I'M LOOKING TO REPLACE THE 223 I-6 IN MY '58 WITH PROBABLY A V-8. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHICH ENGINE TO GO WITH AS FAR AS BEING AN EASY SWAP? I'M NOT PLANNING ON MAKING IT INTO A HOTROD OR ANYTHING, JUST AN ENGINE WITH DECENT POWER AND THAT PARTS ARE EASIER TO COME BY THAN WITH THE 223. ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE ON OTHER THINGS INVOLVED (TRANNY, DRIVETRAIN, COOLING, ETC...) I'D APPRECIATE IT.

 

Please don't shout (all caps is like shouting), it hurts my eye-bubbles.

You can put about any engine in your '58 you want. There are aftermarket kits to install almost everything American (Ford, Ch*tty), MoPar, etc.) I have seen 302s, 351 (W & M), 352/60/90/428, and 460s in them.

I have had a 390 in my '59 for several years (jus tremoved it for a 351W/T5). I used an aftermarket crossmember for the engine and the T10 toploader I used. Both were very easy to install. At the moment I can't remember where I bought the crossmembers. The memory goes as you get older. But I'm sure someone here can point you in the right direction.

The only change I made to the truck (besides using the upper and lower radiator tanks for a 4-core radiator) was to remove the old crossmember that the 6-cylinder mounts to (at the transmission below the cab) and install bucket seats so I could get to the shifter.

The 390 did seem to drop the front end quite a bit, but it didn't affect the steering (it was already wild). On this subject, maybe someone here can tell you what the weight of the six as compare to the engine you choose.

I love driving the '59, and it's hard to choose between it and the '70 (with transplanted '67 cab and front body clip) I use for everyday driving.

OldFords BAd Attitudes

 

I have a 58 that I'm drag racing, and I used motor plates rather than motor mounts. However, on my old 57, I cut the crossmember out of an old 64 Galaxie, welded two angle clips on the ends, and just set it in between the frame rails. When I got it positioned right, I drilled holes through the angle clips and frame rails and bolted it down. This was a low-buck alternative to an aftermarket crossmember. I hope this helps.

 

Check out www.vintage-ford.com or call toll free i-888-FORD-100 they have universal cross members for small block ford $60.00,ford 351-400 cleveland $60.00,ford universal 429-460 $95.00 and chevy for $65.00 also tranny cross members for $65.00 and $45.00

 

Try Classic Performance Products - they make the crossmembers the others sell, and they sell retail too.

 

even J.C.Whitney has 'em.

the small-blocks are in the same weight range, and go in easy.

 

I have a 60 F100 and the original engine had been pulled out and a 300 straight six had been cobbed in. There was no cross member for the engine they just cut the motor mounts, angled them correctly for the engine and welded them back in place.

I am interested now in knowing what this cross member looked like before the modification.
I have since removed the 300ci and put in bolt-in motor mounts for a 302. My only problem is that with the engine bolted to the tranny the driver side head is less than a half inch from the back of the engine compartment and the lower pulley is only about an inch from the front crossmember and slightly below.

The rear axle had been replaced with a 9" along with a drive shaft from a 1Ton and a T4 tranny. Is it possible that the driveshaft is a little short and that what should have been done is a slightly longer drive shaft and notching of the front crossmember?
Just wondering for future mods.

Trent

 

Sounds like Mickey Mouse is alive and well, there are kits you can buy so you can put in any motor you want correctly and hassle free.

 

Trent,
Are you saying they kept the original mount configuration when they swapped in the 300? In this scenario there would be a pair of mounts bolted on the front of the 300 going down into the original tabs that hang off the back side of the front crossmember. The rear mounts would be a pair of mounts attached to the bottom/sides of the bellhousing. There would be no crossmember mount under the transmission tailhousing.
Is this correct?
Thanks,
Brett

 

I do not know because I do not know what the original configuration looks like on these. They made a funky cheap crossmember to support the C4 tranny in back and they had some chopped, bent and rewelded mounts to support the engine welded directly the the frame rails but no crossmember underneath it. I did not realize there had been one there originally. There were no rear engine mounts, it was supported by the transmission.

So the 302 in there now has bolt on mounts that bolt into the frame rails about halfway back from the front crossmember to the cab and the tranny is supported by that cobjob crossmember.

I intend to replace the crossmember supporting the tranny with one I pulled off an 85 Crown Victoria. It still feels like the tranny and engine should be several inches further forward than it is though but that would cut into the front crossmember.

>Trent,
>Are you saying they kept the original mount configuration
>when they swapped in the 300? In this scenario there would
>be a pair of mounts bolted on the front of the 300 going
>down into the original tabs that hang off the back side of
>the front crossmember. The rear mounts would be a pair of
>mounts attached to the bottom/sides of the bellhousing.
>There would be no crossmember mount under the transmission
>tailhousing.
>Is this correct?
>Thanks,
>Brett

 

Trent,
It sounds from your description that you engine is sitting too far back and too low. The 300 is longer than the 223, so they had to move the tranny back to fit one in there when they built the rear crossmember. Both the 223 and Y-block use front engine mounts that sit over the engine mount tabs on the back of the front crossmember. If you look at an original Y-block truck you will get an idea of about where it originally sat. Here's the best picture I could find on this site to give you a rough idea:
[https://www.ford-trucks.com/pictorial/big/1957_f100_3-3.jpg]
Adios,
Brett