Can't decide on motor
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Beaverlodge, Alberta
Can't decide on motor
I have a '78 f-150 2wd project truck. The truck originally came with a 351m and a C-6. I currently have a mildly built 300-6 and a four speed manual tranny in the truck right now. I am thinking of putting 300-6 back into the '79 4x4 that it came out of. I am trying to decide what motor to put in my '78. I was thinking of either a 351 W with an overdrive tranny or a 400 or a 460 with a built C-6 with a taller axle ratio in the back. I want a combo that is streetable and will give me ok mileage on the hiway. I don't want anything to crazy just something with good bottom end torque to light up the tires every once in awhile.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
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From: Northshore, MN
for mpg I'd opt for the 351W and a manual tranny. For squawking the tires, I'd opt for a lower rear end gear, but to save the mpg, the manual tranny would need OD to offset the lower rear gear. My 2 cents worth.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Louisiana
If your talking stock to stock, a 300, 302, and 351W with give you about the same MPG, but if you want, a few mods to a 460 would give you a little better mileage, and burn the tires when ever you wanted.
What will you be useing the truck for? Highway, in town, cruiser?
What will you be useing the truck for? Highway, in town, cruiser?
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Junior User
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From: Beaverlodge, Alberta
the truck will be used as a crusier. It will probably see equal time on the highway as on the street. Like i said it is a project truck and probably won't be my daily driver. i would like to keep it a automatic and would probably put a aod or 700r4 in it if i used a 300,302 or 351w. there is no hurry for me to get it finished so if i had to mod a motor to get what i am looking for i'm more than willing to do that.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Louisiana
For your case, I'd say go with a 351W.
For a crusier, you want power(for the fun of it), and since you'll be on the highway with it, a 300 wouldn't be to good.
And a 302 isn't worth a dam* for power and a 351W will get the same MPG but more power.
Depending on tires, I'd say 3.50 gears for 29-31" tires and 3.73 gears for 32-33" tires.
For a crusier, you want power(for the fun of it), and since you'll be on the highway with it, a 300 wouldn't be to good.
And a 302 isn't worth a dam* for power and a 351W will get the same MPG but more power.
Depending on tires, I'd say 3.50 gears for 29-31" tires and 3.73 gears for 32-33" tires.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
well if ya still have the C6 for the 351M, and the original motor perches, then I suppose a 460 would be more feasible for a cruiser. Keeping it out of the secondaries will help on the mpg.
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Junior User
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From: Beaverlodge, Alberta
i can't remember what i did with the original perchs for that truck but i do have two working C-6 trannys from behind a 351m/400. Will the perchs out of a '79 4x4 truck with a 400 work.
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New User
Joined: May 2006
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From: Cole Camp, MO
I'm pretty new to this but I want to throw my 2 cents in also. I have had 4 different Ford trucks. 2 with 300's. A 460 and a 7.3 diesel. I am a huge fan of displacement. The 300's I have had are great but for tire smoke you'll need a 4 speed, but the mileage will be there. As I said, I am a huge fan of displacement. I think with the right stuff you can get what you want from the 460. They aren't as terrible bad on gas as everyone thinks if the tuning and gearing are right. And they will certainly produce tire smoke. I am madly in love with my diesel now though. Planning to start a 73-79 project myself and I'm seriously considering a diesel for it. But the plan is a stretched crewcab 4wd so the extra power will be welcomed.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Louisiana
Originally Posted by 300inline6
i can't remember what i did with the original perchs for that truck but i do have two working C-6 trannys from behind a 351m/400. Will the perchs out of a '79 4x4 truck with a 400 work.
I believe 302 motor mounts would work for the 351W, but go to broncograveyard.com and look up motor mounts, and they sell several for different applications.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,364
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From: Eustis FL
I kinda get what you are after... A cool street truck that you don't need all the time. Forget about the fuel economy then, because as with collector vehicles like muscle cars or our classic trucks, they won't be good on fuel.
I recommend a 460 because of simplicity, and the fact you have the right tranny already. With something like $2500, you can get a Gear Vendors overdrive. I haven't met anyone who hated getting theirs! Run a 3.50 gear and end up with a final drive similar to a 2.75 gear, highway ratio.
If you restomod the truck, then a 351W and AOD will be nice, especially with EFI, though the latter is not needed...
Mark
I recommend a 460 because of simplicity, and the fact you have the right tranny already. With something like $2500, you can get a Gear Vendors overdrive. I haven't met anyone who hated getting theirs! Run a 3.50 gear and end up with a final drive similar to a 2.75 gear, highway ratio.
If you restomod the truck, then a 351W and AOD will be nice, especially with EFI, though the latter is not needed...
Mark
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I still recommend trying to find a stock 429/460 from the 60's or early 70's.
They devleoped a lot more of "The Right Stuff" in stock form than the Bogged up 460's in the mid 70's version.
Of course if you want to throw money toward aftermarket performance parts, then that's the other option.
They devleoped a lot more of "The Right Stuff" in stock form than the Bogged up 460's in the mid 70's version.
Of course if you want to throw money toward aftermarket performance parts, then that's the other option.
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Junior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Beaverlodge, Alberta
is there much difference between the 60's and early 70's 460's and ones from the late 70's through '80. are the blocks different or are they just detuned for emissions. I have no problem putting money into a motor as long as it doesn't cost a fortune and i would much rather put it into the motor before i had it in the truck then to have to pull the motor out to rebuilt it later down the road. It's a project truck and its sat for a couple years already, it can sit for a couple more if it has to.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: NOR CAL
get a 460
I have a 460 4v with a c6, and it has lots of power and good mpg as long as you stay out of the secondaries. It is in a 1979 f250 4x4 with 33x12.5 tires and even when it wasn't running very well it would leave two black strips for 15ft. no power breaking.
I could only imagine if I had a clutch to drop?
I could only imagine if I had a clutch to drop?