292 crankshaft problem
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Joined: Aug 2005
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292 crankshaft problem
Found out the other day that 292 crankshafts are notorious for breaking behind the balancer. My wife also proved it last nite when she drove to a friends house and broke down. Crankshaft sheared right behind the balancer and put a hole in the block. I cant decide whether to replace the 292 with another or drop in a 390. A good friend of mine has the crossmember for an FE motor and bellhousing to convert it to the stock 3 speed. Has anyone ever tried this on a 64 f-100,
and is it worth the hassle? Just thought I should warn you guys about 292 cranks, I heard they're very fragile.
and is it worth the hassle? Just thought I should warn you guys about 292 cranks, I heard they're very fragile.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: East Central Florida
WHich crossmember does he have? The one for the transmission or one for the engine?
Does he, or do you have conversion engine mounts for Side mounted engines? The FE engine will not bolt into a 64 frame without some converting or adaptation.
Also you may want to see if there are some more efficient engines, around or perhaps an engine you could bolt an AOD to. 390 FE is a strong & durable power plant, but they are not cheap to run at all. They are notorious for mediocre MPG at best. If it's an HO 390 FE it may also require 93 octane, or a detuning before you install it. . .
Explore All your options before you commit to a decision on engine swaps, ya know?
Just my $.02 on the subject.
FBp
Does he, or do you have conversion engine mounts for Side mounted engines? The FE engine will not bolt into a 64 frame without some converting or adaptation.
Also you may want to see if there are some more efficient engines, around or perhaps an engine you could bolt an AOD to. 390 FE is a strong & durable power plant, but they are not cheap to run at all. They are notorious for mediocre MPG at best. If it's an HO 390 FE it may also require 93 octane, or a detuning before you install it. . .
Explore All your options before you commit to a decision on engine swaps, ya know?
Just my $.02 on the subject.
FBp
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Golden, BC
About the crackshaft breaking -- the 292s are, indeed, guilty. I was advised in '73 to replace mine with a 292-industrial long-block after its crank broke a couple of thousand miles from home outside Bangor, Maine. I did it! Change over was simple. Virtually all the jewlery changed from one engine to the other. The Industrial didn't quite have the rpm's but much better torque and it's still going strong. Milage dropped slightly, but in a 5-Ton MotorHome, was negligable. Had to replace the timeing chain and sprockets at about 100,000 miles and it could use a valve job.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
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1965 had the FE and a front engine mount, so going to side mounts isn't mandatory if you can find the parts. (Maybe later years too, but the '65 is the one year I'm sure of)
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by Chevy_Eater
1965 had the FE and a front engine mount, so going to side mounts isn't mandatory if you can find the parts. (Maybe later years too, but the '65 is the one year I'm sure of)
John
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Logistics Pro
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Originally Posted by jowilker
CE the 64 had the Y block and front mount, 65 went to the FE and side mount.
John
John
Maybe it's because it was a 1-Ton? Maybe Ford kept the front mount a little longer for the heavy duty trucks? I'll keep my eyes open for '65s at the bone yard and take a gander when one shows up.
Postmaster
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Coal country
CE, You are John are both right - but the front mount was only used in 4x4s and in the heavier duty trucks. I don't know where the break point was.
Also, if it was a 1 ton, it probably had an FT, not an FE motor, although exceptions sure were possible.
All the 350s and below I have seen '65 and '66 (and I have seen quite a few) with FEs were side mount - EXCEPT the 4x4s.
As a matter of fact, there is a '66 4x4 with a front mounted (FE NOT FT) in a boneyard near me. Looks like a 352, and the warranty plate code says 352, but it could have been replaced.
Also, if it was a 1 ton, it probably had an FT, not an FE motor, although exceptions sure were possible.
All the 350s and below I have seen '65 and '66 (and I have seen quite a few) with FEs were side mount - EXCEPT the 4x4s.
As a matter of fact, there is a '66 4x4 with a front mounted (FE NOT FT) in a boneyard near me. Looks like a 352, and the warranty plate code says 352, but it could have been replaced.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
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You're right, it probably originally was a FT. Whatever it came with blew up and the guy built a 390 to replace it. He eventually gave the truck to his son, (my friend), but he wanted to keep the 390 for his '72 F-100 so we swapped engines. That sure was a stout old truck, dually with a huge utility bed. Don't know what it had for a rear end, but it must have been something like 4.56 or worse, it screamed at 55mph. His dad used it to move a mobile home once, he said no problems.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
No CE, You are right, right??
For practical purposes this is a pickup forum, and most references are for the F100 & 250. While there were front mount engines in the larger trucks, the pickups were side mount.
Sorry about the confusion.
John
For practical purposes this is a pickup forum, and most references are for the F100 & 250. While there were front mount engines in the larger trucks, the pickups were side mount.
Sorry about the confusion.
John