engine swap? 302? 390? 460?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
engine swap? 302? 390? 460?
i have 72 4x4 f250 highboy shortbed.. the engine needs a rebuild. the rear is broken. i found a perfect truck from a grandpa original. 65,000 miles. 2 wheel drive long bed. it has a automatic 302. i have in mine a manual 390. the truck is $500. i can take the rear would the ratio be right? many parts i could use that are rust free. so thats worth it already. even the color matches.
so would a 302 move this 4x4 highboy around? my friend says no. it has 35" mickey thompsons too. will my manual tranny hook up to a 302, or just change the housing? how about the mounts?
i would like a 460 if not but i know i have to change the bell housing anything else? i want to use my tranny?
or should i just rebuild my 390, which will get costly. i was considering using the 302 for a few years then puting the 390 back later.
i also need a shortbed and this has a perfect longbed can i trade it maybe?
this truck seems to fix everything i need to get my other truck restored except for a engine and bed so its a good deal.
so would a 302 move this 4x4 highboy around? my friend says no. it has 35" mickey thompsons too. will my manual tranny hook up to a 302, or just change the housing? how about the mounts?
i would like a 460 if not but i know i have to change the bell housing anything else? i want to use my tranny?
or should i just rebuild my 390, which will get costly. i was considering using the 302 for a few years then puting the 390 back later.
i also need a shortbed and this has a perfect longbed can i trade it maybe?
this truck seems to fix everything i need to get my other truck restored except for a engine and bed so its a good deal.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 342
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From: Gainesville, Georgia
Have you considered a 351W? I installed a 1994 351W into my truck. I have not run it yet, but if that engine is good enough for the newer ford 4X4's then it should be fine for yours. Plus, it's easier to find parts for the 302/351. Of course you will have to make sure everythiung fits properly. There are some photos of my engine in my gallery. Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
what are the list of fe engines that would work? my friend has 351 clevland, but its not powerful right now. maybe its the single exhaust? i could get that cheap. i will probably look for an fe or rebuild mine.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 387
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From: Calgary
I don't think the 302 would be powerful enough for a 4 x 4 with big tires. The only reason it looks attractive is that it comes with the other truck you want to buy. To buy any of the other engines and then convert your truck will be a lot of work and probably just as expensive as rebuilding the 390. My vote would be to rebuild the 390 that way you got plenty of power, everything else stays the same and you keep the original motor in the truck. My $.02.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,062
Likes: 35
From: Central Oregon
What ever engine that you pick outside of the FE engine family, you will need to change the bellhousing or the trans. Plus the engine mounts will be differant. As far as the rear end goes, I bet that the gear ratio will not be the same and your 4wd will not, front wheels and the rear wheels will be turning at a differant speed. My $.02 worth would be to rebuild a FE, yours or another and have the rear end rebuilt if possable.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, CO
Keep the 390 and rebuild it. If you go to the 302 or 351w, you need to change out more than just the bellhousing, think mounts, exhaust and driveline too.. Same with going to the 460. I would double check your friends "351 cleveland", I'm willing to bet it's a 351m and that would explain the lack of power.
You will need to compare your door VIN tags and the axle codes there to see if the ratios are the same (assuming the doors are original to the trucks). Since you are turning 35's, my bet there is the gearing is in the 4:10 or 3:77 range. Try to turn those with a lower gearing or the 302 and you will be sadly disappointed.
Just my $.02's --Mike
You will need to compare your door VIN tags and the axle codes there to see if the ratios are the same (assuming the doors are original to the trucks). Since you are turning 35's, my bet there is the gearing is in the 4:10 or 3:77 range. Try to turn those with a lower gearing or the 302 and you will be sadly disappointed.
Just my $.02's --Mike
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Logistics Pro
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Originally Posted by 4x4bigblock
what are the list of fe engines that would work? my friend has 351 clevland, but its not powerful right now. maybe its the single exhaust? i could get that cheap. i will probably look for an fe or rebuild mine.
352, 360, 390, 410, 427, and 428 are the common FEs. You can use any of 'em.
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Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
well the 351 cleveland came from a old mustng i beleive a mach 1. but i am not getting that truck now. there is just not enough for me there. rebuilding the 390 is the only way to go. anyone have some parts? it blows smoke and needs power so i am putting 4 barrel and probably pistons and rings. unless i should use the pistons if they look ok.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Once you have the heads off, check the bores. If they don't look scuffed, then you can probably get away with just running a berry brush down them to break the glaze and put in new rings. If they look scuffed, you should have the block bored to a standard oversize and put in new pistons of the same oversize. Put in new freeze plugs, don't forget the ones in the back behind the flywheel, and use brass since they won't rust out. At the very least, replace the valve seals in the heads, if it has tons and tons of miles I would have the heads re-done as well. Since the D2TE-AA heads are only induction hardened, you would be best off having hardened inserts put in on the exhaust valve side. Since you will have the engine all apart and will need to replace the lifters as part of the rebuild, I would get a mild RV cam set, they are usually the same price or a little cheaper than a stock cam alone, and include the lifters. If you aren't putting headers on it, I wouldn't worry too much about going to a 4BBL intake, since the stock manifolds don't flow very well.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 49
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get the longbed grandpa truck & the 351 cleveland & sit on them for a while until you feel like assembling the high speed freeway flyer. check for a 3.25:1 rear in the longbed. probably need a different transmission.
my cousin mike had a mach I and it was really quick, especially for a car that size.
my cousin mike had a mach I and it was really quick, especially for a car that size.