I have just restored my 1982 F150 stepside 4.9L straight six, rebuilt the 4.9 complety and I am not satisfied with the speed of the 4.9. Check my Gallery. I know the history of the 4.9L. I was given a 351M. I know the 351M will fit the F150. My question is, will I be able to use my exsisting transmission? It has the 3 speed with OD. My concern is the bolt pattern on the bell housing. Thanks Art

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Feb-02 AT 01:30 PM (EST)]Yes it will work just get a bellhousing form a 351m,400,460 with a manual trans it bolts right in. You may need a mechanical clutch assembly since there is no provisions for a hydraulic clutch on the big block bellhousings if your truck doesn't already have a mechanical linkage, and you can get that from a donor truck it also bolts right in(you may have to cut a whole in the firewall for the linkage to pass through if your truck does not have the hole already). Other than that it is straight forward easy.

400m

 

GOOD. But I may of mislead you.I have the bell housing and transmission. Will my bellhousing from the 4.9 bolt on the 351M. If not the bell housing is still connected to the 351m and has all the mech clutch stuff. Thanks Art

 

No the bellhousing from your six will not work but if you have everything on the 351m then it should bolt right in with new chassis mounts and since your truck is an 82 it should have the duraspark ignition so you should be golden drop her right in!!

400m

 

I'm working on the same thing with my 85 f-150 but, I'm putting in the c-6 tranny that came with my 351m.. The only problems I have to work out now are the following.

Engine perches are wrong (351m is too far forward and sitting on the oil pan. and the 4.9 raditor is not big enough to cool the engine.)

you might want to check this out on yours and let me know your solution on the engine perches...

george-korell@earethlink.net

this aint no rock

 

85, I had a 81 Big Bronco with a 351M in it. And my 82 F-250 has a 400 in it. So these factory perches are out there to solve your problem. The frames are the same so the perches would be a bolt in.

 

Thanks for the info.Howdo I know if Ihave the right perches installed and if I don't were would I be able to obtain them. Thanks Art

 

Just hit the wrecking yards to find the perches. If the motor is out you could use the the engine code on the ID tag in the door jam to make sure it had a 400 or 351M in it. The wrecking yard should have the codes somewhere.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 27-Feb-02 AT 08:25 AM (EST)]FYI, I removed the 351M from a 1979 Ford Bronco. The mounts are still on the truck. Question: Are the mounts the same on the 1979 and the 1982 F150? I am getting conflicting info. Thanks Art

 

dsc,

Engine mount towers/perches are not the same for '77-'79 trucks and '80-up trucks. You need the perches from an '80-up truck.

The '80-up VIN code for the 351M was G, and for the 400 it was Z.

Be careful using the VIN code to find a junkyard donor. Starting in 1981, the 351M was phased out of the F150/Bronco chassis and replaced by the 351W, and both engines used the same (G) VIN code. Beginning in 1980, the 400 was no longer available in the F150/Bronco chassis, so you won't even find the 400 (Z) VIN code on those trucks.

The 351M was also phased out of F250LD trucks starting in 1981 and replaced by the 351W using the same (G) VIN code.

The best way to avoid this problem is to look for an '80-'82 F250 or F350 with the 400 (Z) VIN code. That way, you know you're getting the right perches for an M-block.

 

Thanks. I checked our local yards here in they tell me they crush all their old stuff and none can be found. I called the Ford dealer(friend of mine) and he said you are 100% correct about the 400 fit. But the problem is they stopped making them in 1995. Well here is sit with no way to mount this eng. Do you know of any sources to get them. Thanks Art Gillings

 

You are right!! I Just measured from the center bolt of the eng mount to the bell housing. nOn the 351M it it 12" on the 4.9 it is 18". Thanks Art

 

302, 351w, 351m, 400 all use the same frame brackets. 80-96 F-series and Bronco should be the same. The brackets you need mount behind the crossmember instead of on top like the 6 cylinder.

 

Sounds good. I checked all my books and the 400 does mount behind the crossmember But the others are mounted on top. Does anyone have anyof these? Thanks Art

 

Tried 6 yards in my area here in Maryland. Anyone know any place else. I can get these. Thanks Art