I 've been thinking about what motor I could use, I've built my panel on a 72 c10 chassie and I know that a 351 will fit in the frame quite well and allow me more clearance at the fire wall with the distributor being up front as opposed to the sbc that came with the frame. The 351 that I have is from a 83 f150 and has a two barrel carb. I would like to go fuel injection and was thinking of searching a wrecker for a fairly new low milage motor/trans combo. I did see a 5.4 in a new f150 and it looks far to wide for my application, is the 4.6 any narrower or closer to the dimensions of the 351. If I look for a 351efi, what year truck should I look to find the motor I need and what all do I need to remove from the donor truck besides the motor and transmission? Your help well be greatly appreciated, thanks once again.

John

 

By '72 C-10 chassis, do you mean a Chevy?

 

I think the 4.6 and 5.4 mod motors are way wide if you measure outer most point on the head to the opposite side head as compared to a 351w or 5.0. I would think the mod motors would fit in the engine bay though - it's huge. If you take the 5.0 or 5.7 liter w motor, make sure you take the computer, all of the wiring harness to the computer, mass air meter if so equipped and air cleaner assembly, oxygen sensors and wires that are in the exhaust usually around where the manifolds/headers connect to the exhaust pipe before the catalytic(s). Basically, if it is wiring and it comes off of the motor, take it with you. Remember too that computers are usually different from stick shift and automatic applications. Don't take a stick shift EFI motor with the computer and expect it to work in an automatic application if you happen to find that setup for sale. I don't know what year would be best, but Mustang 5.0's in the late 80's had what they called a speed density air meter system - not sure how to put that in correct terminology. Anyway, the mass air meter version of the 5.0 is supposed to be better for performance. It was around 89 or 90 that Ford went to mass air metered 5.0's in the Mustang. Maybe that carried over to 351's too????? From what I've read, the 4.6 is installable, but it may be harder to understand than the 5.0 or small block ford EFI set-up. Maybe someone else will weigh in...

 

I don't think you will have any space problems using the mod motors or the 5.4. They are wider but the engine bay is large also. Keith56_cruz_cab is using a mod motor and I have purchased a 5.4 Lightning engine for my 56. The wiring will be an issue but that's the price of modern technology. I'm sure others are using EFI Ford engines on this forum I just can't remember who. Good luck.

 

Yes, by that statement I did mean Chevy and I do realize that is a curse word here but it was a matter of economics that I used that frame. I still consider that I'm building a Ford and would like to power it that way. The 5.4 is an awesome ( I hate that word ) but lack of finding a better word,, looking motor and would look great under the hood of my panel. My concern is that because the "Chevy" frame pinches in narrower and kicks up higher than the Ford's original frame and I'm wondering if I'd have clearance problems with the exhaust manifolds. I know that GM put big block motors in these trucks but I'm thinking that the stroke angle may be wider than that of the "Chevy" motors,is there some way that I could mock this up to see if it will work without going to the expense of purchasing a motor/trans combo only to find out that it doesn't work. I was just thinking that getting a motor/trans combo from a newer wreck would maybe be cheaper than getting an older 351 and having to have it rebuilt, something am not sure that I'm capable of doing.I thank those how have responded thus far.

John

 

The 351w was speed density from 88-95 and mass air in 96 in the trucks. It was only used one year (93) in the Mustang Cobra.

Speed density works fine if your engine is 90% stock but if you modify Mass air is easier to setup.

 

The 93 Mustang Cobra was a 302 with roller rockers among other things. Ford never installed a 351 (for production) in a fox mustang.