i dropped a 460/c6 into my 48 f-1 and realized a few thing. i have the fenders and all the sheet metal off the front and am wondering about it all fitting back since i had to move the whole engine forward abut 3". does anybody have any experience with this? also i was thinking of putting a tilt front end, but want to use my sheetmetal. anyone done that? thanks for the input..

 

If your using stock suspension you have some options you may not like. If you are using IFS and have istalled a motor mount crossmember your stuck. My advice to you is to move the motor back those 3 inches. I believe it will save you money in the long run. You can do an old hot rod trick. Bear with me. Find a Radio Flyer wagon. Cut Your firewall and use the tub of the wagon as the recessed panel. It should give you about 4 inches to move that big motor back. Block hugger headers are a must to clear the steering gear if it will at all. You may haft to flatten the tubes but not enough to cause an obstuction. If I remember right the late 40s to mid 50s Advanced Design Chevy and GMC had steering gears that bolted to the top of the frame rails and had the pitman arm that hung off the outboard side of the frame rail instead of going through it like the Ford. This will allow You to move the gear a little to the outside to clear the exhuast. You will haft to trim the steering column hole in the firewall a little to the outside. The column will now be at a slight angle to the inside but not enough to notice. A Ford steering wheel should go easily on the GM column. The drag link design for both trucks were simular and may go on without modificatioin. These are just sugestions for era parts. Now if the motor is 3 inches forward You haft to do something about the radiator. You will haft to mountit in front of the cross brace like the 6cyl trucks were. This still may not give You any room. You will probably haft to use an Electric fan. You May haft to cut some of the sheet metal away from behind the hood latch and make a place for the radaitor.This means building a new core support and changing where the whole front end mounts. You need to run a good sized radaitor. Dont forget the transmission cooler. A one piece front end would be heavy in steel and expensive in fiberglass. Where will You break it, at the fenders or at the firewall with half of Your front feners cut remaining bolted to the cab. You will haft to design a pivot point which gets into the radaitor core support again.

 

Hi

I think the first thing that you need to do is install the stock radiator in the stock poaition and see if the engine is going to clear. Then you need to decide if you are going to use a engine mounted fan or a electric fan. If you are using a engine mounted fan then leave at least 1 inch clearance between fan and radiator.

Why did you move the engine forward 3 inches?

Chuck

 

well, i already got the motor in and the mounts welded in. the reason i moved it forward was to leave enough room for my power steering(toyota box). i wont be able to use my stock radiator support but was hoping to fab one and just cut(massage) the front metal in latch area to gain enough room.
only problem for me is its been awhile since i had the front end on and not exactly sure of areas and availability of space to cut.
as far as tilt on front end its just a idea probably go back with stock just to save alot of bucks.
im not familiar with the 6-cylinders having thier radiator mounted in front of the radiator support. this could possibly be a solution.
as far as my radiator i have my stock now with four core and a cooler in it so hope it'll work. thanks for the advice and anymore would be appreciated. wade