Sounds good, the way those hiboys sit up in the front I didn't think there would be a issue!
thanks.

 

I'd also check the inlet and outlets on those radiators, but if you have one of each it shouldn't be a problem. Seems to me back when I did a swap a couple years ago I had to go get a radiator because the hoses hooked up at opposite ends, top and bottom.

 

True, i forgot about the hookup points.

 

1974Highboy -

Interesting post because I'm acquiring a truck from a family member for restoration with the same basic setup, and I've been thinking about the same exact swap. Mine's a '74 F250 4x4, 360 2v, NP435 4spd tranny, divorced NP205, D44HD front, D60 rear, 4.10 ratios. It's going to be a part-time work/play truck, probably running something like a 31' or 32' all-terrain. I might bolt in a GearVendors Overdrive. No crazy driving, just everyday chores, the occasional trailer, and hunting/camping trips.

Having owned a couple, I really like the 300 6cyls, especially the fuel injected engines from the early 90's. They are torquey and durable, and are relatively fuel efficient when compared to big cube Ford V8's. I really don't want another 8 or 9 mpg truck, even for limited use, and I have no need for big tires & big horsepower.

From what I can summarize here, in addition to a suitable motor, I would need the following:

1.) move existing perches forward,
2.) acquire the proper bellhousing, flywheel & clutch for my NP435,
3.) possibly a radiator.

Other than that it should be fairly straightforward? Any other thoughts, ideas or suggestions? Am I nuts? I have little experience with FE motors, and have no idea if I'd be better off rebuilding my 360 with a mild RV cam, good ignition, headers and a decent 2v or 4v carb (or a Holly/Howell type fuel injection setup). It's still early, and I haven't made a decision just yet.

 

The radiator is not a big problem. I took the radiator out of my '74 250 4x4 w/360 and used it in front of a 300-6 in my '76 150 2wd. It took some fancy mounting becouse the radiator mounts differently on the '74 than the '76, but it works....somewhat. It's bigger than what the 6cyl needs, but it does work. The 360 is now going into that same truck, so it will no longer be an issue.

 

I might be missing something as well but i think the bellhousing and clutch should work off of your 360 and the 6 should just bolt on! this is what i have gotten from some of the guys on this website as well as a couple old ford guys i know. Sounds like you will be using your truck for the same reasons I do, except mine is also my winter plow truck. Which brings up another question, I hear people talk about a "Snowfighters package" that came stock with the truck. The snow plow that came with my truck looks about the same vintage as the truck itself with a integral bumper with the plow frame. Could this be a stock plow setup from that package? I heard mention of a different axle up front as well as beefer springs. Is there a way to confirm this? Back to rakent, I plan to start this swap in the end of May so i will keep the forum updated. I will continue to post threads to this topic.

 

I might be missing something as well but i think the bellhousing and clutch should work off of your 360 and the 6 should just bolt on! this is what i have gotten from some of the guys on this website as well as a couple old ford guys i know. Sounds like you will be using your truck for the same reasons I do, except mine is also my winter plow truck. Which brings up another question, I hear people talk about a "Snowfighters package" that came stock with the truck. The snow plow that came with my truck looks about the same vintage as the truck itself with a integral bumper with the plow frame. Could this be a stock plow setup from that package? I heard mention of a different axle up front as well as beefer springs. Is there a way to confirm this? Back to rakent, I plan to start this swap in the end of May so i will keep the forum updated. I will continue to post the threads to this topic so as not to confuse people.

 

1974 highboy -

From what I've seen in this thread, the FE motors have a different bolt pattern than the 300 6cyl and 302/351 Windsor motors, so I would need to find a suitable Windsor patter manual bellhousing for my NP435. Probably the easiest thing would be to find a complete 300 out of a manual transmission truck (like your donor) and steal the engine and bellhousing for the highboy.

Do you have some different information? I'm at a bit of a disadvantage, because I haven't actually started taking the truck apart yet. Like I indicated earlier, I'm still trying to figure out whether I'd be better off doing a mild build on the 360 and leaving it at that.

Good luck with your project. I'd be interested in your updates, my project is going to be a complete frame-off restoration, so I'll be a little while longer finishing it up.

 

In my opinion, you would be better off to do the 360. I have mixed and matched so much stuff on mine, and what I have found is that even an "easy" swap will send you hunting junkyards at least 3 different times. It isn't that it can't be done, just that it is easier to use existing stuff. If you are sure you want the 300, go for it! I am happy with mine, and think it is a good engine. I did the frame resto, too, and am building it to use the same, so it is good to see others wanting to build a similar truck. Good luck, Ted

 

the FE mount towers are the same as 300.
The bellhousing bolt pattern is definatly different between the 300 and FE engine.

 

I have a sneaky feeling that the 360 is going to be the way to go. Less scrounging, more original, and I can probably build a nice mild 360 that gives tolerable mileage.

We'll see!

 

I am new to the old Fords, what does the "FE" stand for? So does the other end of the Bellhousing (tranny side) match up? and if so your clutch and what not inside, does that stay or will the bellhousing and clutch from the I6 go and bolt on to the NP435? Forgive my ignorance, this is my first big automotive job!! up to this its been pretty minor stuff. Can anyone suggest a aftermarket service manual for this depth of work? I've had lots of haynes manuals in the past and find they are pretty vague!

