I've got a 86 F-150, I6, that I'm going to pull the 6, and put in a 351w in its place. Now, what I need is the following:
Which Windsor should I get? The newest? Like from a 95-96 Bronco or F-150? Or maybe the '86 model 351w?
What are the pros and cons on either?
What is the best way to go about this?

Do you have any other suggestions to help me?

Thanks guys.

 

depends if you want to run a carb or go efi. if you could find a complete motor from 88-93 with the engine harness you would be in great shape. the harness changed after 93 .

 

Which is ideal, the carb or efi?

 

depends. efi will give better mpg, less trouble in adverse weather and can produce more power

Carb setup is usually cheaper but can be as time consuming. is your current motor efi or carb?

 

Its a carb. The 300ci Inline 6.

 

converting from carb to efi is not a weekend task. if your I-6 was fuel injected you won't have to worry about high pressure fuel to the engine and the task becomes quite easier.

you'll spend more for a newer engine which could be a roller block if new enough. they will be a little harder to find. older blocks can be converted to roller if you wish, but of course this costs money too, but you will know the parts are new. mass air is great stuff, but the speed density system is more than adequate for what these trucks are designed to do. if you want to do expensive mods you will want mass air.

emissions is another consideration...your replacement engine should have the same emissions equipment which came on your 86...getting an older engine will leave you looking for egr, smog pump and required plumbing. i'd stay away from late 70's and early 80's as these were the dark days of emission and fuel economy which meant poor performance...blocks are the same but heads stunk!

i prefer efi in the ranges mentioned by mr. burns and i agree about finding a complete engine with harness and computer. you may want to steer clear of years that used electronic transmission controls, unless you want to swap your tranny. cheers, garsten

 

So I'm thinking efi then. What years can I grab a 351 from thats efi? Can I get it from Bronco's, or would the mounts be different?

 

Look at the casting # on the block, just above the starter. If it begins with F4TE then it can be converted easily and inexpensively with a spider, lifters, and dogbones from a 90's 5.0 Mustang or F-150 5.0. This particular casting # can be found on 93 and newer pickups.

96 and newer 5.8's should already have a roller cam and the above mentioned parts. From there, you'd just need a PCM, harness, dizzy, intakes, motor mounts etc...
Something to keep in mind, with a roller cam, the dizzy needs to have a steel gear. You can buy the gear press the old one off and then press the new one on, but I have found that buying a re-man'd distributor from an auto parts store for a 96-97 F-250 5.8 is much easier.

 

So then I would probably want a 88-93 5.8. Should I do any work to the rear end also, since I'm changing engines?

 

Not if you're running a flat tappet cam, then you can use the roller or pre-roller blocks without any problems.

IMO, If this is basically a stock or lightly modified rebuild, and the rear you have is in good working order, then I wouldn't do anything more than a gear oil change and inspect the differential.

 

Mmk, thats doable. It'll be a lightly modified rebuild. Another question is, just to clairfy, I won't have to make anything, or weld anything right? (I dont know how to weld yet)

 

I don't think you would need to cut/weld anything, but I've never done an I-6 to V8 swap. I did a couple of 302 to 351 swaps without any major fabrication.
As long as the bell housing matches and you have the correct motor mounts, then it should drop right in. Being that your old motor is an I-6, you would need to get all of the bracketry and pulleys that you can (pumps, alt, throttle brackets/linkage, etc...) from a V8.

 

should be all bolt in. that motor was available in your truck

 

Alrighty, thanks guys.