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Jul 1, 1999 | 11:09 AM

chad packer

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engine swap

I have a 89 F-150 with the 4.9L engine I want to swap it out with a 351W can anyone tell me the easiest and cheapest way to do this. I am even thinking of putting a carburator on it. any help will be greatly appreciated

Jul 1, 1999 | 12:50 PM

slikness

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From: Durham

engine swap

I just finished swapping out my 300 I6 for a 351W in my '82. Didn't have a clue how to start, but I asked a lot of questions along the way, and the folks on this board helped a lot. Cheapest way is to get one from a junkyard. I could have purchased the entire running engine for around $500. If you purchase a long block ($800-$1200), purchase the $500 dollar junkyard engine anyway. That way you have a donor engine with all the front accessory brackets, kickdowns, throttle linkages, carb (if you want to go carb), distributor, intake, valve covers, exhaust, front cover, etc. Plus you will be able to return the junkyard core to recover the core charges ($200-$300). Most places will not give you a core credit for a 6 when you purchase an 8. In fact, they want to have like for like (302-302 or 351-351, etc.). I'm not sure what your computer will allow as far as switching from FI to carburated, but I'm sure the swap can be handled. Let me know if I can help. I love my 351W; how did Moe put it? "sounds like a Mustang 5.0 with a p/u bed" or something like that. It's a real head turner!

'82 F150 w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Steve

Jul 1, 1999 | 02:23 PM

gordon

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engine swap

Was it a simple swap? Did you have to change your motor mounts? Do you have an auto tranny? Did it match up? What about a diesel? Any one ever swap out gas for diesel?

Jul 1, 1999 | 02:37 PM

slikness

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From: Durham

engine swap

It's like anything else. If I had to do it again today, it would be simple. When start off with the limited knowledge I had, it was very difficult. The engine mounts were easy, purchased them from Ford. I had a C6 auto tranny that matched right up to the 351W. My hardest part was the front end: front cover, accessory brackets (serpentine or v-belt?) radiator, trans cooler. The throttle linkage drove me crazy!!! It's amazing how much time you spend thinking through stuff. The oil pan caused me a lot of difficulty. All the techs from Ford, the parts catalogs, and the junkyards insisted that I needed the front sump pan....Wrong, needed the double sump, rear pickup!!! Had to modify my own power steering pump and come up with my own v-belt configuration ..... etc., etc., etc. And of course there are any number of correct solutions to each of the problems encountered.

Steve

'82 F150 w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Steve

Jul 3, 1999 | 12:29 PM

moe

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engine swap

>I have a 89 F-150 with the
>4.9L engine I want to swap
>it out with a 351W can
>anyone tell me the easiest and
>cheapest way to do this. I
>am even thinking of putting a
>carburator on it. any help will
>be greatly appreciated

I just "finished" my 300/6 to 302HO swap on my 85 F150. If I were you I'd find a wrecked truck with a 351, as late a model as you can. I was very, very, lucky to happen upon a 88 that was just bieng pulled in, surpintine belt system, wrecked with a 302, bought all the brackets and pulleys before they could takem off. $250. I forgot to buy the oil pan, and reverse rotation fan, but if I hadn't bought the brackets I'd still be lookin. There are so many little parts to find, but take it 1 step at a time, and stay tuned to this list and the great poeple on it and this job ain't that bad.
#1 thing for you to do is find a donor truck. After you do that give us a holler,

Moe