 

Hi Everyone,
This is my first post and I'd like to say this forum rocks!
I'm thinking about doing a similar transplant....I have a 74 F100 Custom, 360, NP435 with a very tired motor. I also have a 66 F100, with an I6, three on the tree that was modified to a floor shifter with a bolt on kit. The motor is strong, purrs like a kitten. I too was wondering about the complexity of putting the I6 in place of the 360.
The I6 has a tiny carb, would I be able to use the carb off the 360 (original Motorcraft) with an adapter on the I6 intake manifold?
The I6 does not have a power steering pump, would i be able to take the power steering pump off the 360 and bolt in to the I6? Or would i need to find a pump for the I6?
And maybe the most important question is would this be a wise swap for me because I need the truck to haul a 2 horse trailer (with horses)? How well would the I6 do the job?
Any input would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
Good luck on your project 1974hiboy.

 

The FE was an engine series designation. There were a couple of them, but the 360 and 390 were in them. It is like the windsor design, having the 302 and 351W in them. As far as the bellhousing and clutch, you should be able to, but I am not sure about the 3 spd setup. It should be just 4 bolts that hold the housing on the tranny. The 300 swap in a 2wd seems to be easier. the 4x4s are hard to find the right engine mount towers. Mine had a 360 in it originally, but the guy swapped it in, so it can be done. As far as the carb, you can get a clifford intake that is setup for a holley 4bbl. I am happy with mine, and it may be cheaper and easier in the long run than fiddling with the motorcraft and adapter. Power steering pumps are the same, but brackets may take some junkyard hunting. I have the newer small plastic steering pump, and I don't think the brackets will work with the older metal pump. You will have to be sure to get the right brackets, or the new pump with the new brackets. Sure you can haul a 2 horse with it. If you hotrod it a little, it will easily keep up with a v8, or you can take it easy stock. The torque specs aren't that much less than a small block. They can easily haul a decent amount with the proper gearing. Hope this helps, Ted

 

oilpans were different from 2x to 4x up tp 1980 when ford changed to front steer and killed the front sump pan used on rear steer 2 wheel drives. from 1980 and up all 4x and 2x oilpans are the same as old 4x4.
All ford manual transmissions 1969 and newer should fit all ford bellhousings from 1969 and up.
all modern ford manual trannys use the small (4.850") pilot shaft bearing retainer od that's very close to gm car. You can turn down the retainer a smidge, take a bit from the end of the input shaft, drill new holes in the bellhousing and install a ford manual tranny behind a gm car bell with a custom sized pilot shaft bushing from Novak.
You gotta keep your 300-6 bell with the 300-6 engine but the 300-6 bell will bolt to your transmission. If you have a divorced transfer case you can run a 2 wheel drive smallblock zf or an aod or even a t-5 or tremec if you want to. If you have a married transfercase your choices are fewer. If you have a single speed married transfer case it's the dana 21.
I think all f250's got the 2 speed divorced dana 24? transfer case untill they got the np 203 and np205.
The high pinion open knuckle dana 44 was used on the f100's from 69 and up. all high pinion fronts used the matrried transfercase. the bigger trucks got the divorced transfercase with the low pinion front. the f100 was first to get open knuckles and a married case and I think 1975 or 76 or maybe 77 was the first year for the high pinion open knuckle 8 lug dana 44 and dana 60.
the transfercase to transmission pattern is supposed to be the same from the np203/205 on up through the 90's i'm not 100% sure on that but I have seen aod's and zf's mated with np 205's.
I had some issues changing my 77 over to a 205 from a 203. I think the difference is in a clearance notch in the flange. the 205 I bought already had it's own adapter so I used it. I think the bolt patterns were the same except for that notch for the linkage which is in a different place between the gear drive and chain drive np 205/203cases.
all np 205/203 and newer have the same input splines. the zf tranny's might use a different out spline requiring an adapter kit from advance or novak for the zf better check that out before believing it.
the pre np 203/205 tranny's were supposed to be a 24 or 26 spline count. fact is that if you have a dana 21 transfer case or divorced transfer case you have a 2 wheel drive tranny. the 4x4 married tranny's have a longer output shaft than the 2x tranny's.
The dana 21's adapter had a square 4 bolt patter to the back of the tranny where the 2x tailshaft would bolt to.
The np203/205 adapters are longer and have a 4 bolt trapezoid pattern...
that's anothe ford altruism.... all 4x4 manual married tranny's from 1976 or 77 and up are interchangeable and all 2x manual tranny's are interchangeable in the years of 1969 to 199?(when the zf went into use) but NOT from 4x to 2x
so I'll say all 69-90's bell to trann patterns are the same but 4x4 and 2x4 tranny's were different at the rear.
somewhere in the mid 70's ford changed the splines on the rear of the tranny's so a special adapter is required from advance to marry a 2x tranny to a transfercase. I'm not 100% sure but you might be able to run the dana 20 2 speed transfercase out of an early bronco if you are mated.
The reason there is an adapter made to bolt a transfercase to the ford 2x tranny is for the jeepers who need the couple inch shorter 2x tranny.