Well, I've decided to get that 78 F150, now comes the fun part, deciding which engine to run...
The truck has a 351M and C6 in it now, and was driven to where it sits on it, but, the carb, rad. and p/s. pump are missing. My other options are, a 1976 302/C6 from another F150, a very nice running 1980 351W from a Lincoln Continental, hooked to an AOD(I think, it's definatley an O/D box,) the 351W hooked to the 76's C6, a 390 and C6 from a 76 F250 Camper Special, a carby 351W/AOD from one of 6 early 90's ex cop, ex cab LTD's, an EFI 5.0 from one of another half dozen mid 90's LTD's(again, ex cop, ex cab)or a 460/C6 from a one ton cube van. I only know for sure that the 80 351W is a good engine, as, I had it running myself, and actualy tookj the car for a drive. The 351M is supposed to run, but, I'm really leaning towards a 351W/C6 combo, with the 80 351W and the 76 C6, maybe with a 4bbl carb and intake from one of the cop cars. Personally I'd love to drop in a 300, there's one there, but, I don't have the proper mounts to install it.
Sorry for being so long winded.
Evan MacDonald
1982 F100 SWB
300 HD: Cliffy 290H, 9.1:1 compression, forged everything, ARP'd bottom end/Hedman hedder/dual 2½" exhaust
NP 435/2.75 geared 9"
1986 F150 HD, 300 HD/needs a NP 435/4.10 geared 8.8
70,000 miles
1984 F150 XLT Lariat parts donor, 351W/C6/9" LOADED to the hilt, 201,000 miles
1980 F100 Custom, 300/Np 435/2.75, 58,000 miles

 

Go for The 300, Mounts are easy enough to come by

 

I like the 302's and 351W's. The 351M/400 are my least favorite.

Mike

 

Go for the 300ci 4.9L Inline Six. It's the biggest six cylinder beast... you can get it in carby or EFI.

Clifford Performance can make the 300ci achieve it's maximum power potential to as many horse power that of a V8 with a Stage I and Stage II kit together. The Stage III can achieve 600 horsepower out of a 300ci I6 but it's only for the drags or race track

Phil

 

Go for 351W C6. I'm running that in my truck & I love it. Sounds like you have enough donor parts there that you can do the swap without any added costs.

 

Decisions, decisions...

I wish I had that kind of problem.

 

I would most definately go for a 351W, and that AOD is going to be great if you drive both around town and on the highway. You can put a stump-pulling differential ratio in it, and still get better gas milage and go a bunch faster on the highway. The Police engines are extremely well kept, and they'll come with factory oil, PS, and trans oil coolers. They also have a beefed up reciprocating assembly, possibly with forged pistons. If you go with an AOD, I'd look into some upgrades. If it is a police model, then it should have the 2" overdrive band that keeps it from breaking like the Mustang guys will tell you about. If you can pinpoint the year and model of the engine, I can link you to some outstanding informative websites that can give you a part-by-part breakdown of each transmision. In that heavy F-150, I'd say you'll be much happier with the monster 3.5" stroke of the 351W, and this is coming from the owner of a 302! The 351 also has much larger bearings, to better accomodate a big stroke, and heavy loads. In situations where it's pulling a heavy load (like a 78 F-150), the 351W will actually get better gas milage than most any 302, and certainly the I-6. Stay Windsor, they are blessed with aftermarket parts availiability second to only the Ch**y 350. -TK

'77 F100, 302 (the aftermarket Prodigy), C4
Cadet Second Lieutenant John F. Daly III
South Carolina Corps of Cadets, The Citadel
The TorqueKing

 

Easiest swap: 460/C6
Biggest engine: 460

I vote for the 460. Easiest work (bolt-in), and there is no subsiuite for cubic inches.

300/302/351W will take some good shoehorning to get in. Inculding changing motor mounts, brackets, find the small block C6 (or get a C4), driveshaft, etc. Same goes for 390, it's an FE.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 16-Jul-02 AT 10:03 PM (EST)]Phil82: have a little look at my signature... The 82 sports a 300 setup to handle 30+ PSI of boost, but, I can't start fooling with that until I get another daily driver.

Jermafenser: No biggie on the different mounts trannies and drive shafts,they are all there. The 460 is a big negative, I couldn't afford the gas, and, I'm going to a 534 Industrial engine after the 78 isn't needed to be my daily driver.

