I just bought a 1963 F100 with a 292 engine and a 4 speed manual transmission with dealer installed 4 wheel drive. What engines would have the same bell housing pattern and easily mount into this truck?

 

Brad,
Congrats on your purchase, and welcome.
239 & 272 & 312 Y Block engines are only ones that will direct interchange in a bolt up manner. Nothing else in Ford family easily mounts in your 63 truck.
If you come at it from another direction, "What pattern do I need to bolt my 4 gear, All wheel Drive, Tranny to". . you'll open up possibilities for engines to choose from.

BUT you gotta keep in mind, other engines [besides "Y" block family] will require you to create/ modify mounting systems in your 63 F series. Among new options some will present crankcase/ pan, exhaust system, steering gear & perhaps other clearance & mounting Issues. You'll need to fabricate some of your linkages, like clutch, throttle & choke. I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm just saying it takes a bit more that "R&R-ing" the engine.

I believe you can "pick & choose" among later frames, thru 72 atleast, to scavange the pieces parts it will take to transplant a later/better engine into the earlier frame you have. Engines like 289-351 Windsors (SB FoMoCos)351C or 351M/ 400 or the FE Family ( 332 -352-360-390-401/406/407& 410- 427 & 428) or 385 series (377-385-429-460) engines will be more adaptable coming at the problem as I suggest and using what you need from a later chassis.

Still they all have clearance/ interference Issues. Also when you get into big engines which produce real power & torque, you may want to reinforce your frame some. For example, a 460 produces more torque than 2-1/2, 292s produce at 510 lb/ft, so you need to be sure your frame & drivetrain can withstand that.

I'm confused by your term "Dealer Installed" 4Wd?...
Dealers do/did not Install 4Wds because of big differences between 2Wd & 4Wd chassis right from git-go. It's not possible to install 4Wd [4X4]without modifying or changing limiting 2Wd chassis design. I worked in dealerships & as a rule most Dealers will not modify/ alter OEM designs, mechanicals and/or technologies. So I'd appreciate some clarification on that, if you'd be so kind as to expand on what you mean by "dealer installed 4X4". . . .

It may be a "One Off" or a Phantom or conversion of some sort, but I doubt a Ford Dealership would risk it's franchise to build it. Maybe someone working as a FoMoCo Tech at a dealership built it. . . Do you have part numbers for components in 4Wd system in your 63, Like which #s tranny, transfer case, front & rear axle assy's etc ?

I know in 30s-40s-early 50s, some specially franchised FoMoCo Dealerships did build some 4X4s using Marmom-Harrington set ups, but I never heard of any doing that past 57 Model year, which was around August 01, 1956. . .

Hope this is some help to you.

FBp

 

Thanks for your reply. I just brought the 63 home today and the only drivetrain component I have identified is the Spicer model 24 transfer case. I will be under it tomorrow to see what else I can identify. The body on the 63 is rough. I also bought a 61 with a good body and was intending to put the 4x4 under it. I do see where the 61 has had the motor mounts altered to take a 289. I bought the 61 without a motor but I can still get it. Would that be a good idea. I appreciate the help!

 

Brad,
You're quite welcome. I'm glad I can help you some. I had a mentor & he made me promise to "pay it ahead" and that's what I'm trying to do.

I myself would view a 289 as a "tad light" for a 4X4 in a Slick. I'm not saying it won't work. I'm saying it doesn't have power a 4X4 needs in such heavy application to work tirelessly for a long time. About the smallest power plant I'd use would be a 351W. The 351 W and the 351C will bolt to the 289 mount set up, and the 351M/ 400 can be made to work with OEM stuff too. But I'm aware of a lot of 302's and 300 I-6 4X4s running around, and a lot of folks see stuff differently than I do.

By the same token I had a 62 4X4 LWB that came with a 292 "Y" Block. My complaint with it was it was underpowered for what I used it for. When I replaced it in 68 I got SWB F150 with a 360FE and it was a world of difference between that and my 62. So I tend to want to put as much power as I can feasibly get. I don't necessarily use it all the time, but it's nice to have when I needed it. Engines & clutches seem to last longer also.

If 61 is a 4X4 you're good to go, but if the 61's 4X2, you might have a chore on your hands making a 4X4 by bolting 63 parts under it. I believe I'd swap body on 63 frame before I'd go thru hassle of converting a 4X2 into 4X4. It's same secenario as why dealerships didn't install/ do 4X4 conversions "back in the day". . . .

Swapping bodies is much easier & faster IMHO than swapping running gears. 61 to 64 bodies are virtually the same, unless one is integral bed and other a conventional 2 (3) piece body arrangement[as in cab bed & nose]. But if both are same style it's easiest, quickest, resolution to end up with a decent body, the way I see it.

Believe me I've replaced more than my share of body rot & body panels, re-worked too too many dents dings & puckers, spent too many hours trying to resurrect some
"piece" that was marginal at best. If there's a better way I've learned to go for that.
Again that's personal choice, but my point is Body Work is a trade & skill in & of itself. It is also time consuming and pricey, and takes equipment & space to do. So that's my justification for swapping instead of restoring, rehabilitating, or recreating "history", at least in something as more or less as common as a "Slick 60s truck". . . .

In parting, if 289 was bolted to a truck bellhousing to fit a 4 gear tranny, it'd be well worth having because as long as it's a 6 bolt style bell hsg' it will fit a 351W or a 351C engine also. It's one thing you need to upgrade to later, less limited power plants of the latter day FoMoCo Family of Windsor engines.

FBp

 

I did some crawling around and I found metal tags bolted to the differential covers. I didn't look too hard for numbers stamped on the differientals when I saw the tags. Both tags are stamped FoMoCo.

Front - C3TA-E
2559-7 10-62 4.55

Rear - C1TT-R
2393-7 10-62 4.56

Does any of this mean anything to you? The only thing I understand is the month and year. If this was a factory 4x4 would there be any indication made on the VIN plate? Mine shows Body - 66B, Trans - B, Axle 12.

Based on this info, are you able to tell me any more about what I have?

Back to engines and frames. The guy I bought the 61 from does have a 351 and a 4x4 automatic transmission. Could that possibly fit with my Spicer 24 transfer case?
I don't plan on giving this truck a lot of hard use, I might just stay with the 292 for now. In driving the 63 around I have noticed it is geared very low, what would be a safe highway speed with these older trucks?

The frame on my 61 is in much better shape than the 63. The 61 was a California truck and came with a 223. I would really like to use that frame if I could. Is there more to converting to 4wd than additional crossmembers and supports?

Thanks again. I really appreciate your knowledge and advice.

 

I really just poking around in this site because years ago my Father had a 1960 truck and whats left of it is still in mt Mother's yard. When I was a little guy he claimed that his truck was custom built for him at Ford in New Jersey because it was a F250 frame (four wheel drive) with a F100 body. He told me it was the only way he could get a serious work truck and have it comfortable and good looking. Now I saw the posting about the conversion and I just had to post. I did see the original yellow sale receipt but no window sticker. This truck was a hardworking machine until he crashed it. Thanks

 

Those tags indicate a Factory built 4x4. It has 4.55-4.56 gears in it. 1959 was the first year factory built 4x4's were available. Before that, they were sent to M-H and retro fitted to 4x4. Napco also did a few Fords, but 99% were GM. Very rare to find a Napco! Anyway that truck will climb a mountain and suck gas like crazy! With those gears,I'll bet it screams at 55 on the highway.

Barry

 

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See you on the boards.

 

There are bellhousings that fit to an FE engine (360/390) that will bolt in where the 292 bellhousing fits. If your transmission is a T98 (granny low) then it should fit right up.

I don't know how the front of an FE bolts to the frame. On the 292 there's a front engine mount that attaches to the timing cover. The timing cover on truck 292's are different than the timing covers on car 292's. I haven't yet found out if there's an FE truck timing cover for these early Ford trucks, and a corresponding engine mount.

I think an FE is what you're looking for.

(Edit): And one more point. Yes, there is another engine that will bolt up to your stock 292 bellhousing. It's called a Lincoln Y-block. Engine sizes include 317, 332, 341, and 368. These are not common anymore. They had hydraulic lifters and 4 bbl intake are common. Ram's horns exhaust manifolds, too. That would be a pretty cool swap.

 

Very rare I would bet, I gave up on finding the ram horn manifolds for my 56 M100.

 

The Y-block Lincolns are still around. I saw a nice 368 on ebay going for $1500 and I didn't see any bidders.

The FE bellhousing with the mounting pads are common. There are three or four on ebay and they're going for as cheap as $10.

 

Good price if it needs no or little work, wonder what parts are priced like and how available. Am I correct in thinking an FE bellhousing will fit the 292 blocks? That would be great for my 57 F350 engine replacement with a 390.

 

No, the FE bellhousing will not fit the 292 blocks. However, there are FE bellhousings that will fit the late 50's F100 - they have the bellhousing frame mounts like the 292 engines have.