I would like to put a Chevy 454 into my 1950 F-1. Is there a "how to" book available for this swap? Or can someone give me an idea of problems I can expect with a swap like this.

Thanks in advance,
village7

 

Welcome to the board! Asking for a how to book for something like that is like walking into PepBoys and asking them if they have a magic wand.

Basically, it will fit. There is tons of room in the engine bays of these trucks. For the big block chevy there might even be prefabricated engine and tranny mounts that can be purchased. Here's a basic rundown of what you need to consider, starting from the front of the truck;
1. radiator--if your truck was originally a 6cyl then you might be able to use the original, if not then you will have to find something that will work(theres lots of options)
2. engine mounts--either find some prefab or make your own, keeping in mind exhaust clearances, front axle clearances, steering clearances, etc
3. firewalland cab floor clearances
4. transmission crossmember and master cylinder--original x-member will need to be cut
5. shaft--will need to fab one
6. rearend--original diff will hold up for a little bit, probalby have to upgrade
7. brakes--probably a good idea to upgrade--stopping is important

I put a 500ci caddy with a TH400 in my 49. No problems, it fits great.

Bobby

 

Welcome to FTE.
Why would you wish to?
Is it a Free engine or one you already own?
You are going to be getting yourself into such a headache because you've to;
make sure there's enough space between the frame rails to accept the Bow-tie engine,
either Fab or Purchase & Relocate New engine & trans mounts,
have a new propeller shaft made,
redo wiring, radiator plumbing & new radiator,
re-enforce the frame by boxing it, if there's enough space for the Bow-tie engine in the 1st place, so the frame rails well take the heavier engine & keep the frame from fracturing from the torque.
Along w/ a host of other problems that'll add to the headache you'll already have on top of it.
And as I keeping teasing Bobbytm, w/o a FoMoCo engine/trans/drive train, the Heart & Soul of the truck, you no longer have a Ford, as it's just a Free Standing Piece of Art then or what happens w/ a Brain transplant patient, the personality is transplanted into the patient & is no longer who or what it once was.

 

Your original Spicer 44 will last about a week. Even with new internals, the newer Dana (Spicer) 44 rear ends fail at a regular rate weekly, being pushed around by lead footed kids driving 300 HP Titans.

 

The Colonel makes a good point about the frames (and probably about being a brain donor also....lol, I know I am). You should box the frame, or at least the front portion. Big blocks are known for their torque.
I boxed the front of my frame back to the tranny x-member. My 500ci Caddy is bone stock but when I hammer on it it still twists the tar out of the old frame.

Bobby

 

A 50F1 is a true classic but without a whole bunch of mods it will not perform well with a 454 or any big block engine. If you really need all that HP you will want to get a nice chevy frame and run your 454 and tranny in that, covering it all up with a very fine Ford 50F1 body. I drive my 52F1 daily, with the 239 Flat V8, and everyone loves it. If I want to impress the hell out of people and make a lot of noise (which I admit I do sometimes) I drive my 77F150 w/460 built and balanced crate engine which will smoke anything around. I have the best of both worlds but they are separate worlds. Think it over, whatever pleases you is what you want to do.

 

A chevy in a Ford is as bad as a toyota in anything. Dorsey

 

village -

Sorry about the dog-piling. As you can tell, lots of folks here have a problem with anything other than a Ford motor in one of our trucks. Nothing personal. It's just a quirk we have.

Bobby covered just about everything you'll need to do to transplant that big block into your truck. It will be some work, but MANY others here have done that or a similar transplant. A 460, which many run, (or WANT to) requires the same amount of work. Many others here run Chevy engines (350, 373 400,etc) in their F1's and F100's, so don't be daunted.

The widest tire that will fit under the stock fenders of your F1 is probably 10" wide. So one other thing you'll want to consider is how to plant all that power on the ground. As Number Dummy said, you'll need a better rear end. A Ford 9-inch will easily handle it, and is basically a bolt-in swap. I suggest a limited slip. My personal choice is a Currie True-Trak Posi, which I run and like a lot.

Take some pics and start your gallery. Click on the "User CP" bar at the top of the forum page, then "Edit Gallery", and follow the instructions. It's fairly easy - even for the computer challenged like me.

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your progress. Be assured that all questions are fair - even dumb ones. In fact we prefer dumb questions, because they make us all look so smart.

Welcome to FTE!!!

 

Don't worry about what everyone says about putting another brand engine in your truck, it's your's to do what you want with. I'm putting a Mercedes diesel in mine, I know I'll get strange looks and snide remarks, but different is what the judges are looking for. While my truck will be far from a show winner, I still like to be different.

 

seems like most FTE guys just hate the idea of putting a real motor and drivetrain in a ford. do what makes you happy not the FTE's !! I'm doing basically the same swap not sure if i want to go bb or not. it's a fuel thing. i have both motors available so i just have to make up my mind.
keep in mind this is your ride so build the way you want it !

 

"A real motor and drivetrain"

Them be fighting words! but I won't go there. You do what ever you want to your truck but there is more experience on this site with Ford drivetrains.

 

How come people are always wanting to put a chebbie motor in a ford????? I doubt that anyone wants to put a ford motor in a chebbie or if it is done I think it is very, very, rare. Don't make much sense to me.

 

what does that tell everyone ?? think about it !!

 

Now, now, lets not start one of those endless "this is better than that" or "its not a real _____ unless it has a ____ in it" arguements. They go no where, they prove nothing, and frankly, they get pretty danged boring.

Build you truck as you like it, not how someone else likes it. Don't trash others if they build their trucks different.

OK, I'm off my soapbox now..........carry on
Bobby

 

Well said Bobby. Arguments over how to build someone else's truck are the last thing we need around here. Let's keep it friendly and try to help the fellow even if he wants to put a drivetrain in that is unpopular here.