I am hoping to swap a propane fueled 330 from a 1973 f 600 into my 1969 f 350 which is currently powered by a 390.

I have noticed the oil filter is installed vertically instead of horizontally on the 330 and the f600 has different motor mounts and possibly a different oil pan.

Do any of you know if I will be able to configure the 330 block in such a way that the f350 motor mounts will work?

Should the different oil filter configuration cause a problem?

BTW, the data plate on the truck says 330 but I am assuming it is a fe332. The overall engine block closely resembles the 390.

Thanks in advance for any input
Karl

 

The necessary pieces off the 390 should bolt right up to the 330.

 

please don't swap engines. a 390 will take down the 330.

 

I had to switch the oil filter adapter on my 390 rebuild cause the stock oil pressure sender was stripped. I went to the other style cause I had it laying around. It fit just fine on mine but it required a different thread filter. Check filter fit between the block and frame rail. I have a 390 and did the swap but it SHOULD be really close. By the way I had to use the short filter not the long one. As for pans, again I used the FT (I could be wrong though) pan off the old motor which is a bit different then the pan I have on my spare FE. It is larger and has the dip stick in the side of the pan. I really can't help with motor mounts as I went from FE to FE.

 

Fordeverpower,
Believe me, I like the idea of maximizing power but my 390 has never lived up to my expectations. The previous owner installed a four barrel carb and manifold on it and I suspect it is not well suited to this motor or the way this truck is used.

90 percent of the time I drive the truck it is up a steep mountain highway with a payload of at least 3500 lbs. 10 percent of the time it is towing a 7500 lb load.

I find it detonates severely in hot weather, has little low end power and I have to wind it out in third while carrying a payload to keep my momentum up on hills.

The detonation drives me nuts, retarding the timing enough to eliminate it also seems to cut my low end power. I always buy premium fuel but it doesn't eliminate the detonation. I am intrigued by propane's 110 octane rating as I suspect detonation is a non issue on propane fueled vehicles.

I have tried a new distributor, adjusted the vacuum advance, decreased the centrifugal advance, tried multiple timing settings, rebuilt the carb and it just doesn't have much pulling power with a heavy load.

I am hoping that the 330 from the f600 might be built for low end torque given the approx 20,000 gvwr on that truck. Also I like the idea of trying propane fuel with the increase in fuel prices. I am paying around 3.30 a gallon and get about 6mpg.

My engine has a lot of miles and I don't know how well matched the carb is to my engine and its uses. The propane engine served its previous owner well running propane for 30 years (until the brakes failed and he plowed through a large tree). The motor comes to me free of charge with all accessories, fuel system and tank.

I have a 500 gal home propane tank with a wet leg on it I can use to refuel at home and I never drive this truck more than 100 miles roundtrip.

I am open to hearing more if you still think it is a bad idea.

Thanks,
Karl

 

as i mentioned in your other thread it won'y work. sure a ft will bolt in place of a fe no problem but a 330 and all ft engines are externally balanced and because of the crank snout your pulleys and other accesories won't work on the ft. or just rebuild the 390. if you thinkt he 390 is bad at power a 330 is worse very low compression. i would rebuild the 390. check the clearances an rering it put new bearings in a and a rv cam. you can do all that for under 200.00

 

Giving up 1/4" of stroke (3.78 to 3.50) and switching to propane. OK, so you are not going to the races. Not every truck gets to play.

The block is the same, mounts from the F-350 should bolt up. The timing cover (among other things) is different. Like Bear said, swap what you need to make it fit.

From a '73 F-600? More likely the FT-330, a low compression, low RPM motor. You'll need a lot of gearing to pull down the barn with this one. But, like any other FT, it's made to live long and work hard.

Good luck, Mike

 

The detonation can be caused by a too lean carb and adjusting the timing will not help.

 

sounds like the cam is not a good cam for your truck. the carb needs to be tuned that is what is causing the detonation. the ft swap will be dissapointing to say the least. the only thing i would use off the ft on the fe is the oil pan it is a huge 10 quart pan.

 

also another trick for low end torque is to run a stock 2bbl carb the carb will give you increased bottom end torque. if you truck has lots of miles more than likely you timing chain has tons of slop in it which is bad you lose tons of power. installing a new timing set is like getting a new enigne the difference is huge. you may start there. its 20.00 to do.

 

Thank you to all for the good advice. I can see now that swapping motors would be a big waste of my time.

Is there anything I need to know about getting the proper 2bbl intake manifold and choosing the right two bbl carburetor.

If anyone has a recommendation I would sure appreciate it.

Thanks, Karl

 

well for a good reliable 2bbl carb i love the stock autolite/motorcraft 2150 used on trucks 66-79 and get a 2bbl intake form a truck 66-79 . try pickand pull you can get both for about 40.00 then rebuild the carb for 12.00 ge thte kit form kragen. the timing chain is also something i would do. and fix the detonation problem. or it will blow the pistons apart.

 

karlster, PM me I may be able to help you out on those parts. I really don't want to ship the intake cause its a heavy one but I will hook you up with a decent condition stock 2bbl carb.

 

Ford390gashog,
Thanks again for the input. I did have the timing gear replaced a few years back after it ?broke a tooth? I am assuming that repair remedied the problem you are describing.


Do you know if I could just pull the two bbl intake off the FT332 and use it?

Hatemakings,
Thank you for the two bbl carb offer. I sent you a PM.

Karl

 

Actually most 4 barrel carbs have smaller throttle bores and venturies than 2 barrels do and as long as you delay the secondary opening the 4 barrel will out preform the 2 barrel for low end. The Holley Rep told me 40 years ago that "A lot of little holes are better than a few big holes for the street". It is about air and mixture velocity thru the carb. What carb are you running? Do you know what jets are in it? I picked up 1 1/2 mpg when I swapped out the 2 barrel on my truck's original 390.