Engine Swap - Need Your Thoughs!!

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Aug 4, 2008 | 05:59 PM

ech0sh4y

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From: Oshkosh Wisconsin

Engine Swap - Need Your Thoughs!!

Hey guys I am daily driving my 76 right now.. 9 mpg is not the best but not the worst. I am a volunteer firefighter and I need a dependable vehical. I can't seem to sell it for what I need $3,000 even with all the work I have done to it! So I was thinking about keeping it and converting it over to EFI.

This is where I need your thoughts. Where should I go? Get a 302 EFI and auto tranny and just try to make it work, it will get better gas milage but is alot more reliable (starting in the winter is my worries). Or conver the 360 to gas? I'm not the best at fabricating stuff, but I can weld and do some minor fab work. What would you recommend as far as a set up? I'd like EFI and Auto, and not like a 460 gas hog!

So many choices!

Brian

Aug 4, 2008 | 06:06 PM

fmc400

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From: Austin, TX

Honestly, for the money of picking up a 302 EFI, and the transmission you might have to get as well, your best bet is to buy a cheap Ford Escort or something similar and use that. You could spend the same amount of money in two different ways: invest a huge amount of time and labor into scraping the bottom of the barrel and maybe getting 20 mpg, or just picking up an Escort and get upwards of 35 mpg.

Don't get me wrong, I love Ford trucks just as much as anyone else, but the reality of it is these trucks are better suited as weekend play toys than commuters in today's world.

Aug 4, 2008 | 06:06 PM

tankrsc

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From: Paragould Ar

I just put a 302/C6 in my truck 2 weeks ago, replacing my 360/C6. My milage has dang near double (the 360 wasn't doing to well). I have not used enough to refill yet but can already say am going 2.5 days on what I used to one. All I changed was the frame perches. Since my 302 was backed by a C6 nothing else had to be changed. If you go with a C4 trans you may have to do other things with trans crossmember and driveshaft but I don't know for sure. I am extremely happy with the swap it has the 2V Motorcraft carb and everything else is stock. Lost some torque on the bottom but pulled a friends race car just fine and the increase in MPG can't be beat. I drive mine daily

Aug 4, 2008 | 06:33 PM

Thunderjet4x4

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Both good points! It is tough to beat efi for driveability and mileage. Those 5.0's are good engines, and once you get familiar with the electronic gizmo's are fairly easy to diagnose problems-if any.
An ultimate coble of parts would be the truck intake for torque, mass air, a mustang roller block with forged pistons, and gt-40p heads(flow good, but some trickery on the exhaust due to spark plug angle), and a non electronic aod trans.
The aod's aren't as strong as a C6 in stock form, but they did see service in F250 4x4's. Another friend of mine had an 88 F250 4x with over 300,000 klms before the trans gave him problems. The latest years of non electronic aod's (electric ones are known as AODE I believe) had all the good factory upgrades to help them last.
The AOD 4x4 trans have a shorter trans to t-case adapter, but the same 6 bolt/trans output spline count as the C6-with one hitch... The adapter has no "gap" for the np205 linkage. That and length difference will be the crux.
Or use a small block C6.
Alot of work, but it would be cool and work nicely. 5.0's are popular swaps, I am sure someone has done it in a 4x4 dentside by now.
Mebbe a well tuned 4 barrel carbed 5.0? Prolly 1-3 mpg less than efi, but alot simpler.
Some ideas for ya!

Aug 4, 2008 | 06:39 PM

ech0sh4y

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From: Oshkosh Wisconsin

Does anyone know if there are premade motor mounts for the 302? also, does anyone know about the tranny crossmember issues? I have the np435 right now so that probably doesn't help either! I'm looking to get around 13-15 mpg not that much better but mostly efi and an auto is what I'd like!
Thanks for the input so far!

Brian

Aug 4, 2008 | 07:46 PM

tankrsc

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From: Paragould Ar

I can't talk on the fuel injection part beause I have never messed with one. As far hard parts go thats as easy as going to a salvage yard. Frame mounts from '73-'79 302. Motor mounts new from Autozone or who ever you deal with are less than $30. The crossmember for the trans I don't know if the manual version is different from the auto but if it is that can also be had at the salvage yard. I belive all auto crossmembers are the same just bolted in different holes. You should be able to shorten your drive shaft or even get one that works also from salvage.

Autozone at 800 W MURDOCK AVE
OSHKOSH, WI 54901
has these motor mounts in stock P/N 2329 Price $7.99 each

Aug 4, 2008 | 08:06 PM

tankrsc

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From: Paragould Ar

Here is a link to a swap. It is right here on this site in the articles section. Looks like he goes into great detail on the electronics part of EFI swap. The mechincal part is strait forward though.

Installing A 1987-93 Mustang SEFI 5 Liter V8/AOD Drive Train into A ’61- 79 F100 - F250 Truck .: Articles