Greetings from a NEWBIE.
I would like help with how to convert my Ford six to an FE series 390 ci engine.

The truck is a 1961 F-500 Dump Truck. Six cylinder, 4 speed, two speed rear end.

Vin tag reads:
Serial F50JR242229
Wheelbase 156
Color L
Trans F
Axle D1

I have confirmed, with help from a prior post, that the Transmission is a Warner T98A with PTO.

My questions:
1. Will the T98A take the torque of a very mild 390 FE? Probably around 350 lb/ft.
2. Is there a bellhousing to go from FE to T98A? If so, how common is it, and where is a good place to begin looking?
3. What other problems can I anticipate with this swap? I note that the six cylinder is supported by the trans and a front mount arrangement. I will have to fabricate motor mounts for the FE installation. Anything else?

My six is on its last leg. The rod knock is louder than the radio. It’s a great truck, and I would like to swap motors and keep using it. I have tons of FE parts in inventory, thus the choice of replacement motors. Thanks for any tips.
Mike.

 

I believe it will work...a friend of mine had a 64 F series with a 390 and warner T98...as for the FE parts...would you happen to have an alternator from a 65 with the numbers on it...55 amp unit...I believe its a c5ta as I recall the book saying...



Keep me posted, cs65

 

I don't have a 65 alt. But, I will be visiting the local yard in the next week or two and I will put it on my list to keep an eye out for. Thanks for the response.
Mike

 

I'm going through the same thing with my '64 4X4. Had 223 inline 6, switching

to 390. Found a bellhousing with the 2 rear mounting "ears" that bolts perfect to the 390, out of an old mid '60's Ford school bus! Lucked out. The engine and tranny were gone, but the bellhousing remained with the bus.

 

I have always read that the T98 was used by Ford from 1948-1964 and that they switched to the T18 at the same time that they switched to the FE engine in 1965. That means that an FE/T98 combination was probably rare if it even existed at all.

The same top cover was used on both the T18 and T98 for a long time, and had a large "T98" cast into it. For that reason, the two transmissions are often confused with each other.

I'm not sure that it's even possible to tell the difference between the two cases, but the input shafts are definitely different. The T98 input shaft has a larger diameter in the splined area, 1-3/8" I think. If I recall correctly, the T98's input shaft also sticks out about 5/8" further.

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t18_t19.htm
http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/t98.htm

I have an old "Speed Gems" aluminum bellhousing that mounts an FE engine to a T98, so I can't imagine why such a thing would exist if it could be done with an off-the-shelf Ford bellhousing.

If I'm correct about the difference in input shaft length, an FE-to-T18 bellhousing isn't be deep-enough to allow a T98 to be used. Of course a machine shop could probably solve that problem with a spacer, or by shortening the T98's input shaft, but you'd probably be better off locating a T18 to put behind your 390.

Jim Kozisek
Fort Collins, CO