Hi guys. as you can see by my post count, I`m new here. Anyway, I`m working with a 53 f100 that someone has already installed a 390/C6 combo from a mid 70`s truck. They used homeade brackets to fit it. I plan to remove the stock frontend and install a MII set up. I`ve always been a chevy guy and originally planned to install a chevy motor but now I`m thinking of keeping the 390 in there and rebuilding it.

Ok, so my question is, should I keep the 390 in there. This will be a weekend driver truck but I want some performance too. Does anyone make headers for the 390 in these old trucks? What about motor mounts to work with the MII front crossmember? I`m sure I`ll have alot more questions as I go since I`m new to these trucks. Thanks guys.

 

The first truck I had was a 53 F100 with a 390 from a Mustang or Fairlane and a C6. Make sure there is still a crossmember on the frame in line with the front cab mounts. The crossmember I'm referring to connects the top and bottom of the frame rail and attaches to the frame by the wings that support the front of the cab. The guy that I got my truck from had taken it out (I guess) to get the 390 motor + C6 trans. to fit. If it's gone, your cab mounts can sag and cause cracks in the frame/front cab mounts. I put a 302 in mine, but I didn't care about power as much as a good driver. Plus I was running stock brakes and all. No one that I know of has motor mounts already made for a 390 and Mustang II set-up, but you should be able to alter or build mounts for it. The 390 does fill the engine bay nicely as it is pretty wide. It's a little harder to find headers and things versus the 350, but it's doable. Most of the people in this forum will probably tell you to keep the Ford motor in there. I have to agree. If you have to rebuild it, I'm not sure I would go for the 390 since you have to remount it anyway, especially if that crossmember that I was talking about was taken out to make room for the 390/C6. If you can find a good 351 Windsor, you can make good power with that. Plus, it's not so big and you can get headers, engine mounts and more...whatever you need basically. I would imagine the 351 W weighs a little less too. The same can be said for the 350 too, though it's just not the same

 

Thanks for the input. I`ve been a chevy guy my whole life and the only other ford I had was a 89 5.0 mustang for a few months. I was going to just put a chevy motor in it since I have a couple of those but I`ve been wanting to do something different lately and keeping this all ford and building a new ford motor would be different for me. I do have a buddy with a wrecked 5.0 with a auto tranny I might be able to pick up cheap. I`ve got plenty of time to figure out what I want to do. I haven`t even picked it up yet. I`m trading a 67 el camino project for it and it`s probably going to be a couple weeks before I get get the trade completed. Thanks again.

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

I'm not sure I'd make the switch. The sell a bunch of the MII fronts, but I drove those when they were new. The Pinto/Mustang II front ends weren't built for heavy engines. If you go for it, be sure to buy one that has heavy duty parts - OEM scares me. Your truck is quite a bit heavier. Actually a straight axle is pretty decent when rebuilt all the way thru.

As for the engine, I'd keep the 390. It's the same foundation Ford built the 428s and 427SOHC engines from. Long stroke, it's a torque monster with tons of potential. I had one that I traded for rare flathead parts - sometimes I wish I had it back!

 

Welcome to the board. RUSTY

 

thanks for the welcome guys. I do plan to do a new frontend either a MII or camaro clip. I`m not sure if I`ll stick with the 390 or not but I`ve decided to keep it all ford for sure. I`m probably either going to go with a 302, 351W or some stroker combo. I`m a performance guy so I can`t just leave a stock motor in there.

 

Welcome 53f100owner-

Good to have you join us. I agree to keep it all Ford if you can. I've been a ch**y guy most of my life also but I think the Ford trucks should stay Ford powered if possible. My daily driver is a 49 Ch**y pickup on an S10 chassis but I'm building a 56 F100 with Corvette suspension and Lightning 5.4 eng/tranny. Should be a fun ride. Get a gallery started when you can and keep us up to date on your progress as it helps us all to stay inspired to finish.

 

53 - Welcome to FTE. I like your plans for the truck. I have a 56 that I hope to have back on the road this spring.

Where in California are you? Maybe we're neighbors. At any rate, there are a lot of us FTE'ers all over the state.

 

I`m in Carmichael which is part of Sacramento. The truck will end up at my mothers house in Napa since I don`t have a garage here.

As soon as I get it home I`ll start taking some pics of it to put in a gallery. Progress is porbably going to be slow at first but I know what you mean about staying inspired. I see someoones progress on stuff and start thinking I should get out there and do something, even something little.

 

Welcome!
I have nothing against the 390, but putting in an IFS with that engine is going to present significant problems. The suspension crossmember and the oilpan sump will want to occupy the same space, an impossibility, at least in this time and space continuem. The same goes for any front sump engine. The 302/351 smallblock family is the most reasonably workable Ford offering since Ford produced an alternate oilpan pump pickup assembly that moves the major sump to the rear.
As far as IFS, MTflat is correct about the MII in saying stay far away from any that include the use of OEM control arms or brakes (which only leaves the spindles...). Any that use true A arms are OK, with Heidt's designed from the ground up offering being the head of that class. I'd also avoid the Camaro clip route, especially if you plan to stay with a Ford engine, since there is nothing great in that design either. The early Camaros were not noted for their handling ability, and it's a lot of work to install correctly. The original beam axle can be set up to ride and handle as well as the Camaro. The Volare swap is popular, but results and satisfaction are mixed, and parts are getting harder to find.
The only donor salvaged IFS I would consider for myself or recommend would be the Jag SJ. This one has EVERYTHING going for it: inexpensive, nearly a bolt in swap, excellent design for handling and ride, made for a similar weight vehicle so no need to swap springs, sways, shocks. Excellent disk brakes, R&P steering, Ford bolt pattern, and Jag is now owned by Ford! The only downside is locating a donor, the body was a made of compressed rust. Once you do buy the whole car if possible, it will be cheaper that way and you can also use the matching IRS to make yourself a sportscar in truck clothing or sell it to recoup your investment.

 

Since you're a Chevy guy, how about a Corvette independent front and rear independent suspension. Then put Ford power in it! That'd be just scrwey enough to be cool. The vette suspension and brakes are right for an F100. The Vette weights a bit more than your 53 F100 - I'm told.

 

AXracer, thanks for the input. I`ve pretty much decided to pull the 390 and sell it or trade it for 302/351w stuff. I`ve done a MII on a 57 chevy p/u and it turned out nice and I`ve also helped a buddy do a mid 70`s camaro swap on a 55 chevy p/u. Alot more fab involved for sure but it rode and handled nice and was alot cheaper than my MII set up. I`ll probably do the MII frontend but I`m going to use tubular control arms and 11" brakes. I`ll have to look into what it would take to rebuild the stock I beam set up. I`ve heard they do handle pretty good. I just don`t know if I can get the look I want and still use the stock frontend. I want it pretty low. Thanks

 

That would be nice but it`s not in the budget. I`m not going to make this truck a show truck. I just want to upgrade the brakes,steering and drivetrain so that it`s fun and safe. I`ve got a 9" for the rearend and I`m going to keep the leafs back there. I`ve got a plan for it and a idea of how I want it to look and run. I think the vette stuff would be too expencive for me right now.

 

Take a look at my gallery for an idea of how low you can go with the beam axle. I could get another 2" with a 3" dropped axle instead of the 2" and lower profile tires, but I'm about 8" off the ground now. Any lower and I'd need to circumnavigate any speed bumps and decapitate ants (not to mention being impossible to tow a trailer, it's primary job).