Okay, I know you guys won't be happy to hear this, but I am considering dropping my vortec 355 into my 69 Ford. I spent $3000 building it for my 69 chevy, but don't have the skills, time, money, or tools to do the body work on the chevy. On the other hand, the ford is in great shape body wise, and the drive train is getting tired. This is my very first engine and I don't want to sell it. So, has anyone here done this? Do you guys know of anyone who has?
I am not trying to start an arguement, and I am not doing this swap based on preference; I am doing it because this is what I have to work with. I really don't want to sell the chevy, the engine, or the Ford.
Please let me hear your information on this
thanks
brad

 

Blasphemous! Actually, I'm not that familiar with the vortec. Is it a 350 bored over .060? What makes it a vortec? How would you plan to mate the tranny? A stock 350 rebuild would cost about $750-$1000 for machine work and some parts. You must have had major work done or some trick aluminum heads to run up $3000. I've driven trucks (2wd and 4wd) with 350's and I'm not too impressed with the power. Now if you're talking 396 or 454, you've got some power. What motor do you have in your Ford? A 352 or 360 can be made into a 390. What are your plans with the Chevy since the you can't do anything with the body? Could you sell the 69 Chevy and find a better body? I swear I recall a guy here that put a big block Chevy into his Ford.

 

Thanks for the response. Technically it isn't entirely a vortec engine. All chevy truck engines since 96 were vortecs (well, that is when they started calling them votec; they were around before that). A "real vortec" would be completely roller. I don't have a roller camshaft. Basically I have a 350 block with the internals all done up and a set of vortec heads and all of the special parts that have to work with vortec heads. The reason I say it cost so much is because everything is new except the block and crank which had machine work done. Plus any part that touches the vortec heads is almost 50% more expensive than stock. So, basically the reason it was so expensive is because I built it from scratch, so I bought EVERYTHING (any part you can name, I bought), and it was all performance oriented.
To mate it to the tranny, I would probably just pull the four speed out of the chevy. There wouldn't be any problems mating them.
I plan on just letting the chevy sit until after college (which is why I am having this dilemma). I am really attached to the Ford, Chevy, and engine so I don't want to sell. The Ford has a 390. I know, who in their right mind would toss out a 390 for a chevy? I don't want to spend more money rebuilding it because my main objective is to use the 350 without selling it. In all honesty, if I went back in time, I would have bought a truck in as good of shape as the Ford and built a more unique engine. Everyone at school has a 350, but noone has the power of a stroked big block Ford.
thanks for the response, keep them coming
brad

 

Chevy engines in old Fords were the typical hot rod of my youth (although I could never afford to build one.) I think its a great project. You might have to fabricate some engine or transmission mounts or crossmember, but then you could have a custom front driveshaft made using Chevy front, and Ford rear portion. I'll be real interested in hearing about your progress. There used to be several manufacturers who made engine mounts, etc. to mate Chevys into Fords. I'll bet a call to L&L Products, Inc. in Texas could answer that. They make many adapters. Best of luck!

 

There are plenty of Chevy bodies out there. I wouldn't put it in there unless that 390 is so out of shape, that it would cost more than you are willing to spend on it. I can understand putting it in a pre-60 Ford, but other than that is sacriledge. I'd save the 390 for the Ford, and look for another body for the Chevy.

But, it is acceptable to put a Ford in a Chevy, so for every Ford that is compromised with Chevy parts, do that to the Chevy, thats something that hasn't been done before. Put the 390 in the Chevy if you put the 350 in the Ford.

 

Blasphemy!!!

I can understand your urge to use your built motor, but what shape is the 390 in? I suspect a re-ring, cam, bearings, and intake and you'd be good to go.

The chebby 350 will keep. My brother's got one out in the garage that he never put in anything. All built, collecting dust. Built in the early 1980's.

If you tell us the story on the 390, we can help you! There is still hope!

 

Well, the 390 isn't that bad. It has 124,000 miles and seems to run Okay. Compression is all at 120 except cyl. 8 which is at 90. It leaks and uses oil pretty well. I know I could build it decently with minor machine work (just a hone or slight bore and head work), a cam, bearings, rings, and gaskets, but that all costs money. Besides, I don't really feel the need to rebuild it. I will just run it until it gets bad. It will get me around just fine. It would be soooooo much fun to have a built 390, but college is really expensive.
I don't feel comfortable with letting the 350 sit for a long period (probably have to sit for 5-6 years). Plus I really, really want it to run after having put so much time and money into it.
I do thank you all for your responses. Please give me more advice or try to sway me to do the right thing (even if I don't end up doing the right thing)
thanks
brad

Dyerstown- Do you know the phone number for that company? How much do you think it would cost to have a driveshaft welded and balanced?

