I have an '86 F-150 4WD. Currently it has a 300 6-cyl with the grand-ma 4-spd tranny. The engine is getting very tired and I want to do a replace/upgrade. I want to build a 351 Windsor and put 351-C 2-bbl or 400-M 2-bbl heads on it. I have saved several articles which tell how to do it, and I understand that the water passages have to be re-routed and all that. I know it can be done. I also am leaning toward installing an AOD transmission. Any advice, comments, etc.. will be greatly appreciated!

 

my advice is to fix the six.
what are you looking to do with the truck? go fast? go far on a tank of gas ? go far in the woods? go to the bank to get money to buy the parts to put in the 8 cylinder engine?
i swapped in an eight and wish i had rebuilt the six. especially the fuel injected six, it pulls real strong, but the eight is smoother on highway, and revs quickly.
add up all the costs of swapping ( motor mounts , hoses, radiator, misc. etc,etc,) and the time it takes before you spend the bucks. i think you will be surprised ! anyway, just my opinion.

 

It's not an easy swap, but I sure enjoy my 351W. If I had to do it over again, I would have bought a crate engine with as much hp as I could afford. I would suggest going to the 4 bbl heads and dropping about a 600 cfm carb on top. Oh, by the way, you have to get creative when trying to figure out the front mounted accessories also. Put on some good headers with a true dual exhaust while you're at it.

'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik

 

If you are still looking at putting in the 351, then you need to find a set of motor mounts for a 351 truck. I don't know if they are the same mounts as the 400. However, there were quite a few 80-86 F-150's with 351's. Get the motor mounts and you are going to need a bellhousing to mount the 351 to the tranny. You are also going to want to get a bigger radiator. The one for the 6 isn't big enough, and the inlet/outlets are in the wrong spot for a v-8. The throttle cable from the 6 can be used, it is just a little long. I just put a little loop in the cable (in the shape of an S) and it has been working fine for 5 years. I don't know your plans for the truck, and I can not say for the 351, but gas milage with my 400 is terrible. I get 10mpg, whether I am driving around town, or pulling a trailer with my other 2 4x4's. I would recommend the 8, and I agree, go with headers and duals. When I first dropped in my 400, I used a stock y-pipe and manifolds from a 79 F-250. I ran single pipe out the rear. I ran it that way for about 2 weeks, and decided it was worth the money for the headers and duals. I wouldn't go back to single exhaust now. I am thinking that you are going to have to get the mounting hardware for your clutch (where it mounts to the block and the frame) if it is a manual clutch. The 6 has part of the mounting hardware cast into the block, but this can not be used with the v8. When you get the bellhousing, look for brackets as well.

That is all I can think of at the moment, so I hope it is of some help.

Chris
cmercer@auxserv1.unco.edu
http://www.mountaineers4x4.org/mercer
'82 F-350, '53 Dodge PU, '85 4Runner
Proud enough to stack hay, crazy enough to eat it.

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 27-Oct-00 AT 11:23 AM (EST)[/font][p]I'm not really concerned about the gas milage with this vehicle. Heck, the 300 doesn't get that good, with the 3.55 gear, the grand-ma tranny, and especially my driving style. The truck is a daily driver now. I'd really like to find another daily driver before attempting the engine change. Mainly, I'm just fascinated with the Clevland head-Windsor block combo. The six is really getting weaker, and I'd like to have some more power. Seems to me this engine concept would put the best qualities of the two different 351 c.i. engines together into one dynamite package. Since these trucks came out with the 351W engine, I don't think finding enough hardware to complete the swap will be a problem.

Who knows? Maybe some day this reliable old friend might receive a complete restoration. Guess that depends on finances, huh?

THANKS FOR ALL YOU GUYS' COMMENTS.........

 

Oh, and a couple more things I meant to say:

If it was a decision to go with the 302 V8 vs. the 300 I6, I'd definitely take the 300! I believe the 351, especially with the Cleveland heads, will be better!

Also, there's one other thing I do not currently have, and that's A-C. That's another thing that'll be included in the upgrade.........

 

I am currently getting ready to transplant a 300 I-6 into my old truck, and depending on where you were at might be interested in purchasing the engine and/or tranny if you are getting rid of it. Also any manuals associated with the 300 I-6 I would be interested.

Thanks,

Merrill

 

I went from the 300 to a 302, and I am happy with the change over. Personally, my 302 gets better mileage than the six. So what it has only 1 or 2 more ft. lbs of torque. I can always bump that up, (aftermarket parts for a 5.0 are plentiful, 300 parts are expensive.) I could have gone for the 351, but didn't feel the need for it, especially in a swb 1/2 ton, with a 56 speed. Especially since I am about to change the gears in the rear end out. Going from 3.08's to a 3.55 traction-lok!



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If you do build yourself a Clevor, the 351w block has the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the 300(I think the Cleveland does too), and I am assuming that your truck has a hyd. clutch, so all you would need to hook that Windsor block to your current tranny is a flywheel for a 351W. You will need motor mounts and frame mounting pads, a V-8 radiator. I don't know if you will be able to find headers to fit a Clevor in a truck, but if you can, they would be a good investment. If you are going to use an AOD in your truck, I would make sure it's plenty beefed first, as a well built Clevor will make big power, I nearly destroyed a C-6 with the one I built, I would definatley use a manual tranny if I built another one. I probably wouldn't though, as I have my 300 making ~210 horses&304 Ft/lbs and it is giving me 19 mpg to boot, and I am running it in winter trim, come the spring, I'm changing the cam, and putting a 4-71 blower and dual 4bbls on it.....
Evan MacDonald
82 F100 FlareSide
MAF MPFI HD 300-6
Hedman Hedder
NP435(6.69 low)
2.73 Geared 9"
31x10.50/15 Goodyear M/T's
Can you say Pre-Runner??