351W motors.

If you need the granny gear, the M5OD dose not have, and want over drive the only option is the Gear Vender unit that bolts on to the rear of the trans but they are not cheap.
Dave ----

 

A mid to late 90s Ford Explorer 5.0 is a good swap choice. They're a roller block with GT40 heads. And if looking for a 351, I would try to find a 92 or later roller block. Although the mustang guys tend to scoop those up because you can stroke them to 410 or even 427. And the later fuel injected head and exhaust manifold is a good upgrade for the 4.9l

 

I dont know about the EFI head as I have not heard of this swap? Is it because of the chamber shape and spark knock?
I know the 240 head swap is good to bump up compression a little.

Yes the EFI EXH manifolds is a nice factory bolt on for a little more flowing EXH.
I also know the 94 F150 full EXH system will bolt on to a 81 F100 and has a little larger pipe dia. than the 80's system.
With the "shorty header" manifolds and a Thrush welded muffler (no cat) it has a nice sound for a 300 six motor.
Dave ----

 

From what I've read here on past posts, the EFI head is worth .5 compression points and has has a fast burn chamber design

 

So it’s safe to say any year 302, 351W would fit in front of the 3 on the tree?

 

Yes. All the small blocks, including the 351C, have the same bolt pattern except for the 64 and earlier 289s

 

Personally, I would stick with the 300 and 3OT, my favorite combo, not many around anymore and it makes it unique, rplc all the bushings and make sure it's adjusted correctly and they are fun to drive, and as I said unique, and as an added bonus, they are virtually theft-proof as not many know how to shift one, or even know what it is! The 300 is a quite capable motor, add an Offy intake and headers = fun to drive.

 

I don’t doubt that the 300 is a good motor. Definitely keeping the 3 on the tree no matter what. I just love the sound of a nice small block ford with dual exhaust and the 3 speed like my dad had years ago. Doing power steering is up in the air depends how it handles.

 

Not to beat a dead horse on this, but before buying my 79, I looked at a 78 and it had a 351M with the 3 on the tree, so I was told anyways, didn’t look too into it after seeing holes in the frame. Would the 351M mate to the 3 speed on the tree transmission?

 

With the proper bell housing yes.

351M is a low power smogger that can't easily be fixed. IMO you are better off keeping the six.

 

Thank you, I was curious as I don’t see many posts at all about 351M/3 speed combo.

The 300 6 in it right now actually runs really well, it’s quiet, no leaks, original, even has original smog and cat. I just would rather have a nice sounding v8. I know the 300s are bulletproof tho.

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-csumeptf003