 

Should be under $100 for the driveshaft. L&L number is: 972-475-5202

 

If your Ford was in sad shape I probaly wouldn't object to this project. That isn't the case, however.

Why not just pick up a little Malibu or Nova or S-10 and stick the motor in it? You would probably have a lot more fun with it. It could be any GM product, especially one with the B-O-P bellhousing. Run the car and build a sleeper!

 

While it is i the true hotredder spirit to run what youve got, I would have to say put the chevy motor away and look for a suitable project for it. I don't hate chevys, I have owned several, I just hate to see chevy engines in fords.
I have been thinking of buying this nice 57 chevy belair and putting a 390 ford in it.

 

Ford Trucks Kick Butt!!!!!!!!! However, I do own a 68 Corvette. The big block hood on the vette shows the crome 427 brightly polished and proud. Since I am a Ford Truck Enthusiast, I've been thinking of finding a 427 Ford Truck Engine, installing it, and buying customized plates saying FORVET. What do ya think.
Putting a piece of sssshhhhhevy in a Ford? Hurts my eyes to read this thread.

 

that would be cool, it also kills me to see a chebby motor going into a ford, but a ford into a chebby now thats not bad, i was thinkinh about putting a 460 into a 87 firebird now that would be a piece of work, but i better get my truck done before i mess with the firebird project.

 

Yeah, me too.... Some day though

 

Well, of course you guys would mind less seeing a Ford in a chevy . I, however, am not biased toward either make. For some reason, swapping engines between makes doesn't bother me but messing with the body, ride height, or interior too much upsets me. Go figure . The way I see it, you aren't destroying a vehicle by putting a different engine in it because with a few nuts and bolts it is reversable. Plus, all engines are BASICALLY the same. Messing with the body too much destroys a car. It takes away its character and turns it into something it was never meant to be (I am speaking of extreme body work).
Of course, this is MY opinion.

I think it would be great to put a Ford engine in a Chevy. I do plan on doing it some day, I just don't know what type of vehicle yet. Oldfordsnstone, I think your on to something with the FORVET. You'd certainly make some people upset.

Dyerstown- I didn't call that company, I checked out their website. They didn't have anything for swapping SBC's into fords. They just had kits for swapping the different families of Ford engines. Thanks for the help though.

It would be nice to get a small s10 or malibu, but I already have a 69 chevy, 69 ford, 86 mercury station wagon , and a dune buggy. I want to avoid getting another vehicle. Hmmmmmm, maybe the 350 could go into the station wagon. Anyone ever heard of anyone doing this?

If anyone has anymore information on this subject, please give it to me.
thanks for all the responses
brad

 

Dunno. If you are capable of swapping it, go for it. But myself, I'm not crazy about swapping any brands around. Makes things a PIA... So much has to be modified, and custom made to work, fit, etc.. So much easier to keep ford in ford, and chevy in chevy. But again, if you can do it, thats the bottom line. I bet it costs a bit of money though to swap by the time it's over. You could almost do a minor rebuild on the 390. You also have to consider that the chevy engine should be puter controlled. Thats means it needs the puter, and all related sensors, parts, etc...Have you considered this? That adds a lot more work. Myself, I'd rather rebuild the 390, and use the chevy engine later in something else, or sell it and pocket the cash. The 390 doesn't need the puter and related baggage, and the truck will be worth more with the original engine in it. This swap would not be something for the faint of heart if it's done right. I think it's more work than you realize. But it's your call...Heck, I once had a 1973 VW van with a 68 chevy 307 mounted in the middle , behind the front seats. Used the GM turbo automatic with the VW automatic floor shifter. Had a ford 4.11 rear end. The radiator was in the back where the original engine was, and had twin electric fans to draw air through it. The plumbing to the engine was solid tubing run along the left wall. Had headers and glass packs that stuck out the sides of the van. With the ford rear, it sat up in the back, and was nose down in the front. With the side vent cowls, it looked kind of like the space shuttle. Ran like a scalded house cat, and with the middle engine, and VW rack and pinion, was the best handling van I ever drove. I could floor it and spin around in circles round and round and round until I let off the gas. Would do an easy 2nd gear scratch on a quick getaway. Dang that thing wa fun.... It sure got the looks at the beach. They would see me comign and expect some wimpy farfeignuggen engine noise, and hear chevy blub, blub, blub... I always wanted to put a buick 231 V6 in my brothers old lotus that had a shot 4 banger. But he sold it before I could attempt it... That thing would have flown. Dang car sat about 3 ft tall... Would have been like a go cart on steroids. Well, enuff butcher tales... MK