I'm hoping to get the 78 on the road so that I can have the 82(my daily driver) off the road for a while, that's why I'm leaning towards that 80 Lincoln 351W and the C6, the ex-cop ones got put into taxi-cab service, so, they likley weren't taken care of quite as well, and, the 80 engine is rebuilt(found the recipts in the glovebox) and idles like it has a mild cam in it. I will grab the HD service cooling stuff off of one of the LTD's, an oiler cooler can never hurt. I really don't need the O/D, won't be doing much highway driving, basicly, I want it to get me to work and back, and, any highway driving will likley be loaded or towing.
The 3.5" stroke of the 351W may seem long compared to the 302's 3", but, the 'ol 300 has a 3.98" stroke, great for low end power, and, with the proper cam, it pulls to 5000 with the stock 1bbl...
As for gas mileage, well, I can see the 351W getting better mileage in the 78, but, in the 82, it's the opposite story, the 300 gives me 25 MPG, while my 351W gave me 17 at best.
Evan MacDonald
1982 F100 SWB
300 HD: Cliffy 290H, 9.1:1 compression, forged everything, ARP'd bottom end/Hedman hedder/dual 2½" exhaust
NP 435/2.75 geared 9"
1986 F150 HD, 300 HD/needs a NP 435/4.10 geared 8.8
70,000 miles
1984 F150 XLT Lariat parts donor, 351W/C6/9" LOADED to the hilt, 201,000 miles
1980 F100 Custom, 300/Np 435/2.75, 58,000 miles

 

where are all these motors? are they yours? if so i want the 460

 

A 351W is massive torque, especially with EFI. I know that 300 is nice on the bottom end, but the torque curve setttles down quickly with that long of a stroke. If you can go EFI with the 351, then that's gonna be the best daily driver. Otherwise the big Windsor will be very thirsty. I'm totally biased, it's something about the exhaust note of a V8 that's captured my heart! Seriously, with no towing, a 302 roller cam engine is going to get great milage, and pull hard all the way to the redline, with a flatter torque curve. I don't know if I like a C6 for this application, a C4 is more than adequate, and hauling a big transmision like that adds at least 150 lbs to the vehicle, and uses an additional 26-28 HP to move it's bigger gears. The AOD in stock form isn't the best thing to run, they're heavier than a C4, and bring almost as much internal torque loss as a C6, but it's lockup converter will more than pay for itself on the highway, which you won't need. Anyway, that's my most biased opinion! Plus, cam, heads, headers, intake manifolds, engine mounts, accessories etc. are readily available in very high quality from dozens of manufacturers, if you wanna go the Hi-Po route. I know, daily driver, but I have a 302 that hauls my butt in serious fashion, equipped with the finest from World, Comp, Crane, Edelbrock, MSD, and Permacool, just to name a few. 70 MPH at 2500 RPM with a C4? you betcha, it'll humiliate any mod-motor Mustang that breathes with it's own lungs. Plus, they have the most wicked exhaust note outside of the NHRA. Ok, I'm ranting, but you really can't go wrong with any of these motors that you listed. I'll even admit that in a commuting situation, you'll probably get better milage with the 300. Ok, it hurts a little, but it will probably last just as long too. -TK

 

 

Well, it isn't really a commute through town or anything to work, it's about five miles, via the bypass from here to there. The main reason I want the C6 is A) it's there and B) this is gonna be my work truck, likley until the fall anyway, so, the extra beef in the tranny won't hurt a bit, I'd be more comfortable hauling boats and other such stuff with a C6 than a C4, I'd rather a 4 speed, but, I'm without the proper parts to install one.
Basicly I want the 351W so I'll have something different, and, I'm trying to do this as quick and cheap as possible, I don't wanna lay out too much cash so that I can work on the 82, and, I don't want to have the truck or the parts I need get crushed on me.
Evan
1982 F100 SWB
300 HD: Cliffy 290H, 9.1:1 compression, forged everything, ARP'd bottom end/Hedman hedder/dual 2½" exhaust
NP 435/2.75 geared 9"
1986 F150 HD, 300 HD/needs a NP 435/4.10 geared 8.8
70,000 miles
1984 F150 XLT Lariat parts donor, 351W/C6/9" LOADED to the hilt, 201,000 miles
1980 F100 Custom, 300/Np 435/2.75, 58,000 miles