Hi,
I have a '79 f-150 w/ a 302 2 bbl (c4, 2.75 gears in the 9") and it has 130,000 miles and being a old truck it's gonna need a rebuild here soon so I'm trying to plan ahead.
Anyways I'd like to rebuild it and mildly upgrade it. I'm thinking a better cam, aluminum intake (dual plane, 4bbl, headers (who makes ones that don't leak), dual exaust, and bump the compression up a little. After May of 2003 I will no longer have to pass emissions so that is not a concern (I probably won't pass this time as the smog pump is gone but I'll get a wavier of some sort). I'd like to just mildly upgrade it for better power and performance but still make it easy to drive daily and use as a truck (haul mulch, tow a car, etc). I'd like to beable to still run it on regular grade gas. Although I'd like to run low grade gas fuel economy is not a concern as I curenty get as low as 12mpg around town with the tail gate up and 17+ mpg on the high way with the bed cover on.
My question is what parts work best? How much will it cost? Do I rebuild my orignal engine or do I buy one of these reconditioned short or long blocks? What aout Fuel Injection?
Also, the C4 has been previously rebuilt (within the last 5 yrs I belive) would it be worth it to go through it again and add a shift kit?
Also, how hard are gear swaps to do in these trucks? I have a 2:75 ratio now and it flat out hauls butt on the highway but around town it aint too great from a stop (atleast if ur going 20-30 it'll kick down a gear if you punch it). I'd like to keep the good high way crusing speed but would like a little better gears for around town and towing. Would a 3.20 something do it? I see 3.50 gear sets avaliable quite often would this be too low to run on the highway for long periods?
Any help or advice that can be given would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Nick Tosie

 

A few thing you could look at.
Comp cam Extreme energy call them for cam number or find TK.
Roush 180 or windsor jr.s are good heads for about 800.
Dynomax ceramic coated headers. 220 a pair with lifetime warrenty.
Msd 6a ignition box.
This is what i would mainly recommed.

As far as your rearend and regearing. It is possible but unless your running big tires or an Od your gas milage will go down. May look into a 3sp with od for lower gears.

 

what i'd do, is buy an old LTD crown vic. *83-85, junk it, use the motor as your rebuild (302) then use the aod tranny, and put some 3:50 rearend gears.. that what i did to my 79 f-100, and it'll fly. i get 20+ mpg ( canadian) highway with it np. it's got decient power around town, and good crusin on the highway.. right now i'm turning 2000rpm at 107km/h in od..

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 13-Sep-02 AT 02:16 PM (EST)]I can't help you with the engine questions, but a 9" rear end is pretty easy to change the 3rd member. As for gearing, if the 2.75's aren't too bad for you, then 3.23's would probably be OK. My '95 has a 5.8 with an EO4D and 3.55 gears. In drive (not overdrive) the engine turns about 2700 rpm at 65 mph. My '56 has a 302 with a C6 and 3.89 gears. It turns 3080 RPM at 65 mph. Both have 15" wheels. Use a tach to find the sweet spot (where your engine has good torque) and you can guesstimate what gear you'll want. Hope I did'nt confuse you That's a pretty truck you got there.

 

Stock rebuilt lowerend with ARP rod and main bolts and oil pump shaft. GT-40P heads with an Edelbrock Performer intake, cam and 500cfm carb. I wouldn't recommend an AOD for towing unless it's beefed up. Instead, use a GER 2.84:1 planetary gear in your C4 to make it a wide-ratio transmission. With a set of 3.25:1 gears in your 9" axle, you'll have the same overall ratio in 1st gear that you'd have with a stock C4 (or AOD) and a 3.76:1 ring and pinion.