1979 F150 question
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Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
1979 F150 question
Hi everyone i really need help with this question. So here it goes the truck is a 1979 or (78) F150 Ranger XLT reg cab long box with a 460 thats ripped out right now so the truck dont have an engine or tranny in it and its been that without an engine/tranny for the longest time thats all i really know about it but i was curious if you could put a smaller engine in the truck like a 400 390 351 302 or something like that. Because i would like to put the original 460 back in it if i got the truck but with gas prices and fuel mileage and i would use it as daily drive probably I rather put in a smaller engine if i could then i would take the truck but the truck needs a lot of work and it has been sitting in the field for many years i dont know if you can put a smaller engine in it because im new to this and i know the owner of the truck and he says he dont know if you could put in a smaller engine either because of the cross members for the 460 or something like that. So if anyone could answer my question id appreciate it
Last edited by Dustin1690; Apr 24, 2006 at 10:46 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Delisle/Vanscoy, Sk.
You can switch any motor to that truck. The motor mounts may be different. The 460 engine mounts will be larger and maybe bolt on differently. But I believe that there are other holes in the frame at the mount area for other engine mounts. Most use the same holes.
Now a 302 being woussy. Nahh. They had 300 6 cyl in them trucks and they did quite fine.
The 302 would be a good one for gas mileage.
The rad will be different. The 460 engine has a huge rad and the 302 has a lot smaller rad and the bolt differently on the rad support.
If you have the 460 rad it would give better cooling, but hoses would need to be worked on to fit.
Now a 302 being woussy. Nahh. They had 300 6 cyl in them trucks and they did quite fine.
The 302 would be a good one for gas mileage.
The rad will be different. The 460 engine has a huge rad and the 302 has a lot smaller rad and the bolt differently on the rad support.
If you have the 460 rad it would give better cooling, but hoses would need to be worked on to fit.
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A 302 is a factory bolt in using stock Ford parts from the wreckers. I have a 302 in my 69, use it to pull a car trailer and it`s good enough for that. A 300-6 will give a little better fuel economy but in my case I prefer a V8.
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: North Central Rural Sask.
im glad you guys have good luck with the 302
In my 89 and 91 they both have 302s in them and do very well also. My uncle has a 79 with a 302 and he hates it for power, although he probably needs a 1 ton with all the work that truck does.
In my 89 and 91 they both have 302s in them and do very well also. My uncle has a 79 with a 302 and he hates it for power, although he probably needs a 1 ton with all the work that truck does.
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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
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Lead Driver
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From: Colonsay Sk. Canada
I say go for a 352, 360, 390 plenty of power, and my old 360 quite often broke into the 20 mpg.
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Here's the deal.
You can put a 300,302,351M/400 with hardly any effort.
The problem with the 302 though is it will use all the power it can muster to motate that truck down the road and thus fuel economy (if that's a concern) won't be much better than the other V8's.
I would suggest putting the 300 in it.
This will get you fuel economy and some *truck benefits*.
Watch fot this thread to be moved to the 73-79 truck Discussion/Tech forum.
FTE likes ALL these type of threads in the discussion forums and Not in the chapters
You can put a 300,302,351M/400 with hardly any effort.
The problem with the 302 though is it will use all the power it can muster to motate that truck down the road and thus fuel economy (if that's a concern) won't be much better than the other V8's.
I would suggest putting the 300 in it.
This will get you fuel economy and some *truck benefits*.
Watch fot this thread to be moved to the 73-79 truck Discussion/Tech forum.
FTE likes ALL these type of threads in the discussion forums and Not in the chapters
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
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From: On the road in Ohio
Hi Dustin 
just so you know as Dennis said, we do have a forum geared towards these years of trucks with tons of info located here in this link https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=38 , I'm going to leave this thread in place for now being as your fello chapter members are giving some great info 
just so you know as Dennis said, we do have a forum geared towards these years of trucks with tons of info located here in this link https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/f...splay.php?f=38 , I'm going to leave this thread in place for now being as your fello chapter members are giving some great info
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Originally Posted by F2504x4
f=38[/url] , I'm going to leave this thread in place for now being as your fello chapter members are giving some great info
At one point I was ready to give up so I`m glad that we are finally on a good roll with good interest building, we can`t afford to try anyone away with a valid Ford truck question even if another forum maybe a little more suitable in some instance. If no answer is obtained here there is always the option of other forums..usually we do get the answers here and it keeps the membership together.
