I am just starting to plan out the restoration of my 79 f-150 4x4, 300 4spd (granny gear). I have a 78 f-150 2x4 302 automatic as a body donor and have a few questions --

1. Does the 2wd automatic cab have a lower "hump" in the middle where the tranny/transfer case runs? If so, can this be adapted? I will be using that cab and want to keep my 4spd.

2. I am debating which frame to use -- I have not got the body off the 4x4, but with the amount of rust on the body I am a little concerned about the frame. If it is in poor shape, I was thinking of mounting the drive-train under the 2wd frame. This leads to the next question -- I am planning on a 351 as the powerplant. What kind of motor mount issues would I have? Does either the 351W or M mate up with the 300 or 302 motor mounts? I have already found out that the 351W will mate up w/ the 300's bellhousing pattern on the tranny.

3. Finally, was the 351W ever used in the 70's f-150's? Will I be trying to fabricate this?

Thanks, I know you guys have the answers to all these questions......

 

1) Yes,

3) No , not until the 80's, but there were 302's in the 70's

 

Building up the 4X4, you have to stay with that frame. It is different than a 2X frame. The front half is boxed in and steering gear is located forward of the axle. If your frame is bad you can convert the 2x over by cutting out the inner sections and rewelding. Lots of work but not too difficult with both to look at. You will notice the twin I-beam has a huge crossmember that 4X frame does not use. The hump on floor can be cut and welded over 2X cab to make work. Or possibly consider about 1 inch body lift for clearance of transfer case. Your tunnel cover will install on the 2X cab. You will have to cut out the one on it and drill about 10 mounting holes. Set 4X tunnel over, drill holes then cut around just inside of holes. What kind of gas milage did you get with the 300 and granny? I want to convert my `79 2X 300 I-6, C-4 stepside to 4X with a donor 78 Bronco and NP-435. Looking at about the same work as you.

 

With the 300 and 4 spd, all stock, I get about 13 on the highway at 65mph. With 3.50 gears and 235's this is about max I am comfortable driving at (without the engine blowing out the top of the hood).

 

As far as the motor mount question, I believe, and correct me if I am wrong fellas, that the 351W will be a direct swap for the 302, the 351C or M will be totally different though, matching the 400 instead. Good luck, sounds like your gonna have a great project. You should give the 4x frame a chance, you may clean of some surface rust and find a very healthy frame beneath.

 

The 351M,400,460 share the same bolt pattern
the 351W,302,300 will share the same pattern

 

The 351 cleveland has the same bellhousing pattern as the 302 and 351 windsor, and I think the motor mounts may be the same also, not positive on that one.

 

Are you sure about the 351 cleveland 'stang? I thought it was the same block as the 400 with a reduced bore and stroke, been a while though so I could be wrong. I thought the 351W was basically a big 302 (bored, stroked).

 

There was a 351 cleveland and a 351m and the 351 windsor. The 351c and 351m are basically the same design, but the 351m is a taller deck but can use the same heads and most had the 385 series (429/460) bellhousing pattern, I guess there are a few 351m with the small block bolt pattern also. The 351w is similar to the 302 but is a different casting, taller deck and bigger main bearings than the 302 so cranks won't interchange. It has the same bore so they can use the same head but .5inch longer stroke (3.5inch). To look at them quick you probably couldn't tell the difference but the intake is wider on the 351w due to the taller deck, which also means it is something like 1.5 inches wider. I also believe all have the same 4 inch bore, just different strokes. You can actually put a cleveland or M head onto a 351w or 302 (like the boss 302 mustang had in 69 and 70) by using a special intake manifold or intake adapters and some drilling and plugging of coolant holes. This is where I wish ford was more like a chevy where they kept the same block and just improved on it instead of making a totally new engine every 5 to 10 years, or more durring the same period of time. Also the 351w came out in 69, then the 351c in 70, and I assume the 351m shortly after that.

 

302: 4.0"bore, 3.0"stroke, 8.2"deck, small block bellhousing
351C: 4.0"bore 3.5"stroke 9.2"deck, small block bellhousing
351W: 4.0"bore 3.5"stroke 9.5"deck, small block bellhousing
351M: 4.0"bore 3.5"stroke 10.295"deck, big block bellhousing
400: 4.0"bore 4.0"stroke 10.295"deck, big block bellhousing
351M/400 are NOT big blocks, they are 335 series motors like the 351C.

 

Ok, I was mostly right and a little wrong... the 351 windsor is essentially a 302 block with the same bore but the block is made with a taller deck height to allow for a longer stroke, see this article: http://www.classicar.com/articles/Fo...tory_page2.asp

The other blocks of the conversation are the 351m (does not really stand for anything) 351c (cleveland) and the 400, the Cleveland does ,as 'stang said, use the small block bell housing pattern, sorry to doubt ya stang , the 351M and 400 use the "big block" bell housing bolt pattern. This page has some great info but also ahs some pop up ads, sorry: http://phystutor.tripod.com/stang/en...cleveland.html

was chewin on my brain, just HAD to get the right info... lol

 

I love this forum, while i was off finding the info you guys beat me to the punch. FTE rocks!!

 

Thanks guys.... just to make sure now --
The 302 motor mounts in a 2wd frame will work with a 351w in my 4x4 frame?
diddo to what st wilson said.

 

Yes, all wil bolt up on a 351W and 302 except for the distributor and intake manifold. The 351W is about 1" taller and 2" wider than a 302. The front accessory drives use different brackets too to compensate for the wider distance between the waterpump and heads. My 77 F150 had a 351M originally but had been swapped to a worn out 351W when I bought it. I fixed that by installing a 460