Well i've still got my 76 long box lurking around the house without a motor or trans. I want to fix it up and keep it around, but i'm not real sure on which way i wanna go with it. either a straight 6 or an FE Engine. I know both of them are great motors, but i just cannot decide. Other than that i was wondering what trans i should go with. I'm stuck between a 4 spd with granny gear or a c4 or c6 automatic. Any help is appreciated

TIA
Tim

 

Tim, for me it's a no brainer 390/C6, but only you can decide what you want. Some of our fine posters here think that they alone have to point the shifter in the right direction, but I am convinced that any full grown Ford truck can shift it's own tranny.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

Tim, you need to decide what you really want to do with the truck.
If you just want something to drive, put the type of trans. and engine that came out of the truck back in.
cheaper.
If you want the performance, go for it with the 360/390 C6.

One thing about changing setups is that it always cost more than you anticipated.

Dre'
1978 F-150, 460ci(750cfm,Edelbrock Performer,Dynomax Ceramic Coated headers,etc.)Auto-C6,3:70.1 - 9" Posi.

 

I would personally go with the 390/4 spd(granny low). Automatics are boring. A truck equipped for towing & a fun factor should always have a manual gearbox.
The ultimate for my truck would be a 460-4v with a latemodel 5 spd.

Fordy
1978 F-250 351M/4spd.

 

well ppl, since i have no clue as to what it came with stock, it had a 302 with 351W heads, which i relocated to my 82. i can always go pull the vin, but i don't know of where to get it decoded. I'd like to go back original because this truck would work nicely with the 68 coupe stang i'm restoring.. If not i think i'm gonna go with the 6 because of availability.. i've checked the wrecking yards around here, and if they are available they want like 700 dollars for them. Oh well... the 6 it is.. i wonder if i could still put that granny 4 spd with the 6? is the bellhousing the same? the only reason i want the granny gear is just for moving stuff around.. and you can't beat creeping down the street at barely past 4 mph!

 

Tim, I have a I6 & a C4 in Durham NC that you can have for about that kind of money. :-)

Right off I-85 come see me.

John
jowilker
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker|Club FTE since 01 01] My FTE Page

[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NC Truck Owners] NC Ford Truck owners group

66F100s Rule
In the cool still quite of night you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

my truck is a 6 with a granny gear

 

while i would enjoy going to nc to pick it up, lol the 82 isn't being so co-operative, raggedy aod *mumbles incoherently* anyway i think a friend of mine has an I6 that he's not using... if he isn't then i'm gonna get it off him. Now as for where to find the trans..i'm still stumped. oh btw one of my friends bought a fairly good shape 79 with a 351 for 20 bucks the other day..not sure on which 351 it is..but it looks sweet..just needs a trans

 

Tim, there is a VIN decoder in the Tech Articles section. It seems to work for me. If you want to know what was original in the truck, check it out. As far as what to put in it, we are all a little biased here when it comes to asking for opinions as we all have our favorites. I think that overall, the younger crowd likes banging that shifter behind a big FE. When I found my truck it had a nearly new (4000 miles) bone stock 300 I6 and C4 in it. I just knew that I would be putting my 302 stroker in it with a late model 5 speed. Oh well, two years and (25,000 miles) later that little 6 cylinder is still there and my 302 is still on the engine stand. Just another opinion. Oh yeah, when it comes to technical questions, this place is where you want to be. Just ask one. Somebody here has been there and done that and can tell you the pros and cons of just about anything. Mike.
1977 F-100
300 I-6 / C-4 (soon to be AOD)
Offy C intake w/Edelbrock 500CFM
Hooker Ceramic coated headers w/duals, turbos, tips, and 02's
MSD6A w/Blaster Coil
Headlight relay system (Delanty style)
Overhead Mount FM-CD etc.
R-134 A/C system (I'm cool)

 

I'd prefer to have an FE, but alas no such luck. i picked up the I6. I'm still pondering where to get a granny 4 spd from. I know where one is but its for the big block 352. I'd like to have another auto, but for some reason when i put one in this truck it only lasts about 6 months. I think i'll go look at a salvage yard and see if i can't get this 4 spd. I would go aod, but i'm not so sure if i wanna do that, the one in my other truck is all kinds of screwed up, i'll stop myself from going on that rant, but if you look under transmission and t-case..you'll see it there.