Let`s keep it rollin`and growing....
Last edited by Fomoko1; Apr 25, 2006 at 02:20 PM.
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I wasn't trying to be mean or be offensive.
This is just how I know/knew it, yet know I could be wrong.
(And I definitely don't want to argue as I know things change).
It was FTE's policy to get users to post tech questions in the forums where people go look for info rather than searching through FTE chapters that are there for chapter related discussion.
IMO, the chapter shouldn't be built on tech questions but to build-up local commeraderie and physical help with projects and thus expanding FTE the web site.
The intent for ClubFTE chapters was to expose ClubFTE to the world.
"A place for everything and everything in its place"
Q: How many tech questions in the tech forums should be in the chapter forums ?
A: The only ones I see are the regional topics.: Ie:Vehicle related By-Laws, Hwy traffic act,or like a Chapter Project, etc)
Personally, I think it is unfair to others users that may need that info and can't find it because it is stuck in a non-related forum.
But that's me. )
I'm glad the forum is building since I helped create it
This is just how I know/knew it, yet know I could be wrong.
(And I definitely don't want to argue as I know things change).
It was FTE's policy to get users to post tech questions in the forums where people go look for info rather than searching through FTE chapters that are there for chapter related discussion.
IMO, the chapter shouldn't be built on tech questions but to build-up local commeraderie and physical help with projects and thus expanding FTE the web site.
The intent for ClubFTE chapters was to expose ClubFTE to the world.
"A place for everything and everything in its place"
Q: How many tech questions in the tech forums should be in the chapter forums ?
A: The only ones I see are the regional topics.: Ie:Vehicle related By-Laws, Hwy traffic act,or like a Chapter Project, etc)
Personally, I think it is unfair to others users that may need that info and can't find it because it is stuck in a non-related forum.
But that's me. )
I'm glad the forum is building since I helped create it
FTE Legend
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 37,887
Likes: 20
From: North Central Rural Sask.
Im glad this forum is building too I think alot of us have ben posting like mad to try and keep it rolling! One thing we, especially me is guilty for is taking a thread into totally the opposite direction from where it started, so moderators, dont be fooled! Things sometimes start out as a tech kind of question, bu talot of times end up no where nears there lol
I think alot of us have ben posting like mad to try and keep it rolling! One thing we, especially me is guilty for is taking a thread into totally the opposite direction from where it started, so moderators, dont be fooled! Things sometimes start out as a tech kind of question, bu talot of times end up no where nears there lol
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,773
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From: On the road in Ohio
Originally Posted by Mil1ion
I wasn't trying to be mean or be offensive.
This is just how I know/knew it, yet know I could be wrong.
(And I definitely don't want to argue as I know things change).
It was FTE's policy to get users to post tech questions in the forums where people go look for info rather than searching through FTE chapters that are there for chapter related discussion.
IMO, the chapter shouldn't be built on tech questions but to build-up local commeraderie and physical help with projects and thus expanding FTE the web site.
The intent for ClubFTE chapters was to expose ClubFTE to the world.
"
I'm glad the forum is building since I helped create it
This is just how I know/knew it, yet know I could be wrong.
(And I definitely don't want to argue as I know things change).
It was FTE's policy to get users to post tech questions in the forums where people go look for info rather than searching through FTE chapters that are there for chapter related discussion.
IMO, the chapter shouldn't be built on tech questions but to build-up local commeraderie and physical help with projects and thus expanding FTE the web site.
The intent for ClubFTE chapters was to expose ClubFTE to the world.
"
I'm glad the forum is building since I helped create it
I still believe the same as Dennis does that tect should be in the tech sections, but the chapters our about helping one another which inturn helps the growth of them as Fomoko1 the CL here has stated is needed . So that leads to this position the both of you are right
and this question brings a kinda new gray area for the leaders to contend with ,How many tech questions in the tech forums should be in the chapter forums ? Fomoko1 i'm gonna ask you to ask the other CL's what their thoughts are on this in the CL's forum and we will go from there.
Now back to Dustin's question