Gang
I have a good running 300-6 sitting on my engine stand. It is from a 1980 F-150. I am looking at buying a 1996 F-250 with a wounded 300-6. My questions are, what is the difference between the '80 and '96 engines? Quickly, it looks like the balancer/pulley is different (v-belt vs. serpintine). Are they both zero balance engines such that the balancer/ pulley will exchange? Are there engine dress bolt holes that are different between the years? What am I not thinking of? Thanks for any help.

Tom

 

If I remember right, the heads will be different since the 96 is set up for fuel injection, whereas the 80 is carbureted. They both should be zero balance engines though, that is just the nature of the straight six.

 

Also see fordsix.com for more engine relate information

 

The heads are different, the combustion chambers on the EFI have a 'heart-shape' fast burn design. The rocker arms have a pedistal mounting, like the 302. The intake/exhaust mounting face has some extra holes for the different exhaust manifolds.

As for the block, the fuel pump mounting is there on the EFI block, but the hole isn't. The 1980 block will most likely have a rear sump pan with the dipstick that goes though the pan, the '96 block will have a mount on the block behind the oil filter. If you have the blocks side-by-side, there will be some various other mounting bosses, mostly for emissions gizmos & I think the knock sensor on the '96 block.

All inline sixes are zero/internally ballanced, so thats not a problem.

You're best bet is going to be to use the '80 block with the '96 head, otherwise you risk the possibility of a burned piston (if I remember right).
The oil pan might be an issue, if the '80 has a mid-sump, you'll need to get a rear sump pan with the dipstick through the pan. However, as far as I know, all 300s in truck from '80 on had a rear sump pan, whether they were 4x4 or not, so you might be in luck.
You'll need to block off the fuel pump boss. I belive the 300 uses the same mounting shape as the other ford engines, so you may be able to just pick one up. Or you can make you're own.
That should be the big stuff, if you can, I'd recomend borrowing another engine stand & setting the '96 right next to the '80 & swap parts as you need. I belive there's a couple of guys who have done this sorta swap (I swapped a '79 block into an '84, so I can't tell you from personal experiance on the EFI) on this site. If not, check on www.fordsix.com. Hope this helps.
Edwin

 

Folks
Thanks for the info. I will let you know if I procede. The F250 appears to be in decent shape except for the engine. It has the 5 speed which I like.

Tom

 

The short block itself is the "same enough" to make it work.

If you try to run factory EFI on a non efi-head the timing will be all screwed up and you'll be down on power. burning pistons is if you put the EFI head on a carb block with the carb ignition setup. This creates WAY too much advance.

All 80-96 300's from a truck are rear sump. where the dipstick goes does vary, but they're all rear sumps.

Get a fuel pump block off plate for the 80 (or just leave the old pump in there), swap heads (ideally, not 100% necessary), swap accessories (this also includes a diferent water pump IIRC), and drop it back in.

Justin

 

Water pump for sure is different. The serpentine belt drives almost always have a reverse rotation water pump. The pump is usually driven by the smooth side of the belt, therefore it turns the opposite direction of the crank. Not to mention, the later fan/clutch and pulley assembly mounts totally different than the early model.

 

no message

 

my 87 has an older block with the fuel injected head. done by p.o. he tried selling me on the fact that he swapped the serpintine drive belt set up for v-belt set up becuase he liked it better. i promptly asked him how many miles the donor block had it on it when he swapped them and he just kinda turned red in the face and muttered 60,000. haha. the only problem i have found is that(cant really confirm but all sources, including a parts truck, seem to agree with me) the sending unit for coolant temp for the guage, not computer, is located on the head on the carbed engines, but its located in the block on the efi engines. so basicly since i have an efi head and cabred block, i have no coolant temp gauge... kinda annoying but i'm gonna install an aftermarket gauge at some point.

since the p.o. did leave the fuel pump in place and just let the coil dangle, i made my own block off plate and mounted the coil in the proper place.

 

Nah, the sending unit in the carbed block is in the block and not the head. It's at the back on the passengers side right below where the head bolts to the block.

Justin

 

Folks, thanks again for all your input. Tom