explorer engine swap
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 135
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From: indiana
explorer engine swap
hey i just bought a 1978 f150 explorer 2 wheel drive. it has a c4 tranny with a 302 which are both junk. i have a rebuilt tranny for a Fe and im currently building a 390. Right now a 360 is on my tranny and i thought i could drop the 360 in while im waiting till i finish my 390. So i no its not gonna be a direct drop in but will i have to change the perches, tranny crossmember?
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Joined: Jan 2008
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So this is more of an FE engine swap into a 78 that didn't have FE's in them ?
Explorer doesn't have anything to do with this.
The pre-77's in F250's had a narrower frame but I don't know about the F150's.
This would affect the motor mounts for the FE if they are different.
Explorer doesn't have anything to do with this.
The pre-77's in F250's had a narrower frame but I don't know about the F150's.
This would affect the motor mounts for the FE if they are different.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
Pulleys and brackets...
The crossmember is a pig to get lined up right. The frames are the same though. You should be able to find the perches and brackets pretty easily at a junk yard.
How much are you build the 390, if you're 360 is good, the only difference is a crankshaft.
The crossmember is a pig to get lined up right. The frames are the same though. You should be able to find the perches and brackets pretty easily at a junk yard.
How much are you build the 390, if you're 360 is good, the only difference is a crankshaft.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: indiana
well i have a performer cam and lifters, headers, and a edelbrock carb. the 360 is good tho. i could still use the 302 perches if a modified them right?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,323
Likes: 2
From: Montana Territory
I think that you have to move them back a couple of inches, there might be some holes already drilled in the frame rails for that setup. Most 78s and all 79s only have the frame drilled for the 302/351M perch location. It is imperative that you move the perches back or go with an electric fan, you might also have some linkage issues.
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