I recently bought a 351w that I plan to put into a 81 f150. The engine came out of a car and the oilpan needs to be changed. The problem is that my oilpan has the dipstick tube in the pan, and I am told that I will not find a truck oilpan with a tube in it. The 351M I took out of the truck had the tube in the pan. I was hoping someone else has had the same experience and could tell me what to do. Thanks

 

I found one at the local junk yard. I swappped a 351w from a 1979 couger into my 1980 f150 4x4. 1st thing you have to realize is they didn't offer the 351w until 1983. So don't let the parts counter guys hang you up. Next thing I found out, these things aren't cheap. My local junkyard wanted $60.00 for the rear sump pan, oil pump pickup and special main cap stud to hold the pickup. I thought this was high till I started calling around. You can also get new. I think a new pan was $150.00. That doesn't include the other parts which you have to have. My swap was easier than yours because mine originally had a 302. You might as well do as I did and check the timing chain by sticking your finger up in the front of the engine when you are changing pans. Of course it was shot with the plastic gear and everything and I ended up tearing the front of the engine down to fix this. I also had to rig the throttle cable bracket a little to make it fit. Also I took the old front dipstick tube and cut it off with a hacksaw, pinched it with vise grips and folded it over like a toothpaste tube to seal it off. I also found out that the thermostat housing where the upper radiator hose attaches was different. I could have robbed the housing off the 302, but I was lazy and found if I used the couger hose that it fit. The exhaust is my real problem and I haven't resloved this the "right way" yet. Your y-pipe isn't going to fit. Your car manifolds are not the right ones either. I used my 302 manifolds and these are not correct, but I rigged them to work. To be correct, so you can go to the auto parts store and tell them you want a y-pipe fo a 1983 with 351w you need the 351w truck manifolds. I was staring right at them, but for $50.00 each, and $100.00 for a new pipe I said no-way.(I am a cheapskate). So I cut my pipe and made it fit and I am going to get the shop to make me a pipe for about $85.00.

 

thanks for the reply. I will continue to look at the salvage yards. I am in the process already of changing bearings, seals and timing chain. I figure on having a lot of work to do, especiall ywith drive shaft and exhaust. the engine is complete including alternator, air conditioner compressor and the rest. the onlyh real difference is it doesn't have the smog pump. Also there is the issue of the different style air conditioner compressor on the opposite side of where it was originally. I'm not sure if I knew all this before i bought the engine tha I would have tacled this project, but I look forward to seeing this thing run. It came with an aluminum hi-rise manifold, Holley 750 double pumper and obviously has had the cam replaced, because it now carries the 302 firing order. All for 500 dollars. Maybe it was a good deal.

 

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Like I said, make sure you use I think 1983-up 351w. Although this is for 4x4.

 

Oilpans from some vans will fit 80's trucks. I have a 351W pan at home from a van with a dipstick in the side.

1979 F150 Custom: 75 351W, Edelbrock & Holley
1987 F150 XLT Lariat: 88 351W EFI
Chevy 454: waiting for a truck (Mazda?Nissan?)