need engine swap help

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Jul 23, 2004 | 04:23 PM

smoothstreet

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need engine swap help

i have a 76 ford F100 shortbed 2wd that had a 302 smallblock in it, before i bought it the guy tore down the 302 with plans to build it for more power, i bought the truck and now i have the option of an engine swap. i personally dont like the idea of a smallblock in such a heavy truck, i would like it to really haul some butt on the street and i just dont think a 302 could do that for me. I have a built 390 and a built 360 to choose from as a swap, and also the 302 which i dont want to use but will if i have to. the truck came with a 4sp toploader in it mated up to that 302. now the problem i have is trying to figure out what to do about the bellhousing, is the bellhousing i have gonna fit one of the big blocks i have as a swap, or do i have to find a new one, and what could i get it off of? if anyone has any advice or comments i would really appreciate the help, oh and i also have 4.20 gears to put in the rear-end if needed. with the 302 in it the truck wouldnt do more than 80, and it took a while to get there, a long while, it wouldnt burn the tires no matter how hard u tried either, i need some help please.

Jul 23, 2004 | 05:30 PM

supercab4x4dually

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From: up state N.Y.

If you use the 360/390 you will have to change the bellhousing,and the motor mount tower's.i have had several 302's,and NO complant's at all in a 2wd.The right gearing is the key.I have a 351W in a one ton dump with 3:54's(4X4),and I put 2.75-3.00 ton of rubble on it and cruise right along.The 302 2wd probaly has 2:78's for gearing.Throw the 302 in,and some 3:73's and you will burn some rubber.I have had a lot of good 302's that took a beating in either burning the tire's or pulling my trailer,and would recomend them to anyone.Plus you can whin the 302's a little higher then the 360/390.Just my own exsperiance's though.

Jul 23, 2004 | 11:55 PM

smoothstreet

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again with the engine swap

i have 4.20 gears, do u think that if i just rebuilt the 302 and put the 4.20's in the rear end and kept the same 4sp toploader with overdrive, that it would haul some serious ***, i want this to by my weekend cruiser and mustang and camaro stalker. i want to pull up to the guys at the lights or the strip in my smooth silver 76 shortbed and walk all over their asses whiles there wondering what happened.....so any advice on the best way to do this would be awesome...thankx anyone who can help me

Jul 24, 2004 | 03:44 PM

tnvol76

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From: NC

along the right track

The 302 built right would haul all the butt you want but you will have to put some serious money in it. The 390 is a real torque monster but be careful on low gears the 390 is not a high rev motor if your running a 8.8" rear end look at motive gears 3.90's perfect for that motor if your in a 9" precision gear has some choises around the same that would work great. don't forget to put some rubber under it you don't want to smoke it to bad eating up the comp.

Jul 24, 2004 | 04:08 PM

supercab4x4dually

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From: up state N.Y.

That's why I thought the 302 would be better.They like to be whinned right up.360/390's are low end tourq mill's.Good for pulling stump's.(LOL)

Jul 24, 2004 | 10:45 PM

Torque1st

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My 390 would turn 9000 rpm but it was blueprinted and balanced.

Jul 25, 2004 | 11:03 AM

monsterbaby

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From: iowa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torque1st

My 390 would turn 9000 rpm but it was blueprinted and balanced.

And alot more besides, I have seen FE's turn like that but there was nothing even remotly stock about them, and anymore it would cost a small fortune to build one that will run like that, although it is fun.

As far as the 302 not producing enough power, guess again. there is alot of FE's, big, and small block chebbies, big block dodges, and other around here that will testify to that fact, since I won season points trophys the last too years with one in a 86 F150 that weighed 4600lbs. And even though I love big blocks (there is no substitute for cubic inches) my new truck is also a small block, and it was sooo much fun after I beat them to lift the hood, and have them walk over look in, and exclaime "but it's only a small block", and they tried to say I was running a bottle, or cheating but no bottle, and when the tech guys through a vac gauge on it I was still pulling 15in vac at 800rpm, and that made it even more fun.