Before I begin, I'd like to say there's two 330 engines. The common 330 MD (medium duty) which is a part of the FT family and the rare 330 HD (heavy duty) engine. I'm morely interested in the 330 HD. The 330 HD engine is an engine developped by Ford strickly for the use of F350 U-haul 14' TC trucks. My truck is a '79 F350 ex-uhaul with the 330 HD. U-haul used the 330 HD engines from 1976 to 1979. Theses engines were replaced by the 370 in 1980 U-haul trucks.

I'd like to know about the 330 HD block. What is it? It isn't the standard 330 MD supped up. It is refered as the long block, and is commonly mistaken for a 390 block. I do wonder if it is a 360/390 block downgraded for low gearing heavy hauling? Any knowledge would be much appreciated. I do have pics of the engine in my gallery.

Tyl

 

WOW, The edumacation that you are spreading here on this forum is awesome.



John

 

330HD's are not rare and they are not U Haul only. The 330HD differs from the 330MD in the crankshaft department HD's got the big snout , Md's got the small snout. HD's are externaly balenced MD's aren't. HD's use the large oil pump drive, generaly have a govenor style distributor. 330 Hd's were used in all Ford medium trucks from '64'. The U Haul 330 was a 'spec' engine designed for rough service by 'IDIOTS'. Mainly it was a big truck engine in a 1 ton truck.

Have A Good Day ---- Hotwrench

 

Well put Hotwrench!

 

The MD used a 352/360 crank, the HD used the steel unit. The blocks are nothing special either. Same old pot luck as with all other FE blocks. Some got thick walls, most didn't.

 

The 330, both MD and HD is an idiot engine in any vehicule. Last summer, I ran the truck loaded with parts to sell and towing a small tent trailer, the truck maintained a 7.65 mpg and downshifted some long hills. Terrible engine for the performance expected. I can't imagine a family renting this truck from U-haul in the '80s with the huge 6' x 14' aluminum box it had loaded with household items. If you have stories to tell renting one, I'd surely like to hear it. I keep a binder full of info of info of the trucks as i find them.

Here's some of U-haul's engine facts;

-The 330-cubic-inch extra duty Ford engine can perform under the toughest road conditions. Its increased performance ability makes the truck well-suited for towing.

-This truck is a beefed-up hybrid, a heavy duty workhorse in light-truck clothing. What started out as a Ford F350 one ton chassis was "muscled-up"with the drivetrain of the Ford F600 series--the Ford 330 XD (extra duty) V8 engine, heavy duty 12" clutch, 4 speed manual transmissiion, heavy duty driveline and rear axle. Not only was this package not commercially availlable, it was thought to be imposiible to pack such a heavy drivetrain into a light-truck package. But working in the U-haul Technical Center in Tempe, AZ. U-haul truck experts showed it could be done, and then proved to Ford engineers that the truck could be built on the productioon line from standard heavy-duty componants.

Note; Ford calls the engine HD (Heavy Duty) U-haul calls it XD (Extra Duty).

HD/XD specs;

-engine governed for longer life
-the safety factor of dual thermostats
-5 blade fan runs cooler and quieter
-heavy duty water pump
-forged crankshaft, larger rods and main bearings
-larger water passages for clooler runing engine
-12" heavy duty clutch
-extra duty heads with sodium filled valves; runs cooler
-oil bath air cleaner assures longer engine life

truck specs;

-330 Industrial V8 gas engine with extra duty cooling package
-435 New Process 4 speed manual trans (HD includes super low 1st gear)
-Heavy duty 12" clutch
-Dana 70 w/4.10 gear ratio (Heavy duty)
-30 gallon fuel tank
-10,000 lbs GVW
-14' all aluminum van box
-594 cubic feet storage capacity
-low profile deck with aluminum pull out ramp for easy loading
-twin I beam front suspension for smoother ride
-161" wheelbase
-auxiliary spring option #2
-dual shocks, single Heavy duty - rear
-8.00 x 16.5" tires (was bias original, now radials)

Tyl

 

Well the only two things I see are hype is the larger rods and water passages. The rods must be the best kept secret in the FE/FT world. The coolant passages was a result of the smaller bore cores in the 330's block, which was externally the same casting as all other FE/FT's.

 

Yeah, the 330s were used way before the 80s so it nothin new or rare. Mainly used for trucks above F350 rating in the 60s n 70s.

 

I'll take another 330 and make a Poor Mans 427 out of it. I'll take it!

 

I have a 1977 ford F350 with the 330 XD duty engine. My truck was a U haul but I've taken the box off and I drive it every day to work. It rides like a tank and gas milage is crap! but it starts every time and people seem to want to know whats up with the long frame and no bed thing? Oh the truck is now blue. I recently installed new thermostats in it because someone took them out and I had no heat yes two thermostats in this wierd cast iron square box in front of the engine and my father in law installed a third one on the block where the box goes into the block, there was a place there for one to? probably did not need one there. anyway I have heat now. I do like the truck and my kids love the truck. my truck has all the specs and stickers on it that tell alot about the engine if anyone wants the info.

 

---------------------------

 

hey guys i am a 16 year old boy that is amazed with these truck like this and i just got handed down my grandpaws tow truck/ex-uHaul truck back when he was in the wrecker service. anyway i have done some seroius work to this truck and this fourm taught me a lot thank you! but i do have one question! Why does my F350 custom have circular headlights instead of the square ones i see on every other truck? if you could answer this you guys would be helping me out a lot! I know it has the 330 HD 4spd (with extra low 1st) and i also need a passenger side manifold and i cant find one that is the same look as the stock one? Can you guys help me out with that as well? thank you for your help!

 

'73-'78 (maybe 78 1/2) had round headlights '79 had square. XLT lariats from '78 had square as well

 

The FT manifolds are unique unto themselves, FE manifolds will not work. Post an ad in the classifieds here and you might get lucky. Or look on ebaymotors

 

I just found this thread as a buddy of mine bought a old U Haul for his resale shop that is booming pretty good, so he needed something to haul with. It's a old 330 engine and considering the life the truck has led has been reliable, runs good and earns it's keep.
As far as you saying it's a dog, well you really got that right !
He fills it, but nothing is particularly heavy as old farts like us can handle loading it. If someone were moving and had more heavy stuff in the box I would imagine it would really be a pig.
He's looking at a van cutaway with a larger box, air and a 7.3 diesel. I was offered the truck for a friends price, but my back already aches with the thought of me removing the box and putting a flatbed on it.