Engine swap
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New User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 11
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Engine swap
Has anybody had exp. with swapping a 300 inline 6 out for a 351. I have a 1980 F 250 4X4 with 170,000 on the original 6 cylinder. It finally gave up the ghost this past hunting season and I was thinking about swapping it out for a V-8. any advice would be appreciated.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,499
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From: Missoula, MT.
351W i know will fit perfectly, but you need everything in front of the transmision, i would suggest buying a donor truck or something, it really helps with all the brackets you are going to need (all of them) you need 1 motormount (not sure what side) and you will need a new radiator.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 91
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I have an 84 bronco and I pulled the 300 six after 225,000 miles and built a 351 W for it and the install was pretty simple. I had to get motor mount perches from a wrecking yard ( for the 351 ) and used the same bell housing and starter. It has been in for 5 years and sometimes I miss the six but the v-8 is fun to drive.
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 91
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I went back to super basics on the wiring. I did not include the o2 sensor or any smog equipment in my swap-not required in my area. I found the hot wire for the old distributer and connected it to the new. I used a points distributer at first and then updated to a self contained HEI ignition later on. The starter stayed the same and if I remember correctly so did the alternater. It has been several years since I did the swap so I may not remember everything. I did not have a factory tach in mine but the wire should come off of your old coil. unused wires were taped off. Hope it helps.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 304
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From: Colorado
Do a quick search for my user name. I did the swap, the very hard searches for oddball parts and such to make things look factory and work perfectly. Since you have an older truck it wont be as hard and more components will work like IGN box ect. It's not a hard swap phisically to do but odd parts can kill you in a 2WD truck a 4X4 should be quite a bit easyer.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 62
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I have driven 351 vehicles and am much happier with the 300 than the 351's. I understand wanting to swap, but I still prefer the good ol'e 300
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 97
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From: Near St.Paul
You "might" need to change to a different clutch as some 351w trucks used different clutches than the 300s. Might also need to change starters.
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