Ok, I tried 239 Y block just wont cut it. Way too expensive to rebuild too hard to find parts.

Have a 54 Ford F-100 I have made up my mind to "HOP" it up. What engine is going to give me some performance and some cool upgrade room? 302? If I go with the 302, 351 am I going to have to beef up the front end? Just a couple of tard questions. Thanks for the help!

 

Hi

Fortunately you have a lot of outstanding choices.

You might want to consider boxing the front end anyway because I'll bet if you are at this stage, in three years you'll be talking about new front end anyway...but back to the point.

I have had three trucks - and loved them all. Two of the power trains I had seriously impressed me. I had a 55 F-100 and I put a 65 Mustang 289 in it with an older manual 3speed overdrive tranny and added a 56 gas tank behind the seat. I drove from San Diego to San Francisco and half way back without buying gas. It had nice pick-up and was pleasent around town and on the long drive. Super mileage on regular.

My second truck, a 56, had a 351 Cleveland with a C4 in it and was pretty non descript. It showed no power advantages over the 289 and I was not impressed one way or the other.

My current project has a 390 FE Police Interceptor with a melling cam and Edellbrock 750MSD ignition, and every time I forget that and floor it I am impressed by being scared the hell out of. As a matter of fact I don't feel safe with the stock front end and am putting a Mustang II in it. A little to omuch for this old man but maybe you likey? PS: 8mpg

If I wanted a good performance and economy combination (be prepared for a bombardment of comments) I think I would engine with a 351 Windsor and four speed Borg Warner or C6 running about a 2.8 rear 9 inch ford with the C6 and a 3.0 with the four speed.

The FE engines are coming back (427 cobra oh baby), but the small block Mustang technology vs power is hard to beat. 289-302-351W

"Disclaimer"... of course you could always go with an SBC...Small Block Chevy...nyah nyah. vomit vomit but most of us would ever speak to you again. (actually the 350 Chevy engine is pretty good)

Of course there are other things to consider: engine mounts, compartment size, exhaust pipe room...air? PS? weight and strengthening? Parts availability (my FE is very difficult to get some parts for) etc.

I'm sure you will get LOTS of input on this one!

But share what you are doing so we can butt in too!

 

Welcome.
I don`t think you`ll have to beef up the front end if it`s in good shape now, the SMF is a lighter engine than the Flattie. Mainly I`d be concerned with an upgrade on the brakes, more hp mean having better brakes.

 

Your best bet is to go w/ a 292c.i. Y-Block (bolts right in) & up-grade it w/ the 312c.i. Y-Block internals & external add-ons.

 

I keep hearing about the brakes and how much better discs are. I don't have the technical low down on that, but FOMOKO is the guy to listen too.

The 390 (big block now) I have in the 51 with the aluminum intake manifold weighs about the same as the 239 flathead (we wont talk about the added weight of the C6 transmission because it is more in the center of the vehicle) I am still running stock front end and brakes and the brakes have no problem stopping me. If I jump on them below 25 I'm stopped. The reason I'm boxing and putting onthe Mustang II with discs is two fold. I keep inproving performance, and with the added torque of the newer engines, I worry about not having a boxed frame. Also, I have trouble keeping the truck on the ground. The brakes may grab, but the thing just slides. Shoot the other day I pulled into a diagonal parking place at the curb that had a pretty health nose dive into the gutter and when I went to pull out I couldn't get enough traction on the rear wheels to get out. I had to buy cokes for a bunch of teen agers to sit in the back and bounce up and down so I could get out. Three 90 lb bags of cement back there now.

Also, I find with higher speeds, cornering and wheel control is a little nerve wracking with the stock front end. The truck tends to dip and pull outward on freeway offramps at speed. So, I'm boxing the frame and installing the Mustang II front end (with discs) and sway bar. Reason is simple - raising safety margins with increased speed, torque and performance.

My 55 with the 289 I ran a stock front end/brakes without boxing and felt very safe. No problems. There are disc kits available for simple swap out that are fairly in expensive.

 

there's room for just about anything in there . go nuts ! as far as brakes , well if you were even to hop up a y block i'd suggest the disc conversion . my self a relatively old , flat head isnt taxing the drums on my 53 and i do not drive it fast , or aggressively so they work fine for me , but anything eith more power i think would cause a little butt puckering . oh and lets not forget how ineffective the drums are when they are wet !!!!!!!!!!!! if ya wanna big block go with an fe , it's still got the nostalgia factor going for it if dressed properly .

 

You can't go wrong with a 302 or 351 and an AOD transmission but if it were mine I'd also want IFS and disc brakes on the front. As Fomoco already pointed out, with more HP you need better brakes. An IFS will give you that plus power steering and better handling which would make the whole package more enjoyable.

 

Or you could really go off the deep end and put a Mercedes diesel in it.

 

Jeff,

What is the horsepower rating on your Mercedes diesel?

Vern

 

expensive? hard to find parts? Well, I guess the 430 MEL super marauder is out of the question. If it were me with cruising economy and power in mind, I'd go with a 5.8 EFI (351W) and AOD as they aren't too hard to find in the 80/90's trucks in the JY. If it's to be used as a truck, I'd go with the 300 6 and 4 speed, or like the Colonel said, bigger Y-block. If budget is priority, I'd bet you could find a running 80's F150 with 302/AOD 2wd for under $400....provided it runs and the body is shot, which down South, may not be the case. My .02

 

Great advice, OK!!!! 351 Cleveland c6 trans yes going with disk brakes w/ booster up front that is a HAVE TO. What about the Volare front end clip any suggestions on that. Talked to Bob at F-100 parts they say it is the best, but holy crap looks like Brain surgery to me, is there another way?

 

Out of all excellent engine choices you have like a 351 Windsor or an FE in big block (390/427CJ) you want to put in a 351C? Well at least you aren't putting in a SBC 350

Go to your room anyway!

 

that's what I always wanted to do,actually had all the parts at one time but the 56 was too far gone for me