Title says it all, I guess. I know the 300->302 swap has been rehashed a dozen times already, but I couldn't find any answers to my specific questions.

The truck has a 3 on the tree--this will be fine with my mildly built 351C, right? Should I think about a gear change in the rear end? I use it for regular truckly stuff like dump runs, but occasionally commute 15 freeway miles in it.

For motor mounts/towers, I have the top halves from the 351C from its former home in a mustang. Will I be replacing both halves of the motor mounts to do the swap? Are the mounts for all 302/351's the same? Where can I buy the mounts, only junkyards or fabricated? I haven't been able to find anything in catalogs or regular online parts stores.

The cleveland was previously mated with an automatic, will I need to change the flywheel?

Thanks a lot for any help you can give me.

 

I have done this swap.
Yes you can bolt the 3 speed from the canadian 6 mooring block to the 351c.
You can even bolt the flywheel from the 240/300ci to the clevo but it has to be rebalanced before you do, or you'll lose all the fillings out of your teeth with the vibrations.

You will need to remove both the existing 240/300 perches and fabricate perches for the donor car mounts that will allow the V8 to sit back towards the firewall or relocate the gearbox to the V8 position with the hassle of extending the tailshaft/relocating modifying linkages. I retained the 6 cylinder position for the gearbox and moved the engine back.
If by top half of the mount you mean the bit that bolts directly onto the motor then you will have to scrounge around the wrecking yards to get the other half that bolts onto the car.

I welded some 150X50X6mm (6"X2"X1/4") C channel as a platform for the car mounts to bolt onto. I did the conversion in a weekend (had a V8 flywheel on hand) but I was well motivated..

If your happy with the existing gear ratios with the I6 then they will be ok for the V8, what you'll find is that you won't be changing out of top as often as you do now. The better solution would be to upgrade the gearbox to either a NP435 4speed or a T5 (or derivative) 5 speed. It'll give you much better operational flexibility certainly when your loaded. I found with the 3 speed box there were times when loaded that 2nd revved too high for comfort, but it would lug too low in top.

You'll have to replace the thermostat housing on the clevo from a 90degree to a straight fitting, don't forget to block the bypass orafice with a welsh plug (freeze plug). The inlet fitting on the radiator will need to be relocated or a V8 radiator fitted. If you relocate the fitting get the radiator guy to remove the top tank and clean the core out while he's got it. Clevo's run hot anyway so anything that helps keep them cool (or at operating temp) is a good thing.

Hope this helps you..

 

Thanks, Helanbak. You're a great help.

You kept the car motor mounts and replaced the towers with a platform you fabricated to set the engine aft. Neither my 110V welder nor my welding skill are going to cut it making my own mount. You don't happen to have a schematic I can take to a shop, do you?

My 351-C has a straight thermostat housing. I thought it's the windsors with the 90 degree housing--or did you mean the other way around? I have the donor radiator--I thought the same thing about cooling looking at the puny rad for the 240ci.

I also have the correct flywheel. I do enjoy the 3 on the tree, but the behavior you describe sounds about like what I expect now with my 240ci. I guess transmission upgrade will be next... Does anybody make a 4 speed column shifter?

Thanks again for your very informative response.

 

Now I see: you're in Australia, where Santa wears short pants, up is down, night is day, everything has a nickname, and cleveland's sometimes have a 90 deg thermostat fitting.

Thanks again for your help. That's tops.

 

Where are you located? I need a 240 for a truck that I just plucked a low mile performance 460 out of. (Scrap iron guy got it.) I don't tolerate 8 bangers or stick shifts. So maybe we can make a deal if you're close enough. I live in Albany, Oregon.

 

Unfortunately it was nearly 10 years ago since I let that truck go. When I did the conversion I had the benefit of a large yard with a chain block winch on a gantry, and I took the front sheet metal off, bonnet, gaurds, radiator support. Made it real easy to pull the motor in and out, which I did a few times when trying to get the mounts right.

I just did the conversion on the truck without plans, (like any redneck with too much time on his hands). I used my arc welder to glue it on, no problem. 90Amps @ 40Volts, my welder has low and high work voltage settings. Yes we are 240ac, which helps us home tinkerers a bit.

I've been looking for the photos that I took (pre digital camera) but I've lost them, sorry.

Have fun.

 

I'm in Santa Cruz, CA. This swap is about 20 on my priority list right now. Two young kids and home improvement jobs keep my weekends pretty